London. 12 September 2023 – Elbit Systems UK is announcing further investment to expand its UK ‘Centres of Excellence’ initiative. This builds on the success of Elbit Systems UK’s first Centre of Excellence for electro-optics in Kent. Investment in an additional two hubs will build increased UK based capabilities and innovation to provide for both the home and export markets.
The first Centre of Excellence in Kent was able to act as a pathfinder for the wider programme, bringing high end engineering jobs to this area of the country, and has been operating as a Centre of Excellence for Elbit Systems’ global night vision goggle capabilities and sales since early 2023. In that time, they have continued to deliver for the UK Armed Forces, as well as developing and supporting wider night vision goggle capabilities to be exported to UK Allies.
The next two Centres of Excellence will focus on Training and Simulation, and Electromagnetic Warfare. Elbit Systems UK already has extensive work ongoing with the UK Ministry of Defence across both of these domains. These include the Royal Navy’s training transformation programme, Project Selborne, alongside the Interim Combined Arms Virtual Trainer (Deployable) (ICAVS(D)), the Joint Fires Synthetic Trainer and the Ground Manoeuvre Synthetic Trainer under Project Vulcan for the British Army. Elbit Systems UK also provides the Royal Navy’s Maritime Electronic Warfare System Integrated Capability (MEWSIC) Project Increment 1, providing faster operational decision-making, enhanced situational awareness and anti-ship missile defence capability to ensure operational advantage on Type 45, 26 and 31 frigates, as well as the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.
The new Centres of Excellence will support Elbit Systems UK’s commitment to spiral development for new and existing programmes, while investing in UK jobs and training to maintain a growing and highly skilled workforce for the future. The new Centres are in addition to Elbit Systems UK’s extensive recent investment across the UK including the opening of the new site in Kent, and a new manufacturing facility in Bristol, with investment in staff and sites in the last five years totalling over £30 million.
Martin Fausset, CEO of Elbit Systems UK said:
“Globally Elbit Systems spends 9% of total turnover on research and development, supporting the cutting-edge capabilities that are brought to market. The establishment of the Centres of Excellence in the UK will mean that the best technology and ideas are not just brought to the UK, but developed here from the outset, continuing to provide best in class capabilities with local supply chains and freedom of action for the UK Armed Forces and its allies.”
