Defence

Vehicle Support Team wins Minister for Defence Procurement Acquisition Award

Posted 6 May 2022

The Vehicle Support Team (Operations), part of the DE&S Organisation, has won a Minister for Defence Procurement Acquisition Award for supporting the deployment of British troops to Mali on Operation NEWCOMBE, which was a collaborative effort involving Army HQ, DE&S, Babcock and other industry partners.

Image courtesy MoD Crown copyright

The team, comprised of both military and civilian personnel, is responsible for the in-service support of the land vehicle fleet on operations and training worldwide.

Together, this team jointly delivered urgent operational requirements to prepare vehicles to operate in the most challenging environments.

Jeremy Quin MP, Minister of State for Defence Procurement, congratulated the Vehicle Support Team on their success. Their efforts, which included major vehicle modifications and protection measures, significantly increased the safety of staff deployed in Mali.

Louise Atkinson, Babcock Managing Director of Defence Equipment, said: “We are very proud of the important role we have to play in supporting the British Army and DE&S in delivering their critical mission.

“The team has demonstrated the power of true integration with our customer and with the wider defence industry, and this recognition highlights the excellent outputs delivered by the enterprise-wide team in support of UK Armed Forces.”

Colonel Matt Wilkinson, Field Army, said: “The Vehicle Support Team and their industry partners have been instrumental in delivering a step-change in capability for the Op NEWCOMBE battlegroup.

“The team has directly contributed to the achievement of the British Army’s mission in support of the United Nations, sustaining British Army and wider Defence industry reputations.”