It is now over four years since NP Aerospace was contracted as the Engineering Authority for the UK MOD Protected Mobility fleet of military vehicles via the Protected Mobility Engineering and Technical Support contract (PMETS). There are currently over 1,650 vehicles within the PMETS fleet, ranging from light infantry vehicles to heavy armoured vehicles, from a wide range of vehicle manufacturers and integrators including NP Aerospace, General Dynamics, Navistar and Supacat. The PMETS contract was tendered with a value estimated at £63m and is a core capability of the NP Aerospace Vehicle Systems, Support & Spares business with it being delivered alongside a variety of other vehicle projects.
The volume of engineering activities has increased significantly through the life of the PMETS contract. Here are a few of the statistics from the contract that NP Aerospace manage as prime contractor and Engineering Authority:
- 148 – PMETS tasks completed, in progress or being bid.
- 112,600 – NP Aerospace man hours expended on PMETS tasks
- £46.2m – Value of PMETS non-core tasks.
- 50+ people within NP Aerospace dedicated to delivering PMETS activities
- 200+ supply chain jobs created via the PMETS contract
David Petheram, Managing Director & Senior Vice President of the NP Aerospace Vehicle Systems, Support and Spares business (pictured third from right below), comments: “The PMETS contracting model has proved very effective. It allows NP Aerospace to deliver essential engineering tasks for the UK MOD with a wide range of complexity and within restricted timeframes, and these have had a significant impact on vehicle safety, availability, mobility, and performance. The contract is delivered in a collaborative way with a variety of supplier’s and has an impact on jobs across the supply chain. We are hugely proud of the PMETS contract and support we provide to the UK MOD, and look forward to continuing this in future years to sustain and improve the equipment that UK MOD utilises now and in the future”.

James Kempston, CEO, NP Aerospace (far left) and members of the PMETS team at NP Aerospace’s vehicle site, showcasing the Mastiff XC to Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street (pictured fourth from right). David Petheram, MD, pictured third from right.