Portsmouth based certified Defence Automation Contractors. Siemens automation experts. BPSS cleared.
Defence & Maritime Automation
PLC, SCADA and Control Panel Systems for Defence and Maritime Programmes
Defence automation is not a different discipline from industrial or pharmaceutical automation. It is both of these delivered to a different, (and significantly higher), standard of documentation, security, and engineering rigour. The systems are Siemens, the programming environment is TIA Portal and the platforms are S7-1500, S7-1200, and ET200SP Safety. What changes is the standard of evidence required to demonstrate that the system does what it is supposed to do, and that the people delivering it are cleared to be on-site carrying out the work.
Siemens Solutions Partner
Independently certified by Siemens. TIA Portal, S7-1500, S7-1200, ET200SP Safety, and WinCC SCADA. Accreditation renewed annually.
BPSS Security Cleared
All staff hold Baseline Personnel Security Standard clearance. Site access is not an administrative barrier to resolve after contract award.
JOSCAR Registered
Listed on the Joint Supply Chain Accreditation Register. Pre-qualification is complete and we appear in prime contractor supplier searches.
ISO 9001:2015 Certified
Externally audited quality management system covering the full project lifecycle from requirements through to commissioning and as-built documentation.
Feed4ward has been delivering Siemens PLC, SCADA and control panel systems since 2002. We are a certified Siemens Solution Partner, ISO 9001:2015 accredited, JOSCAR registered, and our engineers hold BPSS security clearance. We are based in Portsmouth, four miles from Gosport’s Victoria Quay and Waterfront. We are well-positioned for naval and defence programmes across the South of England and beyond.
We are currently engaged with MOD prime contractors on Siemens automation programmes. This page explains what we deliver, what our credentials are, and why they matter for defence and maritime work.
What We Deliver
Specialist defence automation contractor for defence programmes. From design specification through to commissioning and audit ready documentation.
PLC Systems
TIA Portal design and programming across S7-1500, S7-1200, and ET200SP. PROFINET, PROFIBUS, Modbus, OPC-UA, and RS422 communications. Full design documentation, test protocols, and as-built records as standard.
Failsafe & Functional Safety Systems
Safety-rated PLC design to BS EN 61508. Safety Integrity Level assessment, failsafe I/O configuration, and Step 7 Safety or TIA Portal Safety programming. Documentation to demonstrate compliance with functional safety requirements.
WinCC SCADA Systems
WinCC Advanced and Unified SCADA design and configuration. Multi-PLC supervisory control, centralised alarm management, data logging, process trending, and audit trail configuration for programmes requiring electronic records.
Control Panel Design & Build
In-house panel build from our Portsmouth workshop. IP-rated enclosures, EMC-compliant cable management, full BS 61439 electrical documentation, and Factory Acceptance Testing witnessed by the client before site delivery.
Engineering Documentation
Full documentation packages to the standard MOD programmes require. Functional Design Specifications, Configuration Specifications, FAT and SAT protocols and reports, as-built records, and formal change control throughout delivery.
Site Commissioning & Support
On-site commissioning by the engineers who designed and built the system. Site Acceptance Testing, operator familiarisation, and post-commissioning support from the team with direct knowledge of the installation.
Feed4ward operates as a specialist Tier 2 and Tier 3 sub-contractor within the MOD supply chain.
We do not compete with prime contractors for programme management or systems integration at scale. We deliver specific, defined scopes of Siemens automation work within programmes managed by primes. This brings certified engineering capability, cleared personnel, and documented delivery processes that meet the sub-contract requirements of MOD programmes.
A certified Siemens Solution Partner with BPSS clearance, ISO 9001:2015 accreditation, and JOSCAR registration brings fewer coordination layers, deeper platform expertise, and better value per engineering hour than equivalent work delivered through a large contractor’s generalist resource pool.
We are actively engaged with MOD prime contractors and attending defence sector events, including MOD supplier engagement events, to build the programme-level relationships that lead to the right capability conversations at the right time.
Frequently asked questions
Do your engineers hold security clearance?
All Feed4ward personnel hold Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance. This covers identity verification, right to work, criminal records check, and a three-year employment history check, the minimum requirement for access to most MOD sites. We do not require the prime contractor to sponsor clearance after contract award.
Are you registered on JOSCAR?
Yes. Feed4ward is registered on the Joint Supply Chain Accreditation Register. Prime contractors and MOD procurement teams use JOSCAR to identify and shortlist specialist sub-contractors. Our registration means the pre-qualification process is complete and we appear in formal supplier searches.
Do you build control panels in-house?
Yes. We design and build control panels from our Portsmouth workshop. For defence applications this includes IP-rated enclosures, EMC-compliant cable management and segregation, full BS 61439 electrical documentation and Factory Acceptance Testing before site delivery. The same team that programmes the PLC builds the panel.
Do you deliver to BS EN 61508 functional safety standards?
Yes. We have delivered failsafe PLC systems to BS EN 61508, including Safety Integrity Level assessment, safety-rated I/O design, and Step 7 Safety programming in TIA Portal. Documentation to demonstrate compliance is produced as part of the project deliverables. We have consistent engagement requiring failsafe systems.
Can you work as a sub-contractor to a prime?
Yes, this is our primary route into defence programmes. We operate as a Tier 2 or Tier 3 sub-contractor, delivering defined scopes of Siemens PLC, SCADA, and control panel work within programmes managed by primes. We are familiar with the flow-down requirements, documentation standards, and change control processes that defence sub-contracts require.
We build our own control panels in-house, so where a project needs panels, PLC hardware and SCADA together, one team carries it end to end.
What Siemens platforms can you work with?
We programme TIA Portal across S7-1500, S7-1200, and ET200SP in both standard and safety-rated configurations. We configure WinCC Advanced and WinCC Unified SCADA systems. We are a certified Siemens Solution Partner, our engineers have been assessed and approved by Siemens directly.
Specifying a system for a defence regulated environment? That conversation is most valuable at requirements stage.
Discuss your projectDiscuss your defence project
Talk to our engineers
If you require a Defence Automation Contractor, an early conversation about scope and platform costs nothing and usually saves rework later.
Feed4ward Control Ltd
Feed4ward Control Ltd
Unit 3, Hilsea Industrial Estate
Limberline Spur
Portsmouth
PO3 5JW
Sales@Feed4ward.com
+44 2392 697 599
Enquiry Form
Feed4ward Control Ltd
Unit 3, Hilsea Industrial Estate
Limberline Spur
Portsmouth
PO3 5JW