HeliOperations Secures £41M Royal Navy Contract
HeliOperations has won a £41m, five-year deal to provide two AW139 helicopters for Royal Navy training and maritime support from spring 2026, replacing a Dauphin N2.
The contract, extendable to 2036 and worth up to £68m, includes full technical support and will create 15 jobs while sustaining 80 in the Southwest.
First UK-Built Boxer Delivered
The British Army has received its first fully UK-built Boxer armoured vehicle from RBSL in Telford. The 8×8, part of a £5bn order for 623 units, will be used for training at Bovington.
With 75% UK-sourced components, production supports over 1,000 supply chain jobs, alongside the Challenger 3 and Ajax programmes.
QinetiQ Secures £25M Royal Navy Training Deal
QinetiQ will deliver the Maritime Command and Staff Trainer, a virtual system simulating complex missions to enhance Royal Navy warfighting readiness.
The five-year, £25m contract includes scenario design by Inzpire and data-driven training analysis, building on QinetiQ’s existing synthetic training work from its Portsmouth hub.
£18.6M RAF Coningsby Contract
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded VolkerFitzpatrick an £18.6m contract to carry out resurfacing works at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
The project will support the operational readiness of the base, home to the RAF’s Typhoon fighter fleet.
£4.4M Fire Training Centre Opens at RNAS Culdrose
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation and VIVO Defence Services have delivered a £4.4m Fire Rescue Training Centre at RNAS Culdrose, Cornwall.
The two-storey facility simulates building and ship fires with 1,000°C gas burners, smoke, blackout lighting, and overhead flames, providing realistic yet safe training for the Royal Naval School of Flight Deck Operations. Safety features include emergency shut offs and automatic stop systems.
Captain James Hall hailed it as a vital addition to prepare personnel for real firefighting scenarios.
BAE Systems Backs AI Startup Oxford Dynamics
BAE Systems has invested in UK-based Oxford Dynamics to integrate its AI and robotics technology into defence platforms, starting with the Prophase asset-readiness system.
The collaboration aims to deliver AI-enabled decision-making, autonomy, and resilience across BAE’s portfolio, strengthening UK sovereign defence capabilities. Founded in 2020, Oxford Dynamics develops autonomous systems for faster, more precise mission planning.
Smith’s Detection Acquires Med Graphix
Smith’s Detection has acquired New Jersey-based Med Graphix Inc. (MGI), its service partner of over 20 years, to enhance its sustainable service offering through component repair, refurbishment, and reuse.
MGI’s expertise in repairs, decommissioning, and inventory optimisation has supported key customers and reduced costs. Effective 1 August 2025, MGI will be fully integrated into Smiths Detection, strengthening its global service infrastructure and operational resilience.
Caerdav Signs Maintenance Deal with AerCap
St Athan-based MRO provider Caerdav has signed a General Terms Agreement with AerCap, the world’s largest aircraft leasing company, to provide maintenance services for Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 fleets.
Work will include end-of-lease checks, transitions, and redelivery, supported by Caerdav’s independent, flexible operations and expanded back-shop capabilities, including NDT, paint repairs, and heat treatments. The deal aligns with Caerdav’s growth strategy to increase capacity and further support the leasing sector.
Wall Colmonoy to Open New Casting Furnace
Wales-based Wall Colmonoy will open one of the UK’s most advanced equiaxed vacuum casting furnaces in August 2025, funded through DASA’s Defence Technology Exploitation Programme.
Capable of producing aerospace-grade parts up to 200 kg, the facility will serve defence, Rolls-Royce, and other high-integrity sectors, using digital twin technology to improve quality and recycling legacy alloys to boost sustainability and supply chain resilience.
Skyrora Wins UK’s First Launch Licence
Skyrora has become the first British company licensed to launch from UK soil, with its UK-built Skylark L rocket set to fly from SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland.
Capable of carrying 50kg beyond the Kármán line, the rocket marks a major step in establishing sovereign UK launch capabilities, with plans for up to 16 launches a year by 2030.
Heller Showcasing UK-Made Manufacturing Tech at DSEI
Redditch-based Heller will display its UK-built H-series and HF-series machining centres at DSEI (9–12 September), promoting automation, digital integration, and domestic production to strengthen defence manufacturing.
It will also present its TOKN 5-axis CNC training machine to help develop the UK’s future manufacturing workforce.