A £2.5m subcontract has been awarded to MilDef to supply Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) compliant Processors and Ethernet Switches for the British Army’s upgraded Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank (MBT).
MilDef will manufacture the components at its UK facility in Cardiff, Wales. The company has invested heavily in the site by building an expanded manufacturing space and installing new testing apparatus, such as temperature chambers, as well as upgrading tools and other manufacturing equipment. Six new full-time roles have been created as a result of the contract award, 50 percent of which are apprentice technician roles, with several other roles being sustained at the company.
In total MilDef will deliver over 300 units over the lifetime of the Challenger 3 programme, with deliveries taking place between 2023– 2029.
“MilDef is once again delighted to supply high-performance products together with RBSL into one of the UK MoD’s strategic vehicle programmes. This contract accelerates MilDef’s plans to grow its UK production team and our contribution to job creation in the UK. We are proud to be supporting RBSL, which is playing a key part in delivering the Land Industrial Strategy through its Challenger 3 programme,” says Björn Karlsson, CEO MilDef Group.
RBSL is a UK-based joint venture business between Rheinmetall and BAE Systems. RBSL has a long-standing relationship with the British Army having designed and delivered many of the Army’s existing combat vehicles under different business names, including the Challenger 2. RBSL continues to provide in-service support for British Army vehicle fleets and, in addition to the Challenger 3 programme, is one of the major manufacturers of the Boxer Armoured Fighting Vehicle under the UK MOD’s Mechanised Infantry Vehicle programme.
The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out below, at 10:00 CET on March 15, 2023.