Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • WFEL hosts Australian Department of Defence Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group

Defence

WFEL hosts Australian Department of Defence Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group

WFEL welcomed Brigadier Ed Smeaton - Director General Land Manoeuvre Systems of the Australian Department of Defence this week, to their defence manufacturing facilities.

Brigadier Smeaton’s organisation, which is part of the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, is responsible for the acquisition and through-life support of a wide range of land-based capabilities required by the Australian Defence Force (ADF), including bridging.
 
Brigadier Smeaton was delighted to be shown around WFEL’s production facility, which is currently supplying a number of its Dry Support Bridges (DSB) and Medium Girder Bridges (MGB) to the ADF under the Land 155 Phase 1 Enhanced Gap Crossing Capability project.

Advertisement
ODU RT

The Brigadier was also keen to discover more about WFEL’s wider technical capabilities within the defence sector, and to see the latest developments across a full range of rapidly-deployable bridging products.

As a long-standing user of WFEL’s MGB bridges since the 1970’s, the ADF has recently taken delivery of their first new sets of WFEL’s rapidly-deployable bridging systems, and the Brigadier was keen to observe the technical operations behind the manufacture of these bridges. 

After having been shown around the facilities by WFEL’s Managing Director, Ian Anderton, Brigadier Smeaton commented, “My visit today was extremely informative and your team were both passionate and engaging.  It was a particularly good opportunity to understand the design and complexity that goes into the manufacturing of your bridging products.  As a customer and user, it was reassuring to see the level of testing and quality assurance completed at each stage in the process.”

Ian Anderton added, ‘We are extremely proud to have supplied our Australian customer with a world-leading set of bridging systems and we look forward to developing further our ongoing relationship”.

Advertisement
ODU RT

WFEL will be attending the Eurosatory show next week in Paris.


 

Advertisement
General Atomics LB
LEDsynergy partners with LEDX Technology

Aerospace Defence Security

LEDsynergy partners with LEDX Technology

8 May 2026

Andover based LEDsynergy, a long-established UK manufacturer of LED display solutions, has announced a strategic manufacturing partnership with India’s LED display manufacturer LEDX Technology, marking a significant step forward in its global production strategy.

Vision Engineering to showcase high-tech solutions at Smart Factory Expo

Aerospace Defence Events

Vision Engineering to showcase high-tech solutions at Smart Factory Expo

8 May 2026

UK based designer and manufacturer of high-tech ergonomic optical and digital inspection, metrology systems and bespoke engineering solutions, Vision Engineering Group, has revealed its expansive showcase for the upcoming Smart Factory Expo, taking place next month at the NEC in Birmingham from 3rd-4th June 2026.

ADS supports SMEs reinforcing UK defence capability

Defence Events

ADS supports SMEs reinforcing UK defence capability

8 May 2026

ADS recently hosted 'The Future Starts Small' in partnership with RC Fornax, bringing together SMEs, MoD stakeholders and defence leaders for a focused discussion on the future of UK defence capability.

Belfast boosts FSS programme

Defence

Belfast boosts FSS programme

7 May 2026

Navantia UK today welcomed Commodore Sam Shattock RFA, Commodore Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Rear Admiral Matthew Stratton, Director Naval Acquisition, to its Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast to see progress on the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Royal Navy uses tech for operational edge in Information Warfare

Defence Events

Royal Navy uses tech for operational edge in Information Warfare

7 May 2026

Navy Digital – the Service’s experts in digital capabilities, skills and Information Warfare – and other specialists from across the Royal Navy, teamed up with industry partners to test off-the-shelf cutting-edge technology that, when linked together, creates a ‘mesh network’ which can be deployed to enable front line operations.

MoD awards £6m eLoran concept contract to Team Elaris

Defence

MoD awards £6m eLoran concept contract to Team Elaris

7 May 2026

QinetiQ-led Team Elaris has been awarded a £6 million contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to develop a deployable solution concept for enhanced Long-Range Navigation (eLoran).

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner