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A UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) strategy on Advanced Manufacturing has been released. The paper focusses on additive manufacturing specifically with lessons learnt from Ukraine, the opportunities, and overcoming obstacles in the adoption of the technique for UK defence.
Defence Support has published the strategy paper on Defence Advanced Manufacturing (AdvM), titled ‘Accelerating the adoption of additive manufacturing (AM) within the UK defence sector.’
The purpose of the strategy is the need for rapid industry adoption of AM which will be underpinned by a commitment to further invest and grow support in this area. With the overarching vision stated as: Additive manufacturing boosts supply chain resilience and provides a step change in platform and equipment availability and readiness.
It considers the lessons learnt from Ukraine by UK defence and industry, highlighting the speed of repair and fast delivery as key. Alongside, innovation, iteration, and prototyping as integral areas as well. The strategy found that the UK must use new manufacturing methods to ensure rapid response and quick delivery turnarounds.
Furthermore, the UK MoD’s Project Tampa and its working groups validated the use of AM in the supply chain and the significant defence benefits the application provided.
Vice Admiral Andy Kyte CB FCLIT, Chief of Defence Logistics and Support, commented that “This strategy outlines our intent to embrace AM in new designs, to help resolve obsolescence and to increase our competitive edge through development of expeditious battle damage repair techniques.
“This exciting technology has been in existence for some time, and defence must now realise the latent benefits it offers, in terms of operational availability, improved supply chain resilience and efficiency.”
Vice Adm Kyte explained further that the employment of AM for rapid repairs by Front Line Command (FLC) enhances effectiveness. For example, the Submarine Delivery Agency has been driving the adoption of the technique in submarine design. More widely, AM is being exploited in other sectors for complex designs and fast assembly, weight reduction, and optimisation of resources.
The strategy focuses on three interconnected areas which leverage AM benefits, addresses controls and facilitates implementation for a global supply network:
- Incentivise investment: Industry should be encouraged to adopt AM technology through partnerships and future design integration. Therefore, enhancing capability and support for UK MoD platforms. Significance was also placed on the digitisation of key inventory items.
- Unlocking constraints: Ensure support, financial, and commercial policies as this will advance response speed, foster resilience, and agility in the supply chain.
- Establish Supply Networks: Through the creation of organised groups that will incorporate AM technology into the supply chain alongside defined roles of allies, permanent Joint Operating Bases, FLC and MoD.
These areas are underpinned by priorities that comprise of, but not limited to, a new hub which will provide SMEs with improved access to the defence supply chain, strategic partnering and the building of trust between MoD, industry, research, and the UK High Value Manufacturing Catapult, plus multi-national collaboration.
Vice Adm Kyte added: “For industry, this strategy should be a welcome statement of our intent to facilitate further investment and growth; striving for AdvM to be our new normal. This is entirely consistent with the UK government’s commitment to develop a faster, more resilient supply chain, driving economic growth, boosting British jobs, and strengthening national security.
“It is absolutely aligned with experience borne out of Ukraine, by seizing opportunities presented by new technologies, whilst also having the potential to have a positive impact on environmental sustainability and prosperity.”
A programme of work will now be explored, and the next step will be on MoD adoption of AM. WEAF will continue to monitor any updates and progress with this initiative and any specific impact to the region.
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