Sponsored By Oxley Developments
www.oxleygroup.com
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04 Feb 25. ‘Tornado 2 Tempest’: Fighter jet component recycling project off to flying start. Individual parts from retired Tornado aircraft have been ground down and 3D printed into new components suitable for next generation Tempest fighter jets.
First-of-its-kind initiative shows how defence is an engine for growth and supports the government’s Plan for Change.
Development could save money, support the UK defence industry and producer higher quality components.
Individual parts from retired fighter jets have been ground down and 3D printed into new components suitable for the UK’s next generation of military aircraft – a first of its kind initiative for the Royal Air Force.
The innovative recycling project has seen parts from old Tornado aircraft turned into powered metal and used to 3D print new components suitable for Tempest jets. This is a great example of UK-developed technology of the future, and demonstrates UK defence industry as an engine for growth and a key part of the Government’s Plan for Change.
The development could save taxpayer money, reduce the UK’s reliance on global supply chains of critical and high value metals and produce components that are lighter, stronger, and longer lasting than those made through traditional forging techniques.
Many of the Ministry of Defence’s surplus assets contain strategic metals, including high quality steel, aluminum, and titanium, and the Tornado 2 Tempest project team have been identifying whether some of these components could be atomised into powders – known as “feedstock” – for additive manufacturing to make new parts.
Tornado parts containing titanium, including jet engine compressor blades from a low-pressure air compressor, were selected. They were cleaned, successfully atomised and recycled into a 3D printed nose cone and compressor blades by Additive Manufacturing Solutions Limited (AMS) for Orpheus – Rolls-Royce’s small engine concept that is part of the MOD’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme delivering Tempest.
The nose cone was fitted onto an Orpheus test engine and passed suitability and safety checks – demonstrating the technique has potential use in the sixth-generation jet.
Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle said: “The Tornado 2 Tempest project highlights the creativity, ingenuity and innovation defence employs in our approach to national security. By working with key industry partners, we can deliver savings, reduce reliance on global supply chains and ensure our Armed Forces have the very best kit to keep our country safe. Not only does this initiative have a positive impact on the environment and national security, it supports the domestic defence industry acting as an engine for growth, which is at the heart of Plan for Change.”
The project was led by Defence Equipment and Support’s (DE&S) Defence Recycling & Disposals Team (DRDT) in partnership with the MOD FCAS team, Rolls-Royce and AMS based in Burscough, Lancashire.
The initiative also led to the creation of three jobs and sustained two at Small Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME), AMS. The business now expects to create 25 new jobs by offering the innovation to other suppliers.
A team of more than 80 people participated in the project, including DRDT’s commercial graduates and Rolls-Royce graduate apprentices, combining current skills and innovative technologies to deliver and maintain future capabilities.
Funded by UK Strategic Command’s Defence Support Organisation in relation to its Circular Economics for Defence Concept Note, the feat shows that turning old parts into new is viable and could bring huge benefits to the MOD and wider Defence, especially through increasing the accessibility of strategic metals to the UK Defence industry and suppliers.
The MOD’s Chief of Defence Logistics and Support (CDLS) recently awarded the Tornado 2 Tempest Rolls-Royce Team a CDLS Commendation in recognition of their commitment and dedication to the delivery and improvement of support to the front line.
The team also demonstrated a Digital Product Passport (DPP) by capturing and recording material provenance and lifecycle data. This can potentially enable more informed decisions around material allocation and protect against the use of counterfeit materials.
Andrew Eady, Rolls-Royce VP FCAS Sustainability, said: “The Tornado 2 Tempest project exemplifies the forward-thinking sustainability principles embedded in the FCAS Sustainability Strategy and MoD Defence Support Strategy. This project is bold, exciting and innovative, and a demonstration of exemplary collaboration between the MoD, industry and SME, furthering the drive for circular economy practices and innovative digital enablers in Defence.”
