Telent has been entrusted with one of the RAF’s most strategically important technical responsibilities, transforming how IT and communication infrastructure changes are approved and delivered across 244 sites, including all military air traffic control infrastructure.
The contract, awarded to the UK’s mission-critical technology provider, will see Telent operate and enhance the RAF’s Site Co-ordination, Installation and Design Authority (SCIDA) service. The SCIDA service plays a critical role in the deployment of digital technology, a crucial component of today’s defence capability for the RAF and all branches of the armed services.
The contract begins in January 2026, with a four-year delivery phase starting from April. Telent will introduce a dedicated customer liaison lead and invest in process improvement roles to modernise outdated workflows and drive greater efficiency, including significant projected cost savings through smarter service design.
“Telent is playing a critical role in IT and communications at the heart of the RAF’s technology infrastructure,” said Barry Zielinski, Defence Strategy and Development Director at Telent. “We have been entrusted with protecting the integrity of RAF infrastructure by rethinking how infrastructure changes are approved and delivered across some of the UK’s most secure defence environments. Our approach starts with people. Over the first six months, we will focus on deeply understanding the operation before introducing smart, targeted innovations that deliver speed, consistency and security where it matters most.”
SCIDA provides a critical function for any new telecoms or IT infrastructure across military sites, ensuring all installations meet rigorous certification and security requirements. Telent will oversee the end-to-end management of change control documentation and stakeholder engagement, while exploring opportunities to replace legacy processes – many of which are still manually managed in spreadsheets – with modern, secure digital systems.
Commenting on the contract Dr. Arif Mustafa, Director Digital Information & CIO at RAF Digital said, “The RAF is delighted to be working with Telent to provide SCIDA services. With the ever- increasing demand for digital capability, and widespread improvements to our estate, high quality configuration control and design standards are vital to ensure we continue to deliver critical operational outputs at pace. Telent’s track record in providing digital transformation with critical national infrastructure programmes gives us confidence that the RAF will remain well placed to meet these demands.”
Telent will introduce tools to enable automation within MOD’s secure Modnet environment to streamline approvals, improve transparency, and reduce the burden of manual admin. One key focus is integrating the RAF’s AutoCAD planning system directly into Modnet, eliminating dual-system inefficiencies and reducing rework. These changes will enable location-independent access to systems, allowing personnel to manage tasks remotely, saving time, improving service coverage, and freeing teams to focus on higher-value work. For RAF staff currently juggling site visits and heavy paperwork, the improvements represent a step-change in day-to-day efficiency.
These improvements are being shaped in active collaboration with RAF Air Command, ensuring alignment with both day-to-day operational needs and long-term strategic priorities.
“This contract is also a recognition of Telent’s growing role in UK defence,” added Barry. “We are not just delivering a service; we are helping shape how the RAF manages critical infrastructure for the future. That is a responsibility we take seriously, and we are bringing the right people, tools and mindset to help modernise defence infrastructure delivery and ensure it is fit for the future.”
This win strengthens Telent’s position within the UK defence technology ecosystem and highlights its capability in delivering secure, high-trust, people-led services for the nation’s most critical operations. As part of this transition, Telent will welcome 37 skilled team members into the business, providing clarity, support and continuity throughout the onboarding process.
There’s plenty of other editorial on our sister site, Electronic Specifier! Or you can always join in the conversation by visiting our LinkedIn page.
