MAST STC: Competition Process - Dstl

MAST STC Launch 

Dstl Porton Down 

Tuesday 28 June 2011

MAST STC Launch – 

Opening Statement 

Dstl Chief Executive 

28 th June 2011

Welcome 

• Welcome to Dstl 

– Introduction to Dstl 

• Launch of MAST STC 

– A new way of maintaining the UK 

Defence materials capability 

Crown Copyright Dstl 2011 

Ref: DSTL/TR56686 

UNCLASSIFIED 

Dstl is part of the 

Ministry of Defence

Who we are 

• MOD‟s science and technology (S&T) agent 

• Trading Fund 

• Turnover (2010/11) £572 million 

• 3500 staff (including 100 military) > 70% active 

scientists, engineers and analysts 

• Integral part of the UK government and MOD 

• Work with more than 40 government departments and 

agencies 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Where we are today 

Harwell 

Fort Halstead 

Porton Down 

Alverstoke 

Portsdown West 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Dstl’s purpose 

• Dstl‟s purpose is to maximise the impact of science and 

technology for the defence and security of the UK 

• Impact of S&T in defence? 

– Saves lives 

– Supports Operations 

– Reduces Risks 

– Future proofs capabilities 

• We are part of MOD and accountable to government, the 

tax payer and to those UK armed and security forces 

personnel whom we support in the field 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Dstl’s Roles 

• Supply sensitive and specialist S&T services for MOD and wider 

Government. 

• Lead the formulation, design and delivery of a coherent and integrated MOD 

S&T programme using industrial, academic and Government resources. 

• Manage and exploit knowledge across the wider defence and security 

community, and understand S&T risks and opportunities through horizon 

scanning. 

• Provide and facilitate expert advice, analysis and assurance to aid decisionmaking 

and to support MOD and wider Government to be an intelligent 

customer. 

• Act as a trusted partner across MOD, wider government, the private sector, 

academia and allies to support military co-operation, capability delivery, 

diplomacy and economic policy. 

• Champion and develop S&T skills across MOD, including managing the 

career of MOD scientists. 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Coherent and integrated Science 

and Technology 

• Dstl directs the formulation, design and delivery of a 

coherent and integrated Science and Technology 

programme for MOD 

• To do this we work with the best in their field – national 

and international – in industry (from international prime 

contractors to SMEs), academia and government 

• Over 60% of the £400 million MOD defence research 

budget that is managed by Dstl goes out to industry and 

academia to deliver 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

MAST STC launch 

• Materials and Structures Technology Science and 

Technology Centre 

– Collaboration 

– Maximising impact 

– Innovation 

– Maintaining the UK Defence 

materials capability 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Agenda 

10.00 Introduction and Domestics 

10.05 Welcome to Dstl and the official opening of the MAST STC 

10.15 Agenda (inc. Just a Minute – Aims) 

10.20 MAST STC Overview 

10.50 Bidding and Contracting Process 

11.00 Refreshments and Networking 

11.30 Package Overview & Opportunities 

12.30 Lunch 

13.30 Just a Minute 

13:50 Package Overview & Opportunities (continued) 

14.00 Package 5 Overview – CDE Call 

14.10 Open Forum 

14.30 Close 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

MAST STC Overview 

28 th June 2011

Contents 

• Requirements 

• MAST STC – status, aims and 

activities 

• Structure and packages 

• Management and governance 

• STC launch 

• Projects 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

REQUIREMENTS 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Requirements 

• Materials technology is pervasive and impinges 

on most platforms / technology needs of MOD 

• SDSR flagged up the importance of materials 

noting „we should focus investment on 

developing capabilities and countering threats 

in key areas, such as…. new materials‟ 

• Recent green paper notes the requirement for 

materials research and emphasises the need 

for better engagement externally 

• Our key IRC partners maintain strong materials 

capability which we need to access 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Requirements for materials R&D 

• Defence Board priorities: 

– Force Protection – Air, Land and Sea 

• Categories of research: 

