UK, Kennametal partner for new research and armour development centre

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Kennametal Manufacturing have signed a new agreement to develop the UK’s first ceramic armour development centre.

Under the terms of the accord, the Dstl and Kennametal Manufacturing will jointly fund £2m for the facility in Newport, South Wales.

Speaking at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) event being held in London, the UK Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne said that the new state-of-the art facility in South Wales will further advance the UK’s freedom of action in advanced ceramic armour.

"This contract is a good example of the Ministry of Defence using its science and technology budget to develop innovation in the UK defence sector," Dunne added.

Expected to be largest in Europe and help to sustain 50 local jobs, the facility will comprise full size ceramic armour components for personnel and vehicle protection and supports full scale impact tests.

Dstl professor Peter Brown said, "The ability to make ceramic samples large enough for full scale impact tests and the very significant reduction in time taken to produce a sample mean that we can investigate a much wider range of innovative formulations faster and more cheaply than before."

Currently, Dstl and Tata Steel are jointly working to develop advanced steel armour.