The British Ministry of Defence has signed a contract worth £552,238.88 with Acoustic Technologies for the supply of a rapidly developing airstrike warning system at the British RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus.
According to a report by ukdefencejournal, the contract was signed on September 3, while according to the relevant announcement, the validity dates of the contract are set from October 5, 2026 to October 4, 2027. However, the same announcement states that "the contract will be for 5 years", creating a difference between the description of the contract and the dates mentioned separately.
The need for the procurement of the system concerns the reinforcement of the air raid warning sirens already in RAF Akrotiri. As mentioned, the system should be able to cover the area of RAF Akrotiri and the village of Akrotiri, in order to provide a warning to the local community.
The new system should have different warning sounds, including for an airstrike or an imminent threat, as well as an end alarm signal. At the same time, it will provide the possibility of live and pre-recorded voice announcements.
A basic condition is also that the system is portable and can operate independently of any fixed infrastructure. The contract includes the supply, installation and commissioning, documentation, training, warranty, as well as support throughout the life of the system.
Acoustic Technologies, which operates under the trade name ATI Systems, is headquartered in Boston, United States, and is listed as a small and medium-sized enterprise. The award procedure was carried out through an open procedure, while, according to the previous award notice, two tenders were submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises. The contract was awarded through the headquarters of the British Forces in Cyprus in Episkopi.
Under the UK Public Procurement Act 2023, a notice of contract details must be published within 30 days of its signature when its value exceeds the prescribed limit.
RAF Akrotiri is the Royal Air Force's permanent operational base in the eastern Mediterranean.
From the base, among other things, flights of Typhoon fighters for strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria as part of Operation Shader, as well as RAF operations against Houthi targets in Yemen in 2024, were carried out.
The base is located about 100 miles off the Syrian coast and relatively close to Lebanon, Israel and the wider Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East region. The Sovereign Areas of the British Bases were maintained under the 1960 Treaty, which granted the independence of Cyprus.
As the village of Akrotiri is located within the boundaries of the British Bases, the competent authorities have the responsibility to warn not only the military personnel and their families, but also the civilian population.
