____________________________________________________________________________ Babcock International Group
manufacturing capabilities, including Missile Tube Assemblies and highprecision engineering work for programs such as the US Navy’ s Virginia-class submarines as well as the UK Government’ s Submarine Dismantling Project.
“ Technology isn’ t about replacing people; it’ s about giving our workforce the tools to remain globally competitive. By combining advanced robotics with highly skilled engineers, we’ re creating a manufacturing environment that delivers exceptional quality while helping secure the future of UK shipbuilding.”
While Babcock has long been recognized for its engineering support and through-life services, the business is increasingly placing product development and ship design at the center of its long-term growth strategy. For IIgi, that evolution is shaping not only the company’ s commercial direction but also the opportunities available to its people.
“ It’ s a transition we’ re still making,” he continues.“ Today, the direction from our leadership is very clear: we’ re an aerospace and defense company, and our future growth will increasingly come from engineered products alongside the services we already deliver.
“ That doesn’ t mean services become any less important; they remain fundamental to our business. What changes is where we’ re investing for growth. We’ re expanding our product portfolio across maritime, land and autonomous systems, and that’ s a key driver behind our ambition to grow.
“ From a cultural perspective, it’ s been a positive shift. Our people are excited by the opportunity to design, develop and manufacture more advanced defense capabilities, and they can see the long-term vision. Projects like Indonesia are a good example. While we’ re starting with fishing vessels, the program creates a pathway into patrol vessels, frigates, autonomous platforms and wider maritime capability. There’ s a real sense of momentum, and if anything, the challenge is simply that people are eager to move even faster.”
Autonomous technology is becoming an increasingly important part of the future of naval capability, with Babcock exploring how crewed and uncrewed platforms can work together as part of a wider defense ecosystem. Through its Autonomous and Remote, Maritime Operational Response( ARMOR) force proposition, the company is looking at how information gathered across multiple domains, from the seabed to space, can create more united and responsive security networks.
“ The concept behind ARMOR is about creating a connected, modular ecosystem that brings together capabilities across every domain, supporting the principles of the UK MOD’ s Digital Targeting Web by enabling data to flow seamlessly between sensors, platforms and decision-makers,” IIgi explains.“ That could
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