3D printing in the field. (Photo: UK MoD Crown copyright)
“We need to move from a supply chain that delivers value for money to one that delivers value for defence.”
That was the message from Major General Phil Prosser, director joint support for UK Strategic Command, speaking at DVD 2024 at UTAC Millbrook. Prosser was advocating “advanced manufacturing” as a way to meet both current defence needs, but as importantly, to meet the defence needs of the military of our short-to-medium-term future.
Advanced manufacturing is a blanket term for using state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies and processes, from 3D printing close to the theatre of use, to lowering the time from prototyping to
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The new artillery and howitzer factory pre-dates the emphasis on this capability from this month’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The first joint industry-government meeting outlined in the review took place this week.
Romania received its first Cobra MkII 4×4 light tactical armoured vehicles, ordered Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs) and VAMTAC light vehicles, and is set to invest billions-of-dollars in infantry fighting vehicles.
The Italian Army operates Pumas in 6×6 and 4×4 configurations but the platforms are ageing and numbers have fallen with obsolescence also being an issue. Any replacement is likely to have a focus on the involvement of local industry.
The VAMTAC (Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctico or High Mobility Tactical Vehicle) 4×4 by Urovesa is in service with or has been ordered by eight countries, the most recent being Spain this month and Romania last month.
Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile with the solid rocket motor (SRM) provided by Northrop Grumman. The company is working to boost its SRM production capability.
The CV90 is in service with or ordered by ten countries. The agreement between six of these countries is designed to create commonality to provide economies of scale and a reduced training burden.
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