News

November 18th 2011 - General Dynamics UK welcomes SME partners to JIRAD 2011

Newbridge, South Wales – General Dynamics UK demonstrated its continuing commitment to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the UK by hosting 70 SME partners, academics and members of the Welsh government at its end-of-year Joint Internal Research and Development (JIRAD) capability demonstration in South Wales yesterday. General Dynamics UK has worked closely with SMEs and educational establishments from all over the UK through its EDGE UK® facility to develop innovative technologies for its Ministry of Defence customers. Many of these technologies were demonstrated at the JIRAD event.

“During his visit to the EDGE UK a few weeks ago, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, re-emphasized the need for prime contractors to talent-spot innovative SMEs,” commented Dr. Sandy Wilson, president and managing director of General Dynamics UK. “This is exactly why we established the EDGE UK in 2008. It has helped us and a number of SMEs realise the potential of their technologies over the last few years, leading to greater employment for those small companies, and facilitating contributions to MoD programmes.”

SME’s working with General Dynamics UK at the EDGE UK®

General Dynamics UK works closely with SMEs to bring relevant new technology to light that benefit MoD programmes. The company is currently working with an array of innovative UK companies, including Aeroflex Test Solutions, BARCO and Comrod.

Aeroflex Test Solutions works closely with General Dynamics UK’s Deployable Logistics team to integrate automated test systems for testing software defined radios and related equipment. BARCO provides a Networked Visualisation screen for command posts. The screen provides multiple display systems and enhances situational awareness to improve battlefield understanding, force management, planning and resource allocation. Comrod designs and manufactures military antennas, marine antennas, telescopic & sectional masts, power supplies, battery chargers and specialist composite products.

Following their attendance at last year’s JIRAD, Extreme Cases and Wales-based Kodit became EDGE UK members. In the last 12 months, Extreme Cases worked with General Dynamics UK to integrate its first product for the defence and security market, which was on display at this year’s JIRAD. Kodit has recently embarked on a project with General Dynamics to adapt its asset management technology for military use.

“Kodit’s membership in EDGE UK has allowed us access to an excellent support mechanism to help us see the possibilities for our technology in a new market,” Helen Mollart, Sales Director at Kodit, commented at the event. “The flexibility of the EDGE UK® concept provides a unique platform for individual SMEs to fully demonstrate their capabilities to military end-users in an expertly managed facility.”