Army Ammunition Technical Community and Institution of Explosives Engineers Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Professional Collaboration

Army Ammunition Technical Community and Institution of Explosives Engineers Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Professional Collaboration

The Army’s Ammunition Technical community and the Institution of Explosives Engineers (IExpE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), strengthening their longstanding relationship and reinforcing a shared commitment to professional development, engineering recognition and collaboration across the military and civilian explosives sectors.

The signing took place on 12 October 2026 at the Officers’ Mess, Worthy Down, the home of the Royal Logistic Corps. Facilitated by the Royal Logistic Corps Institution (RLCi), the agreement was signed by Brigadier Darren Fisher MBE, representing the Army’s Ammunition Technical community, and Mr Martin Sime, President of the IExpE and His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Explosives. Mr Richard Crane and WO2 Danny Maxwell represented the RLCi.

The partnership will provide much greater opportunities for military explosives specialists to achieve professional recognition, access continuing professional development, and engage with the wider explosives engineering community. It will also strengthen the exchange of knowledge and expertise between Defence and industry, supporting both operational capability and career development both inside and outside of the military.

Brigadier Fisher explained: “The importance of the Institution is not simply the academic opportunities it provides, but the professional engineering pathways now available to our ammunition technical personnel. These allow individuals to gain recognition for their skills and experience throughout their military careers, and as they transition into civilian employment.  Equally important is the opportunity to draw upon the expertise of the wider explosives engineering community. As we prepare for the challenges of future conflict, closer collaboration between Defence and industry will be essential in developing capability, sharing knowledge and making the best use of our collective expertise.”

The agreement supports the Royal Logistic Corps Strategy 2030, particularly its commitment to strengthening partnerships with professional institutions, industry and academia. It also recognises the importance of ensuring that military training, qualifications and experience are aligned with nationally recognised professional standards, including pathways towards Engineering Technician (EngTech), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration.

Mr Sime welcomed the agreement, stating: “We are delighted to build upon our existing relationship with the ammunition technical trade and provide further opportunities for individuals to develop and demonstrate their professional competence.  Professional recognition provides a benchmark that is valued both within and beyond the military. It allows employers to understand the skills, knowledge and experience that individuals bring, while ensuring that military explosives specialists are recognised as professional equals within the wider engineering community.  This partnership is also about sharing knowledge. There is an enormous amount that military and civilian explosives engineers can learn from one another, and we look forward to strengthening those connections.”

The MoU represents a significant step towards closer collaboration between the Army’s Ammunition Technical community and the IExpE, supporting professional recognition, knowledge exchange and the development of the next generation of explosives engineering professionals.