– Military Capability: Generation After Next 

– Future proofing defence 

– Support to critical S&T capability 

• Military customer priorities: 

– Concept development 

– Future Air Capability Studies 

– Emerging Technologies – Advanced Materials 

– Land Survivability technologies 

– Maritime survivability technologies 

– ASW assets capability and survivability 

• ...and more 

• Dstl must justify all research programmes against these 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Future MOD materials programme 

• From 2011, MAST is being run as a Science & Technology 

Centre (STC) 

– Similar arrangement to the Armour and Protection STC 

– Dstl Programme Office will own and manage the project 

• Plan a Science & Technology Community 

– Nearly all research contracted to the S&T Community, attracting 

new contractors as appropriate 

– Openly compete research within the S&T community 

– More of this later ! 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

MAST STC 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Funding status 

• At the Defence R&D Board (DRDB) in early 

March, Dstl presented a case for funding an 

enduring materials and structures capability 

– MAST STC funded 

– LO Materials enhancement funded 

– Programme will be managed from Land Domain in 

the Programme Office 

• Nearly 90% of the total funding and all of the 

actual research will be external to Dstl 

Anti-Fouling Trial – 

Courtesy of Southampton 

University 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

MAST STC activity 

• Provide cross-cutting materials research across the MOD programme 

• Focus on military materials & structures solutions NOT being fully 

developed in civil materials R&D, including: 

– Maintenance of low observable materials capability 

– Maintaining awareness of emerging and potentially disruptive materials 

– Increasing vehicle and soldier survivability 

– Improving equipment performance and system throughout life 

– Decreasing through life costs/environmental impact eg corrosion, fatigue, repair 

• Includes some support to operations work 

– Solutions to current in-theatre problems that require a materials approach 

– Feed directly into other MOD programmes 

• MAST STC strongly supports collaboration with industry & academia to 

help maintain the UK defence materials capability 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

MAST STC will deliver 

• Technical 

– Improved / exploitable materials solutions to 

address MoD‟s research goals 

– Ability to advise on all aspects of materials & 

structures in military equipment 

• responding to urgent & sensitive stakeholder 

issues 

• technical support for decision making 

• de-risking strategic concepts etc 

– Solutions to in-theatre problems that require a 

materials approach 

– De-risk novel ideas for inclusion in applied 

research 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

MAST STC will deliver 

• Strategic 

– A coherent materials and structures research programme with 

clear exploitation 

– Pull through of emerging/disruptive materials and innovative 

ideas 

– Gearing for MOD funding is desirable 

– Access / alignment with: 

• Major research council funded work in academia 

• TSB and OGD funded work on materials 

• PV funded work in industry 

– All IRC activities, eg UK-France, UK-US, TTCP & EDA 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

STRUCTURE / PACKAGES 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

MOD Governance Board 

Package 1 – Strategic 

Direction (Dstl) 

- Strategic studies 

- IRC interactions 

- Liaison with EPSRC & 

academia 

- Liaison with TSB & OGDs 

- Liaison with industry 

MAST Advisory 

Group 

Core Programme 

Package 2: LO and Functional 

Materials 

Package 3: Structural and 

Protection Materials 

Package 4: TLCM and Intheatre 

Support 

- Requirements 

- Priorities 

- Programme endorsement 

S&T Community 

Innovation 

Programme 

Package 5 

Expanded 

Programme 

(Funding for 

materials & 

structures activities 

from other 

Domains) 

Package 0 – Programme 

Management (Dstl) 

- Project management 

- Package Leadership 

- Contract management 

Technology Exploitation 

Board (TEB) 

OGD 

PTs / EPs Industry PTG / TDPs Applied 

programmes 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Management - packages 

• Package 0 – Programme Management 

• Package 1 – Strategic Direction 

• Package 2 – Multifunctional Materials 

– Work Package 2.1 – LO Materials 

– Work Package 2.2 – Functional materials 

• Package 3 – Structural and Protection Materials 

– Work Package 3.1 – Metallics and ceramics 

– Work Package 3.2 – Polymers & Composites 

• Package 4 – TLCM & In-theatre support 

• Package 5 – Innovative Programme 

• Package 6 – Air Domain Affordable Structures 

• Package 7 – LO Materials Capability 

• Package 8 – Naval Structures 

Bio-Inspired Armour 

Concept – Courtesy of 

Bristol University 

Dyneema Panel after 

Ballistic Impact – Courtesy 

of Imperial College 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

MANAGEMENT/GOVERNANCE 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

MAST STC management 

• Prime objective is to develop and run a coherent programme, 

delivering against MOD RGs & the MAST STC requirements, 

whilst maximising gearing from “non-RBB” sources 

• The programme is a mixture of technology push and pull 

• Not a surge programme for rapid exploitation 

– Not something we can switch on and off easily, but we will have 

flexibility 

• Exploitation of the research will be key to success 

– Projects will have exploitation plans drawn up by PLs & partners 

– Technology Exploitation Board 

• Communication also critical for success, with S&T community, 

across Dstl and the wider MOD 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

MAST STC governance 

• Programme is regularly scrutinised and 

endorsed by stakeholders 

– Ensuring stakeholder needs are being met 

– Exploitation paths 

– Monitor strategic direction 

• Three key mechanisms: 

– MAST Advisory Group (met 6 th May) 

– Technology Exploitation Board (met 6 th May) 

– MOD Governance Board (met 16 th June) 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

STC LAUNCH 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

MAST STC Symposia – 

The UK Defence Materials Forum 

• Launch meeting is effectively the first 

• Subsequently hold meetings twice a year 

– Learn from success of Armour & Protection STC meetings 

– Open to all members of the MAST STC S&T Community 

• Use meetings to :- 

– Communicate 

– Inform of opportunities 

– Present military needs - what want from materials 

– Seek good ideas 

– Networking to encourage consortium working 

– Encourage collaboration – industry pv, academic alignment, IRC etc 

– Encourage exploitation 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

MAST STC - S&T Community 

• Today invited you all as potential materials research suppliers 

across academia, industry and research institutions 

• We invite you to apply to become members of our S&T community 

• Membership of the S&T community will be open to all with a 

recognised materials capability of value to MOD 

• Admission to the community will be by completion of a capability 

matrix as part of the Qualification Questionnaire 

– Details today, email to follow and advert in Defence Contracts Bulletin 

• The offered capabilities will be used in decisions on entry to the 

extended S&T community 

• The capability matrix will also be used to select contractors with best 

capability to deliver our programme 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

PROJECTS 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

MAST STC projects 

• All targeted at specific MOD requirements 

• All must offer measurable targets, such as strength, 

weight saving, power density, or another key property or 

military target 

• Projects let for between 6 months & 3 years to allow 

headroom to be generated each year for new projects 

• Aiming to maximise gearing: 

• Through funding or resources put into the project from industry 

• Through academia aligning other research (EPSRC etc) 

• Through linkages with OGD work 

• Through key IRC linkages (with support from Dstl PLs) 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

MAST STC - project status 

• Core projects 

– Project topics for the available funding in the core programme will 

be presented by Package Leaders today 

• Innovative call in September 

– Conducted through the CDE on 6 th September 

– Seek short term ideas, typically up to £50k and up to 6 months‟ 

duration 

– Aim to extract good ideas from the complete supplier base 

– These may be pulled through into the core programme in future 

– But note a successful project in the innovative call is not 

guaranteed to be taken into the core programme 

• Case award top-ups 

– Across the Work Packages we have funding for a number of Case 

award top-ups at £6-10k/year. Applications are requested from 

academia. 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Opportunities today 

• Process for membership of the S&T community 

• S&T Community members will be invited to bid for work 

in the MAST STC core programme 

• Dstl Package Leaders will describe these opportunities in 

their package presentations 

– Opportunity today to talk to Dstl staff about these opportunities 

– Please take advantage of networking opportunities today to 

consider teaming for these opportunities 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Future opportunities 

• Dstl will announce future opportunities 

at the 6 monthly meetings of the S&T 

community, to be launched as the 

Defence Materials Forum 

• On 6 th September MAST STC will 

launch its annual call for innovative 

programmes through the CDE 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

MAST STC meeting schedule 

• 28 June 2011 – Launch Day (Dstl PTN) 

• 6 September 2011 – Innovative 

Programme launch at CDE 

• December 2011 – UK Defence Materials 

Forum 

• February 2012 – Annual Review 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

COMMENTS / 

QUESTIONS 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence


Registration and competition 

process 

MAST STC Launch 28 th June 2011

MAST STC: registration/competition process 

Post-Launch Day 28 

June and DCB 

advert

MAST STC DCB advert (extract) 

On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, Dstl is launching a new Science and 

Technology Centre, the MAST STC, which will manage a research 

programme to pursue defined research goals in the field of materials and 

structures technology. 

MOD places a high priority on investigating novel technologies with a potential 

to influence Defence acquisitions. It is intended to attract a wide variety of 

suppliers from Industry and Academia. Dstl will encourage the formation of 

research teams, with multiple capabilities, who can combine to deliver the 

research and assist in its exploitation into military equipment: 

• Low observable Materials including electromagnetic, acoustic and infra-red 

• Multifunctional Materials including morphing and structural power materials 

• Structural and Protection Materials 

– Metallic and Ceramic, including highly ductile metallics for armour and novel lightweight 

ballistic ceramics 

– Polymers and Composites, including polymer based armour and lightweight damage 

tolerant composites 

• TLCM and In-Theatre support 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

DCB advert (extract, continued) 

• Dstl seeks to bring together a wide variety of capabilities and organisations 

to ensure that materials and structures issues are addressed 

comprehensively. Liaison will be maintained with MOD staff so that the 

research is led along defined paths and specific advice can be given on 

future development and opportunities for exploitation. 

• Those interested in becoming members of the STC should apply to the 

address below to receive a Qualification Questionnaire, plus copies of the 

presentations from the formal launch. Applications may however be made at 

any time, as the membership of the STC will be kept under review. 

• Further information about MAST STC can be obtained from the following e- 

mail address: maststc@dstl.gov.uk 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence



June and DCB 

advert 

E-Docs: 

presentations, 

questions/ 

answers and 

STC QQ/matrix 

To: 

all present; all apologies; 

all others on MAST STC 

list; all replying to DCB 

advert.

STC QQ/capability matrix 

• One per organisation or each department of a large 

organisation; must give POC for each 

• Evidence-based to support submission 

• Specific to the organisation: 

– can be revised; 

– retained for future; 

– confirming eligibility for MAST STC; 

– and selecting for contract ITTs. 

• Will not be used outside MAST STC 

• Submit to maststc@dstl.gov.uk 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence



June and DCB 

advert 

E-Docs: 


questions/ 

answers and 


To: 




advert. 

Return QQ/matrix 

within 30 days

MAST STC: competition process 


June and DCB 

advert 

E-Docs: 


questions/ 

answers and 


Dstl registers STC 

members with 

PQQ/matrix 

1. Eligible for STC? 

2. Which package(s)? 

3. Capability alignment? 

To: 




advert. 

Dstl selects members 

with capability for 

research contracts 


within 30 days

Competed contracts 

Package Projects Duration(months) 

Thermal infrared and other EO camouflage technology 24+12 

Vibro-Acoustic materials 24+12 

2 

Fundamental RF materials challenge 12 

Self-adaptive technologies 24+12 

e-Cam technologies 24+12 

Actuation of smart and adaptive structures 24+12 

High hardness blast resistant steels 24+12 

3 

Ceramic composites 24+12 

Polymeric armour 12+12 

Low cost damage tolerant composites 12+12 

Design of structural health monitoring (SHM) systems 20+16 

4 

Coating options for early condemned helicopter blades 12 

Assessment of power beam repair of military vehicles 12 

7 Enduring LO capability – EO and RF facility sustainment 12 

Total MOD investment: £6095k 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence



