Defence Research Agency

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The Defence Research Agency (normally known as DRA), was an executive agency of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) from April 1991 until April 1995. At the time the DRA was Britain's largest science and technology organisation.

The DRA was formed in April 1991 as an amalgamation of the following Defence Research Establishments:

• Admiralty Research Establishment (ARE) - major sites Portsdown, Hampshire and Southwell, Dorset ("Maritime Division")
• Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) - major site Farnborough, Hampshire ("Aerospace Division")
• Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment (RARDE) - major site Fort Halstead, Kent ("Military Division")
• Royal Signals and Radar Establishment (RSRE) - major site Malvern, Worcestershire ("Electronics Division")

DRA's headquarters was created at the RAE site at Farnborough, but the other major sites maintained a great deal of independence.

DRA's first Chief Executive was Nigel Hughes, followed by John Chisholm who took over in August 1991.

In April 1995 the DRA combined with five other MOD establishments to form the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), DRA's John Chisholm becoming Chief Executive of the enlarged DERA (split in July 2001 into DSTL and QinetiQ).