Defence manufacturer Avon Protection has landed a multi-million euro order to sell specialist breathing gear for divers to the German navy.
Under the deal, precise details of which have not been disclosed, the Melksham-based group will supply its multi-role rebreathers and ongoing technical support.
Avon Protection, which specialises in protective gear, masks and breathing equipment for the military and first-responder markets, has developed its state-of-the-art electronically controlled military rebreathers in collaboration with the UK Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and the Royal Norwegian Navy.
The equipment, which includes cutting-edge technology and innovative operational features, is designed for use by military divers in shallow and deep water and is optimised for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), mine countermeasures (MCM) and special operations diving.
Avon Protection chief executive officer Jos Sclater said: “The selection of our rebreather by the German navy is a significant award for Avon Protection and the military diving personnel who will benefit from the cutting-edge technologies and enhanced operability it will bring them.”
The group, which changed its name in 2021 from Avon Rubber, employs more than 1,000 people in seven locations.
It has been recovering from a tough period during which its shares lost around 70% of their value as it struggled to overcome damaging delays in military orders from the US.
Last October the group said its order book was recovering while a strategic move to more profitable product lines was beginning to pay off.
