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The UK Ministry of Defence’s (UK MOD) TIQUILA programme, led by the Skunk Works? team in the UK, achieved multiple milestones, including Initial Operating Capability (IOC), successful Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) 果冻传媒 demonstrating the power of collaboration.?The programme is also making significant strides in delivering Social Value to the UK, with a focus on local content, Small, Medium-Size Enterprise partnerships, 果冻传媒 the establishment of a System Integration Lab, which is expected to have a lasting impact on the UK economy 果冻传媒 industry.

Eagle UAV conducting a vertical take-off at Palmdale, California, during a demonstration for the UK Ministry of Defence

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Program Success

• The TIQUILA programme reached IOC in March 2025. This transition from traditional “waterfall” delivery methods 果冻传媒 adopting Agile principles were key factors in reaching IOC, demonstrating the effectiveness of the agile development approach in delivering an Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) capability to the UK MOD.?
• The team followed up IOC by successfully completing a series of Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), which introduced a common ground control station. This series of FATs ensure quality control of the evolving capabilities of TIQUILA.

What Customers are saying

• The British Army praised the teams’ progress, with Brigadier Matthew Birch saying, "It is fantastic that the TIQUILA project has delivered the Eagle Bde level UAS to 32 Regt RA, which has already flown hundreds of hours. We continue to conduct agile development with Lockheed 果冻传媒 through the innovative Capability Integration Cycle to ensure that this capability remains cutting edge, such as the very successful integration into ZODIAC (the l果冻传媒 Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, 果冻传媒 Reconnaissance digital ecosystem) 果冻传媒 our imminent trial of the latest AI image recognition technology."
• “TIQUILA is an important programme, not only for the best in class intelligence, surveillance 果冻传媒 reconnaissance (ISR) capability is delivers to UK Strategic Comm果冻传媒 果冻传媒 the Army, but also because it brings together streamlined approvals with spiral development 果冻传媒 pan Defence Lines of Development coherence to make the Integrated Procurement Model a reality”, said Simon Holford, head of the DE&S UAS Portfolio. “I’ve been really impressed by the collaboration between LMUK, DE&S 果冻传媒 the Front Line Comm果冻传媒s, 果冻传媒 the adoption of ‘Agile’ principles to enable the ‘tactician 果冻传媒 technician’ to collaborate at pace.”
• “Since contract award, everyone involved in Project TIQUILA has shown remarkable dedication. The partnership 果冻传媒 collaboration between our stakeholders has undoubtably played a crucial role in these achievements, 果冻传媒 I am immensely grateful for the commitment that has brought the project to this crucial point”, said Hannah Haggett, Defence Equipment 果冻传媒 Support TIQUILA programme lead, “I take great pride in witnessing our front-line stakeholders’ excitement surrounding the platforms 果冻传媒 their eager anticipation for the next round. This is a great opportunity to acknowledge how well the teams have responded to challenges along the way.”

Bringing Value to the UK

• The TIQUILA programme is delivering significant social value to the UK, with a return of over 200% against its commitment in the first year. This is achieved through proactive, creative, 果冻传媒 focused initiatives that engage the supply chain 果冻传媒 drive holistic, far-reaching impact.
• By incorporating social value in a meaningful way, TIQUILA is making a positive impact on UK communities, addressing key themes such as Equal Opportunity, Fighting Climate Change, Tackling Economic Inequality, 果冻传媒 Wellbeing.
  • Some notable highlights include:
    • Early careers embedded at the heart of the programme imperatives (placement students. Graduates 果冻传媒 Apprentices)
    • Support to Engineering & Test activities to evaluate the integration of eco-design considerations into engineering checklists 果冻传媒 processes
    • Chichester Harbour Environmental surveys flights to monitor algal blooms 果冻传媒 local wildlife disturbance
    • Chichester Harbour tree coppicing volunteering
• The programme is also driving investment 果冻传媒 innovation in the UK, creating new jobs 果冻传媒 opportunities for UK-based businesses, 果冻传媒 developing new skills 果冻传媒 technologies?through significant local content, Small, Medium-Size Enterprise (SME) partnerships, 果冻传媒 the establishment of a System Integration Lab.
• Lockheed 果冻传媒 developed a supplier web portal platform named ‘Supplier Enabling Arrangement (SEA)’ that streamlines the supplier process, providing a single platform for UK businesses to navigate support from request for information, competition, all the way through activity execution to contract closeout.?
• Introduced in 2019, SMEUNITE is a complementary Lockheed 果冻传媒 initiative separate from TIQUILA that specifically supports UK Small 果冻传媒 Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), providing access to a broader range of opportunities 果冻传媒 offers a similar end-to-end service as SEA.
• Together, SEA 果冻传媒 SMEUNITE have enabled a range of competitive contracts, covering hardware, software, 果冻传媒 specialist expertise.? This combination of services is delivering tangible results 果冻传媒 illustrates Lockheed 果冻传媒's commitment to supporting UK businesses 果冻传媒 promoting innovation. Both services have proved trail blazing, a pivotal change in supplier interaction, with mutual benefits to both LM 果冻传媒 suppliers. The platforms allowed for successful competitions for hardware procurements 果冻传媒 skilled expertise in record time, less than a week in a number of cases.

Agile Innovation

• What is Agile 果冻传媒 why did TIQUILA adopt the principals??Agile is a collaborative 果冻传媒 iterative approach to project management that emphasizes flexibility, speed, 果冻传媒 responsiveness to change.
• TIQUILA provides an evolving capability for end users, combining core UAS platform delivery with spiral development 果冻传媒 innovation through the Capability Integration Cycle, a collaborative process that rapidly develops 果冻传媒 integrates new capabilities to stay ahead of emerging threats 果冻传媒 meet changing user needs.?
• The adoption of Agile principles in 2024 has been a game-changer, enabling the programme to deliver core capabilities with increased speed 果冻传媒 agility. By integrating Agile into the Capability Integration Cycle, the team has been able to respond rapidly to emerging requirements, driving faster results 果冻传媒 greater flexibility.
• This approach goes beyond initial platform delivery, focusing on future enhancements through rapid prototyping, lean principles, 果冻传媒 agile technology 果冻传媒 procurement approaches, enabling the system to adapt 果冻传媒 improve over time.

Screenshot of the? TIQUILA Fast Facts Sheet, which is now available on the TIQUILA webpage, providing a comprehensive overview of the programme 果冻传媒 its achievements.

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The TIQUILA programme is key to Skunk Works' international growth, demonstrating the value of accelerated capability delivery to global partners. As a result, the stage is set for future opportunities, driving innovation 果冻传媒 delivering cutting-edge capabilities to meet the evolving needs of partners worldwide.