Robert Higham, AMS Director, said: “At AMS our tagline is ‘Innovative Solutions for a Sustainable Future’ and we were confident our innovations and ideas would have a great bearing on the future of a resilient supply.
This project turned our proposed solutions into a reality, and we have been very humbled and grateful to the MOD and Rolls Royce, for allowing us to showcase our capability to deliver game-changing circular economy processes and parts in Defence.” (Source: airforce-technology.com)
04 Feb 25. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is advancing the U.S. Navy’s airborne navigation capabilities with implementation of the LN-251M, the next-generation upgrade of the LN-251 Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System (INS/GPS). The LN-251M features M-code – an encrypted, military-specific signal with stronger jam resistance to shield against adversarial threats.
- This is the first M-code navigation system for naval aircraft.
- M-code technology provides enhanced robustness to counter GPS signal degradation, enabling pilots greater ability to effectively operate in air spaces where GPS has been shut down or spoofed.
- LN-251s equipped with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Modules GPS may easily upgrade to M-code configuration.
Expert:
Ryan Arrington, vice president, navigation and cockpit systems, Northrop Grumman: “The LN-251M is Northrop Grumman’s newest innovation in elevating airborne navigation to the next level. This important enhancement is a critical milestone for delivering advanced positioning, navigation and timing capabilities because it enables pilots to safely operate with a jam-resilient navigation system for naval aircraft.”
Program Details:
LN-251s are designed to seamlessly integrate with current aircraft navigation systems and perform cohesively with future software and GPS modernization upgrades. Northrop Grumman began producing the LN-251 INS/GPS in 2003.To date, the company has delivered nearly 5,000 LN-251s and similar LN-270 INS/GPS units.
04 Feb 25. The Open Group, the vendor-neutral technology standards organization, has today announced that the SOSA® Consortium has voted to commence with its Conformance Certification Program, with The Open Group as the Certification Authority. The SOSA Conformance Certification Program is based on Conformance Sets that define various segments of the architecture. For each Conformance Set, the Supplier must attain independent verification of its claims of conformance. SOSA certified elements, including Modules, Software Environments, and Plug-In Cards (PICs), allow end users to build open, interoperable, and secure systems with products from multiple suppliers, offering greater flexibility in obsolescence management, system upgrades, and technology infusion.
Patrick Collier, SOSA Conformance Standing Committee Chair, commented: “A fundamental tenet of SOSA conformance and certification is independent verification of products developed with the SOSA Technical Standard. This pillar is foundational and ensures strict adherence to the standard based on the number of Conformance Sets used by the developer.”
Sharon Langbehn, SOSA Consortium Director added: “The vote to start a Conformance Certification Program is an important milestone on our journey towards developing business acquisition practices and a technical environment for sensors and C5ISR payloads. SOSA Conformance Certification is essential to ensure interoperability, ease of integration, and trust in the marketplace.”
The Open Group is currently looking for Verification Authorities to provide independent verification for the program.
03 Feb 25. Nimy Resources, M2i Global partner to secure gallium supply for US Government. The partnership aims to bolster US and allies’ security by securing gallium for semiconductors, radar and aerospace.
Nimy Resources, a nickel exploration and mining company, has entered into a non-binding collaboration agreement with engineering and services company M2i Global to secure a steady supply of gallium for the US Department of Defense’s technological needs.
This strategic move aims to bolster the defence and economic security of the US and its free trade partners by ensuring the availability of gallium, a critical mineral, for various applications including semiconductor production, radar and aerospace technologies.
Nimy Resources chairperson Neil Warburton said: “Nimy’s strategy of developing a diversified integrated gallium supply chain continues to gain momentum and the agreement with M2i Global is a continuation of this progress.”
The US Department of Defense, through its Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization Office, has expressed a keen interest in establishing a reliable and sustainable gallium supply.
M2i executive chairperson Doug Cole said: “Our core mission is fortifying our nation’s critical material supply by providing secure and reliable access to key resources for the US.
