Force for the good

摘要

To ensure that UK armed forces have the best equipment to keep them one step ahead of the enemy, the defence sector has developed some of the most advanced and innovative engineering. Design and construction of the new Astute Class submarine (see also Interview, page 30) has been arguably the most challenging engineering project in the UK, involving the production of over 7,000 drawings covering 10,000 separate designs and engineering requirements. The RAF has new squadrons of the elegant Typhoon, fusing the work of aerospace engineers, fluid dynamists, data integrators, sensors and human factors - almost every field of engineering is touched on in delivering this very potent machine. The Army, too, has seen enormous contributions from innovative engineering to protect our forces deployed on operation - strengthening their vehicles, accommodation and personal equipment.rnBut while more than ￡10bn worth of new equipment has been delivered to the forces in the last three years, the MoD has become concerned that some engineers perceived it as an impenetrable organisation not open to newrnbusinesses. That is why the MoD has made it easier for innovators to get involved and ensure we are benefiting fully from the best engineering and technical innovation the UK can offer. The Centre for Defence Enterprise was opened this May at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire. It aims initially to bring inventors directly into contact with the the MoD, providing a dedicated team on-site to talk to them about their innovation. It offers a range of advice, assistance and, importantly, research funding. Even offers of contract from this e-business portal can happen in as little as 15 working days.