Urgent Operational Requirement

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An Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) is a system used by the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) to obtain urgent equipment for operations. UORs supplement the MOD's long-term planned procurement programme, and are funded by extra Treasury money.{{cite web |title=Standing commitments |publisher=Ministry of Defence |url=https://www.gov.uk/standing-commitments |access-date=3 March 2014}}

UORs arise from the identification of previously unprovisioned and emerging capability gaps as a result of current or imminent operations or where deliveries under existing contracts for equipment or services require accelerating due to an increased urgency to bring the capability they provided into service. These capability shortfalls are addressed by the urgent procurement of either new or additional equipment, enhancing existing capability, within a time scale that cannot be met by the normal acquisition cycle.{{cite web|access-date=27 February 2010 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |title=Defence factsheet |url=http://www.aof.mod.uk/aofcontent/tactical/toolkit/content/topics/uor.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126075838/http://www.aof.mod.uk/aofcontent/tactical/toolkit/content/topics/uor.htm |archive-date=November 26, 2009 }}

Examples include:

• L129A1 Sharpshooter rifle – procured when British Army operations in Afghanistan found units required accuracy and lethality at ranges beyond that of the standard-issue L85A2 rifle.{{cite web |title=L129A1 Sharpshooter Rifle |date=19 March 2017 |publisher=Armament Research Services |url=https://armamentresearch.com/british-l129a1-sharpshooter-rifle/ |access-date=7 October 2021}}

• MTP Camouflage Uniform – again in Afghanistan, units found their current issue uniform (either woodland or desert Disruptive Pattern Material) unsuitable for the varied terrain. After successful trials of Crye Precision's MultiCam, the decision was made to procure a MultiCam-style camouflage, which later became standard issue.{{cite web |title=British Army to get first new uniform in 40 years |publisher=CNN |access-date=7 October 2021 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/12/20/uk.army.camouflage/index.html}}

• Mk 7 helmet – introduced in June 2009, the Mk 7 was procured after it was found the Mk 6 interfered with new body armour and could tip over soldiers' eyes when lying prone, obscuring vision. It was succeeded by the Mk 8.{{cite web |title=UK Troops get new helmet and body armour |date=25 June 2009 |publisher=BBC |access-date=7 October 2021 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8115327.stm}}

• Archer artillery system – ordered in March 2023 to fill the role of AS-90 systems which had been donated to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War.{{Cite web |last=Chuter |first=Andrew |date=16 March 2023 |title=British Army buys 14 Archer howitzers to fill gap left by Ukraine aid |url=https://www.defensenews.com/land/2023/03/16/british-army-buys-14-archer-howitzers-to-fill-gap-left-by-ukraine-aid/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240119143245/https://www.defensenews.com/land/2023/03/16/british-army-buys-14-archer-howitzers-to-fill-gap-left-by-ukraine-aid/ |archive-date=19 January 2024 |website=Defense News}}