“We are excited to work closely with Nimy to advance their vision of setting the benchmark for the integrated supply of superior quality, natural gallium material to the growing technology industry.”
M2i Global creates comprehensive global supply chains for critical minerals, enhancing US national defence, economic growth and security.
The company’s subsidiaries, US Minerals and Metals Corp., are at the forefront of engineering, research and services, integrating resources from government, business, academia and non-profits to facilitate access to essential minerals and metals.
M2i president and CEO Major General (Ret) Al Rosendo said: “This agreement with Nimy will assist the work we are doing in support of US National Defense and Economic Security.
“M2i will continue its efforts to meet the needs identified by the Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization office, which works to assure a reliable, sustainable supply of gallium and other critical materials within the US to be used in the production of semi-conductors in the advanced technology sector.
“DOD wants to build a resilient industrial base to meet current and future national defence requirements.” (Source: naval-technology.com)
04 Feb 25. UK government seeks out quantum industry experts for advisory board to accelerate deployment of game-changing technology.
Key specialists are being called upon to join a board advising the UK government in seizing the transformative potential of quantum technologies today.
- UK’s leadership on breakthrough quantum tech celebrated as the International Year of Quantum begins today
- DSIT is looking for experts from industry and academia to advise on how to further accelerate the benefits of quantum for the UK
- UK delegation, led by National Technology Advisor Dave Smith, will visit the UNESCO HQ in Paris to celebrate 100 years of quantum breakthroughs and the subsequent benefits, from drug discoveries to boosts in cybersecurity
Key specialists are being called upon to join a board advising the UK government in seizing the transformative potential of quantum technologies today (Tuesday 4 February).
An Expression of Interest (EOI) has now launched for new members to join DSIT’s Quantum Strategic Advisory Board (SAB).
The recruitment push comes as a UK delegation is set to fly the flag for British quantum at a global event in Paris celebrating quantum’s remarkable impact on the world in the past century.
With at least 160 companies active up and down the country, the UK is home to the second largest quantum sector globally, strongly supported by investment from the public and private sectors.
To raise awareness of how quantum innovations are improving our lives by driving growth, creating jobs and delivering breakthroughs in fields like healthcare, UK officials, led by the National Technology Advisor, will mark the start of the International Year of Quantum in Paris today.
The event, convened by UNESCO, marks 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics, and brings together the leading lights in the field from across the entire world to exchange ideas and showcase best practices in quantum science education, research and industry applications.
Quantum technologies harness the unique properties of subatomic particles to process information and solve pressing problems in a new way. New innovations in quantum, such as improved health diagnostics and future proofing cyber security to make our streets safe, will help drive the government’s Plan for Change.
To seize the potential of this technology and support the UK’s vision to be a leading quantum-enabled economy, DSIT is expanding and bolstering its Quantum Strategic Advisory Board.
UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said:
Joining the Quantum Advisory Board is a great opportunity for those who understand the potential of quantum best to help harness the benefits of quantum for the economy and society.
This government restates its commitment to quantum science and technology and the advice of the Board will be invaluable as we continue to play a key role in ensuring the UK maintains its leadership in this area.
UK National Technology Advisor, Dave Smith said:
It’s only right that in 2025 we are celebrating quantum’s transformative potential. From telecommunications to improved medical imaging, quantum science and technology has been central to the groundbreaking innovations of this century.
The future innovations that could emerge from this technology will help us to benefit from the enlightened combination of long-term partnership from academia, government and the private sector. They will benefit all of us in our daily lives and grow brilliant UK companies and create jobs.
Leading experts from academic and industry can apply to join the Board, chaired by Sir Peter Knight, and advise the UK government on quantum technologies, contributing to the implementation of the National Quantum Strategy.
As a critical technology that offers solutions in almost every sector, from healthcare to energy, quantum will form an important part of the government’s forthcoming industrial strategy. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
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Oxley Group Ltd
Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.
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The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.
https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/
Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.
Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.
Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide. The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting. It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.
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