Isle of Wight-based company RFEL has been given a multi-million pound contract to help equip British Army vehicles.
It's hoped the £28 million contract, awarded by RBSL and Rheinmetall, will sustain over 30 jobs at the company’s site in Newport, and create at least 10 additional roles over the next 10 years.
RFEL will be tasked with supplying Driver Vision and Local Situational Awareness Systems for the British Army’s Boxer vehicles.
The technology works as a network of high-resolution camera, giving the vehicle crew a complete view of the battlefield.
Together, they form RFEL’s ‘Trailblazer Vehicle Vision Solution’.
Richard Streeter, RFEL Managing Director, said:
“Ensuring the safety of the Boxer crew and supporting them in mission success in their operations is a great responsibility which RFEL will deliver with Trailblazer, using the best and most current technology.
“We take huge pride in our products and their success; the MIV contract award from RBSL and Rheinmetall Landsysteme has been a huge boost to the company and the positive impact on the RFEL team and our wider supply chain will be felt for years, even decades to come.”
The money will allow RFEL to expand its workforce in procurement and production roles, as well as assembly and test technicians.
The company will also recruit a number of technical apprentices and provide further training opportunities for existing employees.
RFEL has invested in a new production facility on the Isle of Wight and recently completed an extensive re-fit of facilities, including new dedicated lab-spaces, hosting a reference system for the Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) programme.
The supply chain for Trailblazer is almost exclusively UK-based. Assembly, calibration and test will be conducted by RFEL on the Isle of Wight.
Bob Seely, MP for Isle of Wight, said:
“I would like to congratulate the team at RFEL for securing this contract that will help to boost the Island’s economy and support Island jobs. We need businesses to grow and thrive for future prosperity and I’m pleased that this contract will do just that.
“I also welcome the use of technology to help protect the lives of those in active service as they carry out their important work. This is life-saving technology and I’m proud that an Island business has produced it.”
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