A major multinational arms firm known for making missiles and jet-fighters has won a £90 million Metropolitan Police contract.
The deal will see Lockheed Martin create an IT system to better organise 999 calls and deploy officers.
Scotland Yard said the system will improve its operational capability and the service given to Londoners.
But concerns have been raised that the Met is handing millions to a firm that makes powerful weapons, including laser-guided bombs and missiles to carry nuclear warheads.
Deputy mayor for policing and crime Stephen Greenhalgh said London’s force needs the system to help meet future challenges.
He said: “[It] will give the Met an upgraded capability that will help officers and staff handle all types of calls for service. It will serve London well.”
The deal will see the Met working in close partnership with Lockheed and its partners, KPMG and Capita, for the next 17 years.
The planned system aims to answer emergency calls and deploy officers more efficiently and give them “improved situational awareness” while on the street.
The overhaul — Scotland Yard’s first refresh of command and control for 30 years — also aims to improve the Met’s use of predictive analytics and data sharing. But the task at hand is huge. The Met employs more than 30,000 officers and 15,000 support staff.
Lockheed Martin already provides systems used in UK air traffic control and by Royal Mail. But the company is also renowned for making the F35 Lightning II jet fighter, due to become the RAF’s main attack aircraft, and weaponry — including equipment provided to the Israeli military.
It also designed and made the submarine-launched Trident missiles that carry the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
Green London Assembly member Baroness Jenny Jones said: “The Met Police’s technology does need updating but I find it depressing to be handing such a large amount of public money to one of the world’s largest makers of arms and missiles.
"Lockheed Martin may have put forward the best bid but giving money to the arms industry is something that makes me deeply uncomfortable."
