£7.3 million contract awarded to Test-Fuchs to support and modernise critical aircraft testing equipment
Published 25 September 2026
The National Armaments Directorate (NAD) Group has awarded a £7.3 million contract to Test-Fuchs for the support and modification of the RAF’s Mark 21 hydraulic test rigs.
Test-Fuchs, an Austrian aviation and space engineering company, manufactures testing systems, ground support equipment and hardware components for civil and military aviation as well as the space industry.
The contract, signed in July 2026, was awarded by the Support Capabilities and Commodities (SCC) Team as a Qualifying Defence Contract through a single-source procurement route. It provides a critical military service, maintaining the availability and operational readiness of Typhoon, Atlas A400M, C-17 Globemaster and P-8 Poseidon aircraft.
Test-Fuchs will provide support and modification of the Mark 21 hydraulic rigs, which are used to test aircraft hydraulic systems. These rigs are critical to assuring aircraft safety and operability across the fleets they support. The contract also includes an obsolescence solution for the Mark 21 rigs, building on prototype work already carried out under a previous contract, extending the service life of the assets well into the future.
The single-source route was adopted because Test-Fuchs owns the proprietary software and technical intellectual property associated with the current equipment, meaning no alternative supplier could undertake the required modification and extension work.
The contract runs for an initial three years, with two further option years, bringing the total potential length to five years.
Securing the contract was the result of two years of sustained collaboration between the SCC team and Test-Fuchs, who worked closely together throughout to overcome a series of challenges. As delays became a concern, the requirement attracted significant senior attention within Defence, including visibility at senior military leadership and Secretary of State level.
Throughout, the team and Test-Fuchs worked collaboratively to navigate regular turnover of internal and customer stakeholders, rebuilding relationships and preserving momentum and continuity despite changing priorities.
Lisa Thorne, Head of Support Capabilities and Commodities, NAD Group, said:
“We are pleased to have awarded this contract in support of a critical capability. By working together as trusted partners, we are strengthening our ability to deliver vital capabilities for the future. This contract reflects the outstanding teamwork, collaboration and partnership between the MOD and Test Fuchs. Together, we have laid the foundations for continued success, delivering innovative solutions that will make a lasting impact.”
Mr. Volker Fuchs, CEO and owner of the TEST-FUCHS Group, said:
"We are proud to further strengthen our long-standing partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence through this QDC contract. The agreement reflects the trust and confidence that has been built over many years of successful collaboration and technical delivery. We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to continue supporting the MOD with reliable, high-quality solutions and look forward to taking our cooperation to the next level through this important milestone."
The outcome is regarded as an important achievement by both the delivery team and the supplier. It restores essential repairs, calibration, spares, technical support and obsolescence management for equipment that underpins the operational readiness of some of the RAF's most important front-line aircraft fleets and prevents a significant Defence capability risk from escalating further.
