Defence manufacturer strikes new partnership

A defence manufacturer with a major West Yorkshire production base has struck a new technology partnership aimed at accelerating the deployment of mobile precision-strike systems.

North Defence has partnered with European defence technology company STARK to integrate its Cascade tube-launched loitering munition across manned light mobility vehicles and next-generation unmanned ground vehicles.

The modular approach is designed to allow the system to work across multiple vehicle configurations, providing a pathway from existing mobility platforms towards increasingly autonomous systems.

North Defence says integrating the technology will add precision-strike capability while retaining the mobility and flexibility of its existing vehicle architecture.

Both companies will pursue opportunities across a number of programmes, initially focusing on integrating Cascade with North Defence’s light mobility vehicle platforms and forthcoming unmanned ground vehicle solutions.

Oliver North, chief executive of North Defence, said: “This partnership reflects a shift in how modern defence capability is delivered – through speed, adaptability, and integration.

“By combining STARK’s unmanned strike systems with proven, modular vehicle platforms, we are able to deliver fully-integrated solutions far more rapidly than traditional approaches allow.

“Plus, with flexible engineering and production capability across both the United Kingdom and Luxembourg, we are well positioned to support sovereign and allied requirements at scale.”

Yves Augustus, sales director at STARK, added: “North Defence brings a highly capable and responsive integration capability, underpinned by battlefield-proven experience and rapid engineering cycles. 

“Cascade was designed from the outset for modular integration and deployment at scale.

“Combining it with both manned and unmanned vehicle platforms gives armed forces greater flexibility in how and where they deploy precision effects. 

“This partnership will help us bring that capability to NATO and allied customers at speed.”

Headquartered in Steinsel, Luxembourg, North Defence has a major manufacturing and production facility in Elland, in West Yorkshire.

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