QinetiQ facility to enhance UK submarine maintenance

Image courtesy QinetiQ

Delivered through two contracts with the Submarine Delivery Group (SDG)’s Additive Manufacturing team, the Additive Manufacturing All In One (AIO) solution – a UK sovereign point-of-need capability – and its Market Access Cell (MAC) will together enable submarine components to be manufactured to order onsite by QinetiQ and Royal Navy submariners and delivered dockside to the boats at pace. 

More complex parts will be reverse engineered by QinetiQ and manufactured through an accredited network of UK-based additive and advanced manufacturing SMEs, drawing on expertise from some of the nation’s most demanding engineering sectors, including Formula 1. 

QinetiQ will operate the containers in Faslane, supported by submariners of the Royal Navy. 

In March this year, QinetiQ’s expertise in additive manufacturing supported a routine maintenance period for HMS Anson as it visited Perth, Australia. This saw QinetiQ rapidly design the required critical components, delivering replacements in just four weeks – much quicker than normal supply chain lead times. 

Will Blamey, Chief Executive, UK Defence, QinetiQ, said: “Our proven expertise in additive manufacturing combined with the latest technology being installed at HM Naval Base Clyde will see us print, scan and reverse engineer submarine parts on demand, at pace and at dockside, helping to get submarines back on operations more quickly.” 

First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, who launched the Submarine Maintenance Recovery Plan (SMRP) in January, said: “The arrival of these deployable workshops marks a step forward in delivering the Submarine Maintenance Recovery Plan.  This new technology has the potential to change how we maintain our submarines – cutting time alongside and increasing availability.  It represents the real, tangible, progress the Royal Navy is making to strengthen the underwater fleet.” 

Paul Duff, Associate Materials Scientist, QinetiQ, said: “Working in the Additive Manufacturing All-in-One facility alongside Royal Navy personnel will provide us with an incredible opportunity to show how additive manufacturing can transform routine submarine maintenance. It’s been very rewarding to see the facility come together in Farnborough and even more exciting to see it now deployed at HMNB Clyde.” 

Commander Max, SDG Additive Manufacturing Lead, said: “By enabling engineers to produce components on-site, we are reducing dependence on complex supply chains and accelerating repair timelines, ultimately improving the submarine’s material state and availability."