Babcock has been awarded a proof-of-concept contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to help bolster Ukraine’s defence capability through the use of innovative 3D printing technology.
Under the agreement, Babcock will serve as the prime contractor and collaborate with UK defence technology company QinetiQ to develop digital drawings and Computer Aided Design (CAD) files of military equipment.
These digital assets will enable Ukraine’s armed forces to manufacture equipment parts domestically using a range of methods, including 3D printing, Babcock said in a media release.
Babcock said the technology would involve reverse engineering older parts to understand their design and functionality before reproducing them digitally.
The company said this approach supports the on-demand creation of military components during operations and demonstrates the ability to provide defence support whenever and wherever it is needed.
Tom Newman, CEO of Babcock’s Land Sector, said the project is aimed at empowering Ukrainian forces with the capability to locally produce essential military parts.
“We aim to give Ukraine the capability to recreate the military parts that they need, where and when it really matters,” Newman said.
“This innovation builds on our engineering expertise and technology capability, giving us further opportunities to optimise 3D printing.”
QinetiQ will contribute its expertise in material assurance and technical validation to the initiative. Alan Hart, Managing Director of Science, Technology and Weapons for QinetiQ, said the company is proud to support the program.
“We are delighted to be working with Babcock to support Ukraine, and are immensely proud that QinetiQ is able to draw on our world-leading expertise in technical assurance to assist,” Hart said.
“This latest contract demonstrates QinetiQ’s unequalled expertise in material capability assurance, and commitment to support to the frontline, whether our own or those of our allies,” he added.
Babcock said the contract builds on its ongoing support for Ukraine’s military. The company recently extended its assistance to Ukraine’s armed forces by helping to maintain and restore frontline vehicles, including Challenger 2 tanks.
This includes managing supply chains, spare parts, and sharing engineering knowledge to train Ukrainian personnel in vehicle repairs.
