Defence Minister attends land event Dynamic Vehicle Demonstration 2016
Minister for Defence Procurement Harriet Baldwin has visited a two-day showcase of land equipment and technology, helping the British Army maintain its edge to meet future challenges.
Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin with Reservists at todays DVD event. Crown Copyright.
The Defence Vehicle Demonstration (DVD) 2016, held at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, brings together more than 250 companies and is focussed on demonstrating the equipment and technology – current and future - which will keep the British Army—and the UK—at the forefront of global capability.
Among the equipment on show were the Army’s tank carrier, the Heavy Equipment Transporter and Virtus, one of the most advanced integrated body armour systems in the world. Defence Minister Harriet Baldwin toured the showcase and met with leading members of Defence industry, alongside the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, and the CEO of the Minstry of Defence’s (MOD) Defence Equipment and Support body (DE&S), Tony Douglas. On the day the UK celebrates its reserves, the Minister was delighted to meet reservist personnel from all three services.
Speaking at the event, Minister for Defence Procurement, Harriett Baldwin said:
Over the next decade we are committed to spending over £178 billion on equipment and equipment support. To capitalise on our national security strengths, Government and industry work more efficiently, more innovatively, and more internationally.
It’s at events like these – with its potent mix of Army, Industry, and Defence procurement experts – that ideas take hold, relationships are formed, and things get done.
DVD 2016 is jointly sponsored by the Army and DE&S, and seeks to foster ever more effective innovation and collaboration between Government and industry—from large companies to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—to develop ideas and generate greater understanding of technologies, capabilities and requirements.
This year, DVD is organised around three mutually supportive themes: Ready Forces, Strike, and Reducing Logistic Need. Each of these underpins the Army’s fitness to meet future challenges: to develop, modernise, and sustain capability in a complex and developing world.
-
Strike. The in-service and future platforms required to deliver the Army’s new Strike capability: the ability to rapidly project land power and dominate the ground.
-
Reducing Logistic Need. The technologies and innovations to make the Army as efficient as possible
-
Ready Forces. The capabilities to enable the right forces, at the right readiness, to deal with the full range of operational demands that could be placed upon them.
Tony Douglas, CEO of Defence Equipment & Support, said:
Our aim is, and always will be, to deliver outstanding equipment and support to our Armed Forces.
DVD is of great importance in helping us achieve this goal. It is an excellent opportunity for suppliers, including SMEs, to bring innovative solutions to the table.
The event also allows DE&S to continue strengthening its relationship with industry to ensure we have a shared vision on innovation and prosperity.