Defence Equipment and Support

Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) is a trading entity and joint-defence organisation within the UK Ministry of Defence. It began operating on 2 April 2007, following the merger of the MoD's Defence Procurement Agency and the Defence Logistics Organisation, under the Chief Executive Officer of Defence Equipment and Support.^[1]

Defence Equipment and Support

Agency overview
Formed	2 April 2007
Preceding agencies	Defence Procurement Agency Defence Logistics Organisation
Superseding agency	Submarine Delivery Agency (partial)
Jurisdiction	United Kingdom
Headquarters	MoD Abbey Wood, Bristol, England 51.5033°N 2.55917°W / 51.5033; -2.55917
Minister responsible	Rt Hon Maria Eagle, MP, Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry
Agency executive	Andy Start, Chief Executive Officer of Defence Equipment and Support
Parent department	Ministry of Defence
Child agencies	DE&S Deca Defence Munitions
Website	https://des.mod.uk/

In 2022, the DE&S workforce was around 11,500^[2] with the majority based at MoD Abbey Wood in Bristol.^[3]

History

DE&S headquarters, Abbey Wood, Bristol

Defence Equipment and Support was established on 2 April 2007 with General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue as its first CEO.^[4]

Responsibility for 'Logistics, Commodities and Services' (including storage and delivery of non-weaponry equipment, such as food and clothing, to soldiers)^[5] was contracted out to the private sector in 2015 under an arrangement that included the transfer of 1,100 staff and construction of a new Defence Fulfilment Centre at MoD Donnington.^[6]

In September 2022, Andy Start was appointed CEO of the organisation, joining from an executive role in Capita plc and replacing Air Marshal Sir Simon Bollom.^[7]

On 1 April 2024, the former Defence Electronics & Components Agency was merged into the wider DE&S organisation to form an autonomous operating centre to be known as DE&S Deca.^[8][9]

Major projects

DE&S manages over 600 defence procurement and support programmes for the UK's armed services.^[10]

Main locations

As of 2016 the main locations (with staff numbers) were:^[6]

• MoD Abbey Wood (7,920) – Head Office
• DM Beith (220) – Defence Munitions
• MoD Bicester (140) – Logistics
• HMNB Clyde (100) – Fleet Support and Defence Munitions
• HMNB Devonport (220) – Fleet Support and Defence Munitions
• DM Kineton (240) – Defence Munitions
• DM Longtown (120) – Defence Munitions
• Ministry of Defence, London (90) – Policy
• RAF Northolt (210) – British Forces Post Office
• HMNB Portsmouth and DM Gosport (350) – Fleet Support and Defence Munitions
• Rosyth Dockyard (120) – Fleet Support and Defence Munitions
• RAF Waddington (170) – ISTAR Support
• Yeovil (410) – Helicopter Support