Rashed Al Kaabi‭, ‬Chief Executive Officer‭, ‬AL TAIF‭ ‬–‭ ‬EDGE Group to‭ ALJUNDI- We Drive the Future of Land Platform MRO with Technology

The defence maintenance‭, ‬repair and overhaul‭ (‬MRO‭) ‬industry is transforming to leverage technological innovations and adapt to the demands of the changing security landscape‭.  ‬Regular maintenance to prolong the operational capacity of vital assets no longer depends on skilled technicians alone‭. ‬To reduce downtime and streamline workflow‭, ‬OEMs and MROs are implementing the latest systems and state-of-the-art engineering processes through the use of Artificial Intelligence‭ (‬AI‭), ‬real-time monitoring‭, ‬cloud technology‭, ‬Internet of Things‭ (‬IoT‭), ‬and other complex programs to predict maintenance and ensure long-term reliability of vital‭ ‬equipment‭.‬

Land MRO

One of the key strengths of a nation lies within the ability of its defence system to protect itself from current and imminent threats‭, ‬along with various other factors such as economic stability‭, ‬technological advancement‭, ‬political system‭, ‬and foreign relations with other nations‭. ‬The defence system is made up of military forces that involve both personnel and defence equipment‭. ‬At the core of this is maintenance‭, ‬repair‭, ‬and overhaul for armoured and other essential land military vehicles‭. ‬MRO guarantees‭ ‬the operational readiness‭, ‬reliability‭, ‬and performance of these platforms for any kind of mission‭. ‬The main objective of MRO is to ensure that vital defence assets are at their best state of readiness without increasing costs while maintaining maximum availability‭.‬

Land platform MRO market insights

The world’s defence land platform MRO market is estimated at USD 44.85‭ ‬billion in 2024‭, ‬according to Global Information Insights‭. ‬It is projected to grow to USD 71.43‭ ‬billion by 2034‭. ‬This positive market growth is due to the increase in the budget of the world’s defence industry because of current geopolitical tensions in various regions around the globe‭, ‬the adoption of smart technologies‭, ‬military modernisation‭, ‬land forces expansion‭, ‬and a growing focus on sustainability to maximise resources and improve operational efficiency to reduce costs‭.‬

 

Technological developments and their impact on MRO‭ ‬

By integrating the latest systems‭, ‬MROs and OEMs can prolong their lifespan‭, ‬make critical decisions based on data‭, ‬allow faster‭ ‬turnaround times during maintenance cycles‭, ‬and increase the operational availability of vital assets‭. ‬Technology improves the‭ ‬performance of the asset itself as well as MRO operations and its maintenance workloads‭. ‬Moreover‭, ‬it maximises the productivity‭ ‬of personnel involved behind the scenes who work tirelessly around the clock such as technicians‭, ‬engineers‭, ‬and other specialists‭. ‬

Furthermore‭, ‬other available technologies that the MRO industry has embraced include‭: ‬

Streamlined Communication‭: ‬Communication among teams is streamlined and carried out seamlessly without the need to physically check the land platform itself‭. ‬With the use of sensors‭, ‬data can be sent through secure servers with the aid of specialised optical equipment such as CCTVs‭, ‬drones‭, ‬cameras‭, ‬videoscopes‭, ‬borescopes or fiberscopes‭. ‬

Internet of Things‭ (‬IoT‭) ‬and Cloud Computing‭: ‬IoT and cloud technology enable continuous equipment monitoring by maintenance personnel‭, ‬which can be done remotely‭. ‬Using state-of-the-art condition monitoring technologies like sensors and communications networks‭, ‬data is collected and transferred to cloud-based servers to assess the state of equipment‭. ‬This enables MRO personnel to‭ ‬gather data and analyse it in real-time to proactively determine current‭, ‬impending‭, ‬and potential issues‭, ‬allowing specialists‭ ‬to troubleshoot before the problem becomes harder and more expensive to manage‭. ‬Moreover‭, ‬by initiating specific repairs and optimising maintenance schedules‭, ‬MROs can avoid major fixes that lead to a longer downtime‭. ‬

Robotics and AI‭: ‬Breakthroughs in robotics and AI allow visualisation of hard-to-reach places of land-based platforms‭. ‬Moreover‭,‬‭ ‬it enables technicians to inspect equipment remotely using tablets and high-definition cameras‭. ‬Additionally‭, ‬they can use drones and CCTV cameras and send video feeds via secure networks to be stored on the cloud‭.‬

CMMS‭: ‬Centralised maintenance management systems‭ (‬CMMS‭) ‬have evolved from simple to more complex systems‭, ‬allowing the integrated management of staff‭, ‬tools‭, ‬and operations into one platform for more accessible and more organised data storage‭, ‬processing and storage capabilities of computing devices‭. ‬

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality‭ (‬AR/VR‭): ‬The use of augmented reality and virtual reality has dramatically transformed the‭ ‬way maintenance teams are trained‭. ‬This technology allows for training sessions to be conducted via video conferencing‭, ‬enabling remote training for trainees‭. ‬Additionally‭, ‬virtual models and field tours can now be utilised without the need for printed learning materials or long-distance travel to attend training sessions‭, ‬especially for complex systems‭.‬

Robotics‭: ‬Robots can mitigate risks when a potential hazard is involved‭, ‬completing tasks such as vehicle inspection‭, ‬dangerous‭ ‬materials handling‭, ‬and replacements of components‭, ‬improving the safety of personnel and the general work environment‭. ‬Moreover‭, ‬various other cutting-edge technologies are being implemented within the MRO industry and many more are continuously being developed as the industry embraces modern equipment‭, ‬applications‭, ‬and systems‭. 

Challenges

First‭, ‬the rising cost of MRO can present challenges because system and hardware upgrades are not cheap‭. ‬Geopolitical tensions can also present supply issues for replacement parts that require procurement of raw materials through complex logistics‭. ‬

Second‭, ‬the more cutting-edge the equipment and systems are‭, ‬the more highly specialised technicians and MRO specialists are needed‭. ‬This requires continuous training to cope with the latest technology and systems in the land platform MRO sector‭. ‬Lastly‭, ‬as MROs adapt to technological advancements‭, ‬compliance with various regulations and safety standards is necessary‭, ‬which leads to higher cost of MRO components‭.‬

The future of MRO

The future of land platform MRO looks promising because of the trajectory of the market growth as nations transform and invest in the life-cycle management of their defence fleet‭. ‬Global military force expansion and modernisation not only accelerate the growth of the market but also ensure that land platforms are running optimally and properly maintained‭, ‬ultimately protecting lives and strengthening national and global security‭. ‬In the long run‭, ‬the adoption of land platform MROs to the latest technologies‭ ‬and effective practices greatly reduces long-term operational costs‭., ‬leading to greater efficiency and reduced downtime‭. ‬

Additionally‭, ‬the advantages of modern innovations underline the necessity of land platform MROs investing in the latest systems‭ ‬and equipment despite the challenges‭, ‬especially at a time when heightened geopolitical tensions are driving military forces to‭ ‬expand‭, ‬upgrade their assets‭, ‬and ensure mission readiness‭. .‬●

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