Main contractor with direct government contract, responsible for managing subcontractors and delivery.
A prime contractor holds the main contract directly with the government customer (typically MOD) and takes overall responsibility for delivery. Primes manage subcontractors, integrate components, and are accountable for programme success. Major UK defence primes include BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and Leonardo. Primes flow down contractual requirements (including DEFCON 658) to their supply chains. Working with primes often requires meeting their security requirements beyond baseline MOD requirements.
Why It Matters
The DSC Perspective:
Primes are gatekeepers to defence opportunities. Meeting their security and quality requirements is essential for supply chain participation. Primes often have additional security requirements beyond MOD minimums.