The UK’s Project Crenic counter-improvised explosive device and counter-uninhabited aerial vehicle capability is facing delays.
Reports emerged in June that deliveries of the United Kingdom’s Project Crenic Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) system could be delayed by two years. The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) had originally planned to commence deliveries in 2026. The reports continued that British government documents had revealed that the country’s armed forces are now unlikely to receive the first Crenic systems until at least 2028.
As Armada reported in 2022 Project Crenic was launched to provide CIED protection for personnel, vehicles and bases against remote-controlled IEDs. Systems are planned for delivery to the British Army, Royal Marines and the Royal Air Force (RAF) Regiment which performs land warfare tasks relevant to the RAF. In October 2022, the MOD awarded the Project Crenic contract to Team Protect. Team Protect is a consortium acting as the project’s systems integrator. The consortium includes Leidos Innovations, Leonardo, Marshall Land Systems and PA Consulting with the latter leading the project. Project Crenic’s contracting arrangements allow for other entities to join the programme to harness relevant capabilities. These entities could include large, traditional contractors alongside small- and medium-sized enterprises or even individual researchers, innovators and engineers inside and outside defence. To this end, an open architecture approach is central to satisfying the Project Crenic requirement.
In 2022, plans had called for initial Crenic deliveries to commence in 2026 to cover soldier and vehicle CIED systems. The UK’s Defence Investment Plan (DIP) published in July earmarked up to $172 million for investment in Project Crenic to procure the systems. These funds are in addition to the $59.5 million already invested in the Team Protect integration contract. The DIP outlines the capabilities needed to satisfy the demands of the 2024 Strategic Defence Review (SDR). This latter publication outlines the contemporary and future threats faced by the UK and how these will be addressed.
The Project Crenic hardware and software passed its critical design review in the summer of 2025. MOD sources shared with Armada that Crenic capabilities are now in the demonstration phase with prototype testing underway. Once testing is complete, the MOD will take the decision on whether to press ahead with manufacture. This decision is now expected in 2028. Assuming the ministry decides to continue with the programme, initial and full operating capability milestones will subsequently follow. Nonetheless, the MOD has not shared expected dates to this end. It is unclear why the project has been delayed for two years: Delays in publishing the DIP and recent political wranglings over UK defence spending levels may not have helped.
MOD efforts remain focused on initial deliveries of soldier-worn CIED equipment with the ability to also use the apparatus to protect vehicles. That said, the design emphasis will be on reducing size, weight and power as far as practicable for soldier carriage. The Ministry of Defence source continued that final order sizes will be decided when the MOD makes its investment decision following the conclusion of the demonstration phase. Force needs and affordability will be the two main considerations therein.
CIED and CUAV
The ministry has declined to reveal the frequencies the Crenic equipment will cover although, given the focus on IEDs and Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles, it is likely the apparatus will jam threats in at least the 30 megahertz to six gigahertz waveband. This waveband is where radio frequency devices like cellphones used to activate IEDS tend to inhabit, along with the aircraft-ground control station radio links used by UAVs. Covering this waveband may also mean that dismounted troops can use the equipment to attack hostile tactical radios, and their networks, within range. Armada understands that Crenic systems will be networked to provide jamming coverage over a large area. An MOD spokesperson told Armada that “Project Crenic is developing life-saving protection for (the) UK military through new software-defined systems designed to detect and jam radio signals used to trigger improvised explosive devices”.
The CIED threat to the UK military may have arguably reduced since the country’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq in 2021 and 2011 respectively. Nonetheless, as the ongoing war in Ukraine illustrates, the UAV menace is evident. An additional two years is already a significant wait for a capability as important as Crenic. The UK armed forces cannot afford any more delays.
by Dr. Thomas Withington
