The Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has joined forces with industry to develop the UK’s first ceramic armour development centre of excellence, in Newport, South Wales, Vigilance can report.
The MoD and Kennametal Manufacturing UK Ltd are jointly funding the £2 million state-of-the-art facility, which will be the largest in Europe, helping to sustain 50 local jobs. It will develop full size ceramic armour components for personnel and vehicle protection, large enough for full scale impact tests.
Specialised manufacturing facilities mean that ideas generated in the development centre can be produced on site in Newport.
Vigilance learnt that Dstl is already working with Tata Steel in Port Talbot to develop advanced steel armour and this new specialist high-tech ceramic facility in Newportit was gathered would see South Wales become the UK’s centre of advanced military armour technology.
Also it was learnt improved UK based development and production would help reduce the reliance on imports of ceramic armour and make it more readily available during the development of any future vehicles or body armour.
Speaking at the Defence Security Equipment International (DSEI) Conference in London, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne enthused: “I am pleased that this investment in a state-of-the art facility in South Wales, the largest in Europe, will further advance the United Kingdom’s freedom of action in advanced ceramic armour. This contract is a good example of the Ministry of Defence using its Science and Technology budget to develop innovation in the UK Defence Sector.”
Professor Peter Brown of Dstl said: “This joint investment is the culmination of four years work. The ability to make ceramic samples large enough for full scale impact tests and the very significant reduction in time taken to produce a sample, means that we can investigate a much wider range of innovative formulations, faster and more cheaply than before.”
Mike Williams, Kennametal MD said: “This is an exciting opportunity for Kennametal Manufacturing UK Ltd to work with the MoD and Dstl and also expand its portfolio in to the field of high performance ceramic armour products.”