UK Army Commissions Roke Manor Research to Support Land Forces Future Capability

ROMSEY, England, December 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

The United Kingdom's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory has commissioned Roke Manor Research Limited to conduct a Science and Technology Watch Programme on behalf of HQ Army to support the future development of Land Forces in the 2030-2040 timescale.

During the initial 18-month research programme, Roke will present the Army with an overview of technologies that could be exploited to support the requirements for future capability in the Land Environment.

Roke are calling upon university research departments and commercial organisations, that are developing innovative technologies with potential defence applications, to contact the team via its submissions portal at: http://www.roke.co.uk/techwatch

Jonathan Farrington, Science and Technology Watch Technical Lead, said: "We will be scanning the market for innovative technologies that are in the early stages of development so that the Army can consider their exploitation. Developing and managing innovation is at the heart of everything that Roke does and we want to work with like-minded organisations. This is an excellent opportunity for both academia and the commercial sector to promote their ideas to the Army and become major contributors to the future development of the UK's land forces."

The Science and Technology Watch Programme will focus on establishing how emerging technologies could influence:

• Dismounted Close Combat
• Mounted Close Combat
• Land Fires (artillery support for ground forces)
• Air Manoeuvre
• Military Engineering
• Information Activities and Outreach

The technology areas that Roke will review include:

• Advanced Printing (e.g. 3D printing and electronics/components printing)
• Advanced Materials
• Augmented Human Performance
• Big Data
• Communications Technology
• Position, Navigation and Timing
• Power
• Quantum Technologies
• Robotics and Autonomy
• Sensors
• Synthetic Biology
• The application of current COTS technologies to the military domain

About Roke http://www.roke.co.uk

Roke Manor Research Limited is an advanced science and technology company trusted by governments, national security and commercial customers to provide military and commercial advantage. Based in Romsey, UK, the company's world-class scientists and engineers work to rapidly solve complex customer problems, and create innovative technology solutions which help to protect and enhance lives.