AwardedAwarded 21 October 2026
Lancaster Radiators: Manufacture and In-Service Support
Defence Equipment and Support · Central government
In brief
Defence Equipment and Support awarded this contract to Vintage Aircraft Radiators Ltd on 21 October 2026.
The notice gives a value of £1,500,000 excluding VAT.
The contract runs for 2 years, up to 3 years with extensions, starting 4 January 2027.
The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.
What the notice says
The Authority intends to procure a supplier with design capability, to manufacture, test, and deliver replacement coolant radiators for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) Lancaster aircraft (PA474), together with associated technical documentation, certification, and in service support. The requirement comprises of replicating the original design standard , using modern day equivilance where necessary, to enable the production of six (6) replacement radiators, including two (2) spares, using a “design from pattern part” approach due to the absence of original drawings. The replacement units must be airworthy, compliant with Military Aviation Authority (MAA) regulatory…Read the full description
The Authority intends to procure a supplier with design capability, to manufacture, test, and deliver replacement coolant radiators for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) Lancaster aircraft (PA474), together with associated technical documentation, certification, and in service support.
The requirement comprises of replicating the original design standard , using modern day equivilance where necessary, to enable the production of six (6) replacement radiators, including two (2) spares, using a “design from pattern part” approach due to the absence of original drawings. The replacement units must be airworthy, compliant with Military Aviation Authority (MAA) regulatory requirements, and demonstrate equivalence in fit, form, and function to the existing.
The contractor will be responsible for:
Substantiation, qualification, and production of the radiators.
Provision of production drawings, design rationale, testing (e.g. pressure, fatigue, NDT), and a Declaration of Design & Performance.
Manufacture and delivery of all units in accordance with an agreed schedule as per negotiations
Supply of Special to Type Containers for transport and storage of each
Provision of certification (e.g. Certificates of Conformity) and compliance with quality standards (e.g. ISO 9001/AS9100 or equivalent)
Delivery of in service support artefacts, including a Bill of Materials, Initial Provisioning List, maintenance documentation, and recommended tooling and consumables to support continued airworthiness to an Out of Service Date of 2035 (with potential extension to 2040).
All goods are to be delivered to RAF Coningsby, UK, and must integrate seamlessly with the existing aircraft systems and coolant specifications.
Who won
| Winner | Value | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Vintage Aircraft Radiators Ltd (SME) 1 bid received | £1,863,700 | Awarded 21 October 2026 |
Values as the award notice gives them, excluding VAT where stated.
Timeline
- Pipeline notice · UK1, notice 046812-2026
- Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 049441-2026
- Planned procurement notice · UK3, notice 059999-2026
- Tender notice · UK4, notice 065669-2026
- Contract award notice · UK6, notice 099600-2026
About the buyer
Defence Equipment and SupportLast 12 months
Procurements
243Awards
93Suppliers it has used most
- BAE Systems (Operations) Limited2 contracts
- Jeppesen UK Limited2 contracts
- Leonardo UK Ltd2 contracts
- Adler & Allan Limited1 contract
- Aebi Schmidt UK Limited1 contract
- Airbus Defence and Space Limited1 contract
- Aireon LLC1 contract
- Apeks Marine Equipment Ltd1 contract
From notice 046812-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 21 May 2026, last updated 21 October 2026. We last checked for changes on 21 October 2026.