We have an extensive (>60 years) research pedigree in weapons research, including:
- Energetic materials
- Gun systems
- General munitions
- Lethal mechanisms
- Detonics
- Fire control systems
- Internal & external ballistics
- Rocketry
- Seeker systems
- Pyrotechnics & countermeasures
We have been at the forefront of developing collaborative partnerships with UK MOD, industry and academic partners to deliver world class research that is focused on key problems. On behalf of MOD we lead the national research programmes in Energetic Materials, Gun Technologies and Complex Weapons.
As an example, our leadership of the Weapons Technology Centre (WTC) has allowed us to pilot a new approach to the joint planning of research between MOD and industry. This has brought a new coherence between the Equipment and Research programmes that is regarded as an exemplar for the future. As the WTC lead, we coordinate and plan the weapons research programme with MOD and with our industry and academic partners. Together, we assess research needs and place the contracts with the most effective supplier, including our in-house team. The WTC is supporting the key MOD complex weapon acquisition programmes by:
- Maturing technologies for insertion in weapon systems
- Assessing future weapon system options
- Exploring potential new technologies, for insertion into spiral development programmes and the initiation of new and disruptive options
Our efforts are structured around supporting UK and NATO programmes, but we also work for other nations, particularly when an international cooperative approach is taken to weapon research.