June and DCB 

advert 

E-Docs: 


questions/ 

answers and 


To: 




advert. 


within 30 days 

Dstl registers STC 

members with 

PQQ/matrix 

1. Eligible for STC? 

2. Which package(s)? 

3. Capability alignment? 

Dstl selects members 

with capability for 

research contracts 

Dstl 

forwards 

ITTs 

ITTs processed by 

selected organisations 

Costed 

proposals sent 

to Dstl 


assessment 

Contracts 

awarded

Questions? 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence


Low Observable Materials 


Strategy 

• „Low Observable Materials' 

– Stealth, camouflage, signature 

– Three distinct spectral ranges of interest 

• RF: Radio frequency, microwave 

• EO: Infrared, electro-optic, visible 

• VIB: Vibro-acoustic 

– Includes early adoption opportunities from 

emerging technology 

• e.g. Metamaterials 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Opportunities 

• Open for competition: 

– Thermal & EO Camouflage 

– Vibro-acoustic materials 

– Fundamental RF materials challenge 

• Further details as appropriate to be provided in ITT 

– Self-adaptive technologies 


– e-Cam technologies 


– Enduring LO capability – EO and RF facility sustainment 

– Collaborative working welcome 

• CASE studentship top-ups 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Thermal & EO camouflage 

• Military requirement: 

– Increased platform survivability 

– Tri-service 

• Desired outcome: 

– Consolidate technology toolbox to inform exploitation 

– Mix of technologies across TRLs 1 to 5 

• Emphasis on challenging the state of the art 

– Progress with balanced TRL perspective 

• Focus not just on LO performance 

• Unlock barriers to exploitation 

• Support communication of higher level impact 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Vibro-acoustic materials 

• Military requirement: 

– Increased platform survivability 

– Emphasis on Maritime 

• Desired outcome: 

– Damping materials to TRL 4 in 24 months 

– Anechoic materials to TRL 2 in 24/36 months 

• Focus on current best of breed option 

• Further challenge the state of the art 

– Low mass low frequency noise barrier concepts 

– Balanced TRL perspective (as previous slide) 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Programme requirements 

• Independent programmes on EO and VIB requirements 

• Programmes solicited based on a 24 + 12 month project 

• Yearly contractual break points and flexibility to enable 

changes based on progress 

• Special requirements 

– Able to undertake or contribute to classified work in UK 

– ITT at UK Restricted 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Enduring LO capability – EO and RF 

facility sustainment 

• General requirements 

– An enduring partnership between MOD and Industry 

– Validated Models and calibrated Physical Test Equipment that 

underpin UK Critical Capabilities in EO and RF materials 

– Appropriately cleared expert users & site up to S UKEO 

– Readily available to support the MAST STC LO Materials 

Research Programme 

– It is not a whole platform assessment facility 

– Facilities will not be owned by Dstl 

– Not necessarily located in the same place or organisation 

– Operated on commercial lines 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

CASE studentship top-ups 

• One CASE studentship top-up is available 

– Ideas solicited in all areas of „low observable materials„ 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Questions? 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence


Multifunctional Materials 


Multifunctional materials strategy 

• 'Multifunctional Materials' 

– Combining functions eg structural materials with impact sensing 

capability. 

– Smart materials that react to external conditions eg adaptive 

temperature or shape control. 

– MUST address key military drivers eg reduced mass, more 

affordable, increased survivability, reducing the burden……. 


– Research programme in the actuation of smart and adaptive 

structures 

– Collaborative working welcome 

• Applications for CASE studentship top-ups solicited 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Smart and adaptive structures 

• Requirement to realise the benefits of 

adaptive shape control for: 

– Increased endurance and 

survivability 

– Signature control 

– Gap closure for signature control 

– Ruggedisation of folding structures 

– Replacement of pyrotechnics 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Smart and adaptive structures 

• Coherent programme required to cover: 

– Increasing the maturity of bistable structures to enable in-situ shape 

change between two stable states. 

– Development of an actuation method to drive shape switching in 

bistable materials. 

