Belgian weapons systems designer, manufacturer and integrator CMI Defence and defence systems engineering specialist Ricardo UK, have joined forces in view of the UK Ministry Of Defence (DE&S) Challenger 2 Life Extension Project (LEP). This partnership was formalised today by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
CMI Defence and Ricardo UK will respond together to the Invitation to Tender recently issued by the UK Ministry of Defence regarding its Challenger 2 Life Extension Project. In this process, CMI Defence will act as the prime contractor with Ricardo UK acting as the Systems Engineering and delivery partner.
CMI Defence provides an extensive history and knowledge of delivering heavy firepower gun-turret systems throughout the world. These are marketed under the brand name Cockerill®, which comes from the UK engineer John Cockerill who founded the company in 1817 in Belgium. Today, CMI Defence is delivering weapons systems that are modern, reliable and safe, and demonstrate a firepower capability rarely seen on the market. CMI Defence is globally renowned for its development and delivery of more than 2,500 large calibre guns from 1970 to present.
CMI Defence is an innovative system of systems provider which has proven its capability through its battle proven open electronic architecture. CMI Defence continues to build on its innovation of open electronic architecture by incorporating new technology and proactively managing the obsolescence of its product range. This creates a managed solution in order to meet the customers’ needs through life. CMI Defence is in a prime position to deliver an innovative, reliable and safe approach to deliver a solution that extends the life of Challenger 2 to its out-of-service date of 2035.
CMI Defence has drawn on its internal knowledge of Challenger 2 through its in-house former Challenger 2 operators (Gunner, Commander and Instructor) and maintainers. This wealth and depth of internal experience provides CMI Defence with a unique insight into how our approach can improve Human Factors Integration (HFI) and increase reliability and availability.
CMI Defence will be perfectly positioned to deliver the Life Extension Project through, the July 2016 incorporated, CMI Defence UK. This commitment to the UK Defence community by CMI Defence, will be built on the foundations of solid investment which in turn will create UK jobs.