MARSHALL

Military Capability

Record date: 31 March 2026

Whole-life cost: £2.0bn
Published schedule: 03/04/2006 – 31/10/2026
NISTA delivery confidence: Not disclosed
Senior responsible owner: Rich Jacob

What the project is for

Marshall enables military terminal air traffic management services in the UK and abroad. This is achieved through a service provision contract with Aquila, a joint venture company of Thales and NATS, which also involves a significant update of obsolete equipment across the estate. Marshall combines some seventy previous equipment and support contracts into a single service delivery contract. It is delivered through fifteen technical services, supporting hub and satellite geographically clustered services. Marshall provides cost and workforce savings, significant equipment upgrades, and ensures compliance with the latest civil and military aviation regulatory requirements. Legacy technical services were transferred to Aquila in April 2015. The new services are principally delivered, maturing and typically performing above target.

Departmental delivery commentary

Compared to financial year 24/25 Q4, the NISTA/SRO Delivery Confidence Assessment (DCA) rating at 25/26 Q4 decreased to RED. This is primarily due to the following factors. 1. The Programme is seeking to resolve several commercial issues with the preferred option subject to Investment Approval Committee in the early part of FY26/27. Although new equipment delivery stands at over 92% and Notice of Service Availability, the key indicator toward Full Operating Capability (FOC), is over 50%, there are five equipment installation outliers that will not deliver by the currently approved 31 Oct 26 date.

Schedule

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the programme's end-date at 25/26-Q4 remained the same at 31/10/2026. This is primarily due to the following factors. 1. Although the reported end date remains unchanged from Q4 24/25, the Programme will be seeking approval for a revised Full Operating Capability and Programme end date.

Cost

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the project's departmentally agreed Whole Life Cost at 25/26-Q4 (measured in £m) increased from £1828M to £1870M. This is primarily due to the following factors. 1. This uplift reflects the increase in Programme scope to include additional safety critical and operationally essential change required by the Front Line Commands, and delays from previous FYs and added risk because of emerging changes. 2. However, the Programme continues to remain affordable and within its Approved Budgetary Level.

Benefits

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the project's departmentally agreed Benefits at 25/26-Q4 (measured in £m) remained at 0. This is primarily due to the following factors. No monetised benefits.