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October 31st 2011 - Minister for Defence Equipment visits General Dynamics UK to learn about its work with SMEs and see new Specialist Vehicle facility

South Wales - Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, the Right Hon. Peter Luff MP visited both of General Dynamics UK’s South Wales facilities today to learn about the valuable work the company is doing to support British Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the defence sector through its EDGE® UK facility in Newbridge, and also see progress on the new £12 million purpose-built facility for the Specialist Vehicle (SV) programme at the company’s Oakdale campus.

Whilst at the EDGE® UK, Minister Luff was introduced to a number of SMEs by Dr. Sandy Wilson, president and managing director of General Dynamics UK. These SMEs included Kodit, who develop asset management solutions, and Rolatube, whose Bistable Reeled Composite (BRC) technology can be used for military antennae. Dr. Wilson explained that EDGE® UK facilitates General Dynamics UK’s search for new technical ideas from SMEs and rapidly assesses whether such technologies can lead to enhanced or new products. General Dynamics then helps SMEs bring their technology to customer’s attention quickly, mindful of the fact that most SME’s cannot financially afford a long, drawn out process. Dr. Wilson also explained that General Dynamics UK rigorously protects the SME’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) - their principal asset - ensuring that the SME gets the best return from the relationship.

Dr. Wilson also explained that solutions already in service and saving lives in theatre feature technologies developed at EDGE® UK such as the Chat facility in Bowman 5.4 whilst others are programmed into SV, such as GDUK’s advanced patented Electronic Architecture system 1

Following the visit to EDGE® UK, the Minister then toured the new facility for the British Army’s SV programme at General Dynamics UK’s Oakdale campus, in which the company has invested £12 million of private venture money. The facility will feature systems integration labs for the testing and development of key elements of SV; garaging and delivery bays for development vehicles; facilities for SV partner companies and customers to work from; and meeting rooms and offices for the General Dynamics SV project team of over 300 employees. Oakdale is the original location of General Dynamics UK’s tactical communication systems business from where it delivers the Bowman programme for the British Armed Forces. General Dynamics is celebrating its 10th anniversary in South Wales this year, and the further investment in the Oakdale campus represents the company’s next phase of investment and commitment to South Wales and the UK.

The SV family of vehicles is a top priority programme for the British Army and is essential to the MoD’s Future Force 2020 strategy. SV is a family of vehicles which in its Scout variant will deliver crucial ISTAR capability to British forces combined with better lethality than any other British Army Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV). The SV family as a whole will deliver the best mine protection and mobility of any current AFV, and the best open Electronic Architecture ever supplied to the British Army. SV variants will include a troop carrier for 8 soldiers, Recovery and Repair vehicles, liaison, escort, Overwatch, engineering support, command post and ambulance as well as the heavier Bridge Layer and Direct Fire capabilities. The Direct Fire variant will have capability equivalent to a Challenger 2 main battle tank.

On visiting the two sites Defence Minister, Peter Luff, said: “This is an impressive company with a broad range of industrial capability which is clearly being put to best use on a wide range of MOD projects and programmes, and I am especially pleased to see the very close working with Small and Medium Enterprises through the EDGE facilities and across the wider supply chain throughout the company’s business model and its major programmes.”

1 UK Patent No. GB2471382.