– Development of variable stiffness materials to enable large-area 

morphing. Programme specifically not focused purely on largearea 

morphing or leading / trailing edge control. 

– Development of gap closure technologies to reduce electromagnetic 

signature. 

• Opportunity to engage with IRC through Dstl 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Desired outcomes 

• TRLs 

– Bistable composites at 

TRL 4 by 2014 

– Variable stiffness materials 

at TRL 2-3 by 2014 

– Gap closure at TRL 3 by 

2014 

• Research programmes solicited to achieve above based on a 24 + 12 month 

project: 

– Technology evaluation and design 0 - 24 months 

– Demonstrator fabrication and testing to realise above TRLs 24 - 36 months 

• Yearly contractual break points based on progress 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence


• Areas of interest include (but not limited to): 

– Self-healing coatings for corrosion protection or restoring optical 

clarity to transparent armour 

– Structural materials with intrinsic impact sensing capability 

– Intelligent textiles for the dismounted soldier 

– Multiferroics for adaptive antennas 

– Adaptive shape control for improved aerodynamic or 

hydrodynamic efficiency 

– Lead-free piezoelectrics for SONAR applications 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Questions? 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence


Metals & Ceramics 


Metals & ceramics strategy 

• To develop an exploitable programme of metals & ceramics research 

that balances MoD‟s immediate and longer term technology needs 

• Focused on air, land & maritime force protection 

• Main drivers 

– Affordability Survivability Mobility Capability Sustainability 


– Ultra hard blast resistant steels 

– Ballistic ceramic composites 

 

• Collaborative working welcome 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Ultra hard blast resistant steels 

• Aims 

– Develop of weldable steels with high ballistic and current blast performance 

• Military relevance 

– Land and maritime platforms 

• Timescale 

– 24 months + 12 months 


– Alloy modelling TRL 2 4 

– 6000kg alloy manufacturing trials TRL 4 5 

– Industrial production route study TRL 5 6 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Ballistic ceramic composites 

• Aims 

– Develop ceramic composite armour with 20% better ballistic performance 

• Military relevance 

– Air, land and maritime platforms 

• Timescale 

– 24 months + 12 months 


– Alumina ceramic composites TRL 2 3 

– Silicon carbide ceramic composites TRL 2 3 

– Ultra-hard ceramic composites TRL 1 2 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence



– Ceramic / metal joining 

– Functional graded metals & cermets 

– Friction welding of Ti alloys and steel 

– Materials for nuclear power 

– Materials modelling 

– Silicon stabilised boron carbide 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Questions? 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence


Structural and Protection 

Materials: Polymers and 

Composites 

MAST STC Launch 28th June 2011

Polymers and composites strategy 

• For military platforms and equipment, 

through application of polymer composite 

structural materials, enhance: 

– survivability 

– mobility 

– deployability 

– performance 

– combat effectiveness 

– and reduce platform costs/weight and 

maintenance/logistics burden 


– Improved lightweight materials for protection 

– Improved low-cost, damage tolerant materials 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Polymers and composites strategy 

• Seeking strong gearing through 

complementary ongoing research 

programmes and / or PV support 

• Linkages may be made available (by 

agreement) to other relevant MOD / 

EPSRC programmes and access to IRC 

through Dstl 

• Clear exploitation routes 

• Progression through Technology Readiness 

Levels during life of the project 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Polymeric armour 

• Aims 

– Develop a fundamental understanding of the behaviour of novel 

polymer fibre and composite responses at high rates of loading 

– Explore improving toughness of more conventional composites and 

(graded) material combinations 

– Feed high-rate polymer fibre developments into soft armour 

enhancement 

– Use the understanding developed to allow design of more efficient 

lightweight structural armour for improved survivability for vehicles 

and personnel 

– Developments will initially feed into other armour research projects 

– Target: improvements in spall liner and other armour performance 

with reduction in bulk and no weight or cost increase (preferably 

reduced) 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Polymeric armour 


– Experimental study of materials & combinations TRL 2 4 

– Modelling to clarify & optimise behaviour TRL 2 4 

– Select and exploit promising concepts TRL 3 5 

• Timescales 

– 24 months programme 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Low-cost damage tolerant composites 

