Jessica O'ConnorA £320m defence contract with IBM UK is set to create 100 highly skilled jobs while transforming how the Armed Forces manage and maintain equipment.
The Defence Equipment Engineering Asset Management Systems (DEEAMS) will replace 17 outdated applications with a single AI-enabled platform, giving personnel real-time data to plan maintenance, predict repairs, and track stock availability.
The system is expected to deliver more than £1bn in savings on support and IT costs while boosting productivity.
The investment supports the government’s Plan for Change and reflects its ambition to make defence both an engine for growth and a driver of innovation.
Defence Minister Luke Pollard said the programme will “revolutionise how we provide our front-line personnel with the kit they need, when they need it” while creating jobs at home.
IBM will lead delivery alongside industry partners, embedding predictive intelligence into decision-making for over 65,000 users across 130 major military platforms.
Rahul Kalia, managing partner at IBM Consulting UKI, said the platform would bring “real-time data-driven insights to improve planning and support strategic decision making.”
