Babcock has secured a proof-of-concept contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to support Ukraine’s armed forces by enabling the 3D printing of military equipment. This contract will facilitate the creation of digital designs and Computer Aided Design (CAD) files for military parts, which can be used to produce components locally in Ukraine.
The project will see Babcock, as the prime contractor, collaborate with the UK defense technology firm QinetiQ. Together, they will reverse engineer existing military parts to understand their design and functionality, making it possible to recreate these components digitally. The digital files will allow for the production of parts on demand using 3D printing and other manufacturing techniques, ensuring that Ukraine’s military can maintain its equipment during operations.
Tom Newman, CEO of Babcock’s Land Sector, explained that the goal of the initiative is to provide Ukraine with the capability to produce essential military parts when and where they are needed. This project builds on Babcock’s engineering and technology expertise, particularly in the field of 3D printing.
Alan Hart, Managing Director of Science, Technology and Weapons for QinetiQ, emphasized the company’s role in supporting Ukraine by leveraging its technical expertise in material capability assurance. He highlighted that this contract underscores QinetiQ’s commitment to assisting allied forces.
This new contract is part of Babcock’s ongoing efforts to support Ukraine’s defense. Recently, the company announced an extension to its support, which includes repairing and restoring military vehicles, such as the Challenger 2 tank, to ensure they are quickly returned to the front line. Babcock also provides supply chain management and shares its engineering knowledge to help train Ukrainian forces to conduct repairs independently.