QINETIQ, Europe's leading science and technology research organisation, has beat off stiff competition to win a five-year, £850,000 contract to manage logistics support for the RAF at Boscombe Down.

Members of QinetiQ's engineering and logistics support service will now manage the RAF stores at Boscombe, which includes stocks of technical equipment, clothing, consumables, fuels and lubricants.

The team of 90 personnel will perform all the management tasks, from accounting and storage to transportation and disposal.

QinetiQ spokesperson Christine Aherne said: "This is a fantastic win for QinetiQ, proving our ability to secure high-quality logistics contracts even when major industry leaders are in the running.

"The RAF is the ultimate 'global company', moving its assets to different locations at very short notice and in difficult conditions.

"Given these tough demands, we are very pleased to have secured this contract."

The lucrative deal will also enable QinetiQ to further harmonise its current operations with those of the RAF, helping to eliminate duplication and increase efficiency.

"By bringing it under one contract, it's going to mean they can improve and develop the best practice that has already been put in place," said a spokesman.

QinetiQ's Boscombe Down site is primarily used to perform impartial flight trials of new aircraft, airborne equipment and weapons, to assess safety and suitability.

Trials are carried out during research, development and production phases, as well as during operational service.