Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • UK MoD and industry collaborate at the DMC

Defence Events

UK MoD and industry collaborate at the DMC

The Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC), an advanced production facility and additive manufacturing (AM) innovation hub, hosted the latest UK MoD Strategic Command’s Additive Manufacturing innovation event, on 5th March 2025.

Image courtesy DMC

The Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC), an advanced production facility and additive manufacturing (AM) innovation hub, hosted the latest UK MoD Strategic Command’s Additive Manufacturing innovation event, on 5th March 2025.

This MoD/industry collaborative event was held at DMC’s state-of-the-art AM production facility, located at the world-renowned Silverstone Park. The event was also supported by the Buckinghamshire Enterprise Zone.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025

Project TAMPA is a UK Strategic Command Defence Support sponsored project that is exploring the advantages of integrating the very latest AM (3D-printing) technology 'from factory to foxhole'. From the outset, DMC has been intimately involved with Project TAMPA and is working in close partnership with the MoD and key defence players such as NP Aerospace, Babcock, Thales and RBSL, to support the development and delivery of this high-technology manufacturing capability, into the defence supply chain.

Fully aligned with the MoD’s Land Industrial Strategy (LIS) and the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), TAMPA is a spearhead initiative that is driving forward proactive collaboration with industry to rapidly find and integrate the very latest manufacturing technologies.

TAMPA Spiral 1 validated the ability of AM to produce non-safety critical NATO Stock Number (NSN) parts to the appropriate quality and Spiral 2 is expanding the requirement to include safety critical parts and demonstrate the ability for AM to add value to the part production process. DMC is also working in partnership with NP Aerospace to investigate the additional AM benefits possible by using Direct Energy Deposition (DED) methods to create large metal structural parts leveraging the benefits of AM to reduce lead times, reliance on tooling and cost.

The advantages of AM in the defence supply chain are numerous and include: weight saving; cost reduction, speed and agility; innovation in design, obsolescence management, inventory management and potentially, forward deployed additive manufacturing support.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Major General Phil Prosser, Director Joint Support said, “As the MoD’s Advanced Manufacturing Champion, it is hugely rewarding to witness what we have achieved by exploring and harnessing the benefits that additive manufacturing can bring. Project TAMPA is a prime example of how the MoD can work in partnership with both major defence contractors and smaller innovative British companies like the DMC, to push the boundaries of innovation and technology to maximise defence capability. Collaborating with defence primes and high-technology SME’s in this way is critical to protecting and developing the UK defence supply chain.”

Kieron Salter, CEO at DMC said: “We are very proud to have hosted such an important MoD event at our facility in Silverstone Park. DMC has an advanced engineering pedigree born from the most demanding of sectors such as Formula 1, hyper-cars, aerospace and space. At DMC, we pride ourselves in adopting a holistic approach to additive manufacturing; applying creativity and innovation to our engineering that leads to an optimised final production solution – we don’t just 3D-print to drawing.

"From hyper-cars to armoured vehicles, we apply the same pioneering solutions to ensure the customer secures the maximum benefit from the AM process and it has been a real pleasure to be working on Project TAMPA. I know that we have only just scratched the surface of what is possible through working together with the MoD and the defence supply chain like this, to achieve greater benefits – lots more to come.”

Advertisement
Babcock LB

Defence

16 June 2025

The operation took place in Leith and marked a major milestone in the ship’s build journey. Following a carefully coordinated marine transfer, HMS Venturer has now returned to Babcock's Rosyth facility where outfitting and systems integration will continue in preparation for sea trials.

BAE Systems trialling Avioniq’s decision aid tech on Typhoon

Defence

BAE Systems trialling Avioniq’s decision aid tech on Typhoon

16 June 2025

BAE Systems is working alongside Avioniq to trial AI-driven decision aid technology on Eurofighter Typhoon to explore how it could give fighter jet pilots uniquely optimised threat updates whilst airborne.

Value of aerospace, defence, security and space to UK up 64% in 10 years

Aerospace Defence Security Space

Value of aerospace, defence, security and space to UK up 64% in 10 years

16 June 2025

The UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space sectors added £42.2 billion to the UK economy in 2024, according to new data from ADS, equating to a 64% increase over the last decade.

Babcock and Polish Air Force University team on training

Defence

Babcock and Polish Air Force University team on training

16 June 2025

Babcock and the Polish Air Force University have unveiled plans to use leading edge technology and sensory rich training to prepare military personnel for the fast-changing nature of modern warfare.

Advertisement
Leonardo RT
PTC unveils Onshape

Aerospace Defence Events

PTC unveils Onshape's advanced MBD capabilities at Paris Air Show

13 June 2025

PTC has unveiled its model-based definition (MBD) capabilities within its Onshape computer-aided design (CAD) and product data management (PDM) platform - with Aura Aero - at the Paris Air Show.

UK Defence Secretary opens artillery factory in Sheffield

Defence Events

UK Defence Secretary opens artillery factory in Sheffield

13 June 2025

The UK Defence Secretary John Healey has officially opened a landmark £25 million BAE Systems artillery factory that is the first to restore critical gun barrel manufacturing capability in the UK.

Advertisement
ODU RT