• Aims 

– Explore and mature concepts for improving damage tolerance of low 

cost, lightweight composite structures 

– Enhanced materials for improved survivability, performance, 

manufacturability and costs 

– Underpinning research for and exploitation through the affordable air 

structures research programme 

– Generation of materials options and mechanical properties data for 

trade studies 

– Potential application for robust, lightweight land & maritime structures 

– Target: significant increase in the impact performance over existing 

structural composites with reduced component costs 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Low-cost damage tolerant composites 


– Develop and produce materials TRL 2 4 

– Generation of trade studies data TRL 2 4 

– Model impact and residual properties TRL 2 3 

– Optimise material, produce demonstrator TRL 2 4 

• Timescales 

– 24 months programme 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence



– Cost reduction in composites manufacture and through life 

• Explore cost estimation tools and fabrication modelling 

– High temperature polymers for composites 

• Matrices for high temperatures (e.g. near engine applications) 

– Adhesives for protection applications 

• High rate behaviour of adhesive joints 

• Disbond on demand 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Questions? 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence


TLCM and in-theatre support 


TLCM and in-theatre support strategy 

• Focused on tri-service “platform” issues 

– Innovative structural design methodologies 

– Blast response 

– Through-life Capability Management (TLCM) 

– Support to Operations 

• Linked to Equipment Programmes & Defence R&D 

Board 


– Research programme to support one element of TLCM 

– In-theatre support – assessment studies 




UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Through-life Capability Management 

• “Structures” focused R&D 

required to: 

– Extend life of platforms 

– Increase availability 

– Comply with emerging 

environmental legislation 

– Improve reliability 

– Account for change of use 

– Support on-condition based 

maintenance 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Design of structural health monitoring 

(SHM) systems 

• Programme of research required to: 

– Identify COTS or developmental design software 

for the design and certification of SHM systems 

– Design/validate optimal SHM systems taking 

cognisance of a large range of COTS sensors 

available to the MOD 

– Account for sensor degradation/failure 

– Integrate to ongoing MOD supported R&D in: 

• Risk based design and lifing methods 

• Non-chromate corrosion protection 

• Opportunity to engage with IRC through 




UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Desired outcome 

• Demonstrate how a SHM system can 

fully integrate with risk based lifing and 

on-condition based coatings activities 

– Components of SHM system to achieve 

TRL 4 

• Programme to be delivered over a 20 

plus 16 month project 

– 0 to 20 months assessment of SHM 

design software 

– 20 to 36 months technology 

demonstration 

• Break points at 12 and 20 months 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

In-theatre support 

• Short assessment studies (< 1yr) to provide advice 

on: 

– Blade erosion coatings for in-theatre helicopters 

• COTS coatings 

• Take note of helicopter mode of operation 

– Power beam welding repairs of AFVs 

• Tasks TRLs 

• Blast performance a key requirement 

• Integration with robotic arms 

• Quantify pros/cons against friction stir welding and 

MIG welding 

– Blade erosion 4 5 

– Power beam welding 3 4 




UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Desired outcomes 

• Blade erosion 

– Quantification of blade erosion mechanisms 

– Review of COTS coatings and suitability for 

blade protection 

– Recommendations on coatings by helicopter 

type 

• Power beam welding 

– Advise on suitability of power beam welding for 

AFV repair 

– High rate property assessment of weld 

• Indication of blast performance 

– Corrosion potential 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence



– Assessment of fatigue crack arresting steels for naval 

ships 

– Novel corrosion protection technologies with minimal 

surface treatments 

– Adaptive tooling for low cost composite structures 

– Rapid certification/classification of structural materials 

– Additive layer repair 

– Prognostic technologies 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Questions? 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

Open Forum 



UNCLASSIFIED 


Ministry of Defence

MAST STC: Competition Process - Dstl

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