Brian Fisher, MIV Manufacturing Supervisor stated this milestone marks “vital progress” for the programme.
He added: “The primary and second Mission Modules have progressed by means of the welding meeting stations and we’re delighted to announce that welding on automobile one is now full.
“The MIV staff have labored diligently and carried out rather well to get us to this place and our staff of welders are persevering with to realize information and expertise day by day, while highlighting enhancements inside the manufacturing course of.
“That is vital progress and we’re transferring nearer every day to Boxer rolling off the manufacturing traces at Telford.”
The Boxer programme will ship greater than 600 autos to the British Military. Manufacturing has been subcontracted equally between RBSL and Stockport-based KNDS. Each corporations are endeavor fabrication of the armoured automobile constructions along with meeting, integration and testing of the whole autos at their respective amenities. Work to manufacture key elements of the programme formally began on March 27 at RBSL’s manufacturing facility in Telford.
Talking on the time, Colin McClean, RBSL Managing Director stated: “RBSL is proud to be regenerating this armoured automobile functionality and contributing to the Land Industrial Technique, marking a brand new chapter in automobile manufacture for the UK defence trade. Not solely will the supply of Boxer present the British Military with a whole step-change in functionality to satisfy their MIV requirement, it’s going to additionally shield important engineering and manufacturing abilities as a sovereign functionality to the UK and we’re extremely proud to be part of this milestone, alongside our companions in KNDS.”
RBSL is enjoying a key half in delivering the Land Industrial Technique by means of the Boxer programme, in addition to by means of its Challenger and In-Service Help contracts. The multi-million pound funding in its Telford facility, and the creation of jobs inside RBSL and the UK provide chain, contributes in direction of nationwide industrial resilience, and the social worth and ‘levelling up’ aspirations the UK Authorities has set out.
RBSL’s Industrialisation Programme can also be now full, with all MIV Manufacturing amenities put in and commissioned. The enterprise has invested £40m in its 29-acre web site, remodeling it right into a world-class manufacturing facility in order that it may possibly ship subsequent technology navy autos and important in-service assist.
All elements for Boxer have been sourced by means of RBSL’s sturdy provide chain and the enterprise is within the technique of finalising orders with its suppliers in keeping with the Boxer manufacturing schedule.
By working with a vibrant UK provide chain, the MIV programme helps assist financial development and level-up regional financial alternative. The programme goals to assist and improve the UK provide chain, together with SMEs. It is usually guaranteeing the UK has, in nation, the abilities and experience to assist the autos all through their operational life.
There was a major recruitment effort internally and throughout the UK provide chain inside the Boxer MIV Programme, with a deal with apprenticeships.
Lily Blakemore, a Challenge Administration Apprentice stated: “Since becoming a member of RBSL I’ve been given the chance to work on the MIV Programme, one thing I’m very grateful for. The work undertaken by all of us within the staff is crucial to MIV’s success and I really feel very lucky to be part of the programme.”
RBSL is constant to work alongside Defence Tools and Help (DE&S) to proceed to ship the MIV Programme at tempo. It would now start progressing sub-assembly gadgets into automobile one, together with the bulkhead, wheel hubs and drivers hatch, with the primary energy pack being assembled and examined thereafter. When the Drive Module and Mission Module are absolutely outfitted they are going to then be built-in collectively prepared for commissioning and testing on the finish of the 12 months.
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