Announced at DSEI today (September 13, 2023), the partnership will provide Babcock with a data platform aimed at capturing, integrating, modelling and building data-driven solutions across platforms and supply chains.
Babcock said that unlocking the power of data will enable it to make better informed data-driven decisions, maximise platform availability on customer assets, and understand where more value can be driven through data. The partnership will support all areas of Babcock’s defence business across submarines, warships, army equipment and training.
In a statement, Tom Newman, Babcock CEO for Land, said: “As the defence landscape becomes increasingly digital in nature, our data challenges are also growing in complexity and volume.
“Given the complex defence supply chains we operate in, having a true data picture of that ecosystem is vital in allowing us to make better strategic decisions and aligns us to our customer’s digital defence backbone.”
Guy Williams, head of UK Defence & National Security from Palantir Technologies UK Ltd., said: “We’re excited to partner with Babcock as they realise their digital defence ambitions. Together, we are driving toward a new era for the UK’s Defence enterprise – one that is pioneering, modern and AI-enabled.
“Our partnership with Babcock will help ensure the MoD maximise operational output at pace, whilst empowering Babcock’s talented workforce to become truly digitally enabled.”
The agreement with Palantir will consolidate data streams into one place, whether that’s on supply chains or asset management, with toolsets and analytics.
Babcock added that new insights brought about by the partnership will enable it to build on its own data intelligence and engineering expertise to deliver better data-driven solutions, faster and more cost-effectively anywhere in the world.
This new platform approach will also allow Babcock to co-ordinate more closely with its customers and improve its understanding and utilisation of data, enabling the company to be a key part of its customers’ defence missions.
In DSG (Defence Support Group), Babcock said it is combining this smart data approach with its own engineering expertise to improve fleet availability and real time identification of any issues throughout the asset lifecycle.
Areas the partnership will focus on include equipment support and maintenance, training contracts and shipbuilding.
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