DVD2013 ACHIEVES 10 YEARS OF LAND EQUIPMENT INNOVATION
28 Jun 13. Defence and industry representatives involved in the land equipment sector gathered at Millbrook Proving Ground last week (19th & 20th June) to showcase innovative and efficient solutions for the support, upkeep and development of land equipment and capabilities that will feature in the Army 2020 structure.
The event was opened by Philip Dunne MP, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology who welcomed everyone to the event and said: “I challenge industry to maintain the drum beat of innovation that has underpinned the delivery capability as we transform our support to deliver the Army of the future.”
Attendees came primarily from the DE&S, Army Headquarters and representatives from the Defence Academy, training schools, Joint Headquarters and other key front line commands. The event allowed industry to hear first-hand from soldiers who have deployed on operations, and better understand the equipment that the Army will need to deliver for Future Force 2020 and beyond.
With DVD celebrating its tenth anniversary, Major General Carew Wilks, Director Land Equipment in the MoD’s Defence Equipment and Support Organisation, said, “The impact of DVD over the last ten years has been significant: from developing key relationships to driving innovation for kit and equipment, and ultimately, bringing capability into service. The priority now is for sustaining and supporting all land equipment.”
For the first time DVD was jointly run by Army Headquarters and DE&S Land Equipment, recognizing the new capability role taken on by the Army as part of the Defence Transformation.
Director Logistics, Support and Equipment for the Army, Major General Paul Jaques, explained,“We’ve always been involved, but the difference this year is this is the first year that the Army formally has received the responsibility for budgeting and looking after its own equipment programme. That’s a key change to our responsibilities. We’ve always been involved as users, but this year we’ve become the ‘customer’ with money.”