There are several 'layers' to the team planned to deliver the FRES programme:
SOSI
The UK MoD selected a Boeing/Thales team as the preferred bidder to lead the "System of Systems Integrator" role in October 07.The SOSI will operate within an alliance structure led by the MoD as a 'customer friend', independent of supplier interests.
Vehicle Integrator
The vehicle integrator (which must be a UK company, according to the UK Defence Industrial Strategy) will lead the vehicle provider team and be the UK Design Authority for the selected vehicle. This will include a UK manufacturing capability.
BAE Systems Land Systems is seeking to carry out this role
Vehicle Designer
The MoD will choose a winning design from the three down-selected 8X8 wheeled vehicles offered by Artec (Boxer), General Dynamics (Piranha) and Nexter (VBCI).
BAE Systems is responsible for more than 97 per cent of the UK AFV fleet and will bring these skills and resources to FRES
