Stockpile Management Services consists of an innovative process supported by adequate methodologies and IT tools to give life cost savings of up to 30 per cent, effective SMS allows MBDA to confidently predict significant life extension regarding the customer’s missile stock. Improved safety and optimised operational availability are other key advantages provided by SMS.

Measures to enhance the security and management of legal stocks of small arms and to reduce ‘surplus’ weapons are clearly essential to combat illicit trafficking and prevent and reduce the proliferation of small arms. Many of the weapons of concern are lost from official stockpiles through theft, corruption or neglect. Moreover, the existence of large quantities of surplus small arms is a major factor in the excessive availability and flows of these weapons.

A number of national and regional initiatives have been taken to ensure or promote destruction or other responsible disposal of surplus small arms and to ensure the security of officially held weapons. MBDA, the world leader in missiles technology, has developed the Stockpile Management Services (SMS) to give its customers ability to know the exact status of their munitions in terms of reliability and remaining life. Unlike other missiles manufacturers MBDA is not only the seller but also provides lifelong maintenance for its products.

Increasing pressure on defence budgets within the customer community is seeing a reappraisal of the traditional ways of managing a weapon system’s life cycle. Users more and more are seeking ways of maximising the life of their missile inventory, increasing operational availability and, at the same time, achieving through life cost savings. MBDA’s SMS initiative has been developed as a highly effective solution to these growing requirements.

Methodology

Data loggers, linked to the individual missile in question, provide core information on the product’s environment such as temperature, humidity, vibration, pressure and shock. This data is then analysed and then processed via life simulation modelling software. The final picture is of significant help to customers in logistics and operational decision making.

The use of sensors (data logging) is also a method of enhancing the quality of life cycle management. By capturing critical data and obtaining greater accuracy in appraising different environmental conditions, maintenance policy can be based on objective facts rather than guesswork. Additionally, all data collected on the history of the munition will be helpful for future missile evaluation programmes.

MBDA provides a full consultancy service, working with the customer, discussing and analysing issues, designing and implementing solutions which all combine towards the mission success of the customer.