New Software Set to Revolutionise UK Defence Supply Chain
The Ministry of Defence has unveiled a cutting-edge software designed to map the entire Defence supply chain, spotlighting hidden risks and vulnerabilities. This new tech is the first of its kind, promising greater transparency and agility for UK armed forces.
Revolutionary SCRIPT Software Launched
Developed by Defence Equipment and Support’s (DE&S) Supplier Management and Resilience Team (SM&RT), the software—dubbed SCRIPT—pulls data from multiple external sources, suppliers, and internal systems.
It offers a 360-degree view of the supply chain, from a supplier’s financial health to environmental and social governance (ESG) credentials. This holistic picture means Defence can react swiftly to threats or seize new opportunities.
DE&S Boss: “More Visibility, More Intelligence”
“Our role is to equip our armed forces with the edge to protect our nation. This new technology means that we have even greater supply chain visibility, insight and intelligence. We’ve worked across UK Defence to develop an integrated solution so that we can continuously monitor and scan for threats, risks and fragilities and be ready to respond quickly to new opportunities and challenges.” – Andy Start, DE&S Chief Executive
Supporting Vulnerable SMEs & Tracking Impact
SCRIPT doesn’t just map prime contractors but also drills down to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). If risks appear, DE&S can act fast to support these crucial, often unique suppliers.
Additionally, SCRIPT tracks where suppliers are based and measures the social, economic, and environmental footprint of Defence projects, aligning with modern sustainability goals.
Industry Praises Collaboration and Potential
“Raytheon UK has worked collaboratively with DE&S to share knowledge of the tiers of the supply chain. By working together we have developed a more detailed picture than working individually. While the output is a ‘work in progress’, we remain committed to improving it over time. The tool provides a user-friendly way to jointly identify, assess and mitigate risk. Great progress has been made and, as more data is loaded into the tool, DE&S will also be able to assess the risks that span multiple programmes.” – David Carter, Director of Supply Chain Management, Raytheon UK
The breakthrough supply chain software was unveiled on Wednesday 29 March at the Defence Procurement Research Technology and Exportability (DPRTE) event at Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre.
