Here at On-systems we believe that collaboration and innovative thinking are at the core of a successful defence industry. The need to come together to draw on every available skill, technology and insight is more essential than ever, in the UK and worldwide.
The sector has changed considerably. Threats are changing quickly, with more complicated technology, increasing budget pressures, past underinvestment and less skill meaning that traditional, siloed approaches are no longer effective.
Being mission ready now needs a more open, agile and collaborative model. Where innovation is pushed by SMEs, digital tech and cross sector integration. The organisations that will grow and increase productivity are those that build strong partnerships for secure and rapid collaboration with full compliance and agility.
Why Defence Collaboration Is So Important
The latest defence systems are very complicated. Platforms such as fighter aircraft, advanced naval systems and ISR networks need to successfully integrate software, AI, autonomy, advanced materials and multiple layers of cybersecurity. No organisation, however capable, can produce all of this on its own. Multi tier collaboration is an operational necessity.
Outside of the technical needs, there is a financial side to defence collaboration. Large defence programmes can cost billions and the risks associated with them are considerable. By collaborating, organisations are able to share:
- Financial risk over a wider partner base
- Development – fast tracking timelines & reducing repetition
- Supply chain dependency - greater resilience in critical projects
Perhaps most importantly, threat lifecycles are developing faster than traditional defence procurement can keep up with. Collaboration means that it's possible to create quicker prototyping, better access to specialist SMEs and tech start ups with agile methods that keep capability current and deployable.
How Collaboration Works In Practice
Effective collaboration in the military sector works over many areas, with each playing a distinct and vital role. Government and industry partnerships are integral, with the Ministries of Defence setting requirements, the prime contractors integrating systems, and SMEs delivering specialist innovations. This structure, when it works, has direction, agility and deep technical knowledge.
Prime–SME networks are where a lot of the real innovation is created. Large defence contractors working together with engineering and manufacturing firms bring scale, certification set up and project management. While the SMEs bring agility, specialist knowledge, advanced ideas and cost efficiency. By working together, they are able to create something they couldn’t have created independently. At On-systems our work is predominantly focused on working with primes to achieve this level of success.
Sustainability and resilience are also becoming more important in defence partnerships. For long term programme success and sovereign capability, there are key factors to consider:
- Supply chain security
- Energy efficiency
- Ethical sourcing
Breaking Down Barriers
One of the most noteworthy changes in thinking and one that we advocate at On-systems, is working together with competitors. In defence, the stakes are high, which means that the value of shared expertise, joint capability, technology exploitation, cross sector integration and digital partnership becomes a strategic advantage. This aligns with the MoD's plan to increase spending with SMEs and build sovereign capability with a more cost effective outcome for the taxpayer.
We believe that by combining skills and investment, the defence sector can meet growth challenges. The team at On-systems we are committed to helping create a defence sector that is stronger, smarter and ready for future challenges.
If you’d like to explore a partnership with us or require support for power supplies, technology development, build to print or power supply design, get in touch with us to discuss further.
