DSEI Insight

Strategic Engineering Partnerships: Building Advantage Together at DSEI 2025

Written by Alten | Aug 26, 2025 8:46:38 AM

The defence and aerospace sector has always been defined by complexity. But today, the stakes are even higher. Rapid technological change, shifting geopolitical realities, and increasing cost pressures mean that success is no longer just about technical expertise. It’s about forming the right partnerships; relationships that go beyond transactions to deliver real, sustainable advantage.

At ALTEN, we believe an engineering partner should be far more than a supplier. Done well, a partnership can be a strategic asset, helping you innovate faster, cut costs, and focus on your core mission. That’s the philosophy we’ll be bringing to DSEI 2025.

 

From Supplier to Strategic Partner

Too often in our industry, engineering support is seen as resource provision — a way of filling gaps in teams or capacity. While that solves short-term needs, it rarely creates long-term value.

Our approach is different. We embed ourselves in your engineering ecosystem and create solutions that evolve with your business. That might mean building managed teams to accelerate a programme, taking full ownership of repeatable work packages, or designing new delivery models that reduce risk and cost across the lifecycle.

The point is simple: we grow with you. And in doing so, we give you the freedom to keep your teams focused on innovation and mission-critical outcomes.

 

Proof in the Numbers

Partnerships must deliver results, and ours do.

  • 90% of our UK work is now delivered as comprehensive, fixed-price work packages and managed teams/services.
  • We consistently achieve 8% cost savings for clients through smarter, outcome-based delivery.
  • In 2024 alone, we helped one major client save £3.7 million by leveraging offshore delivery — without compromising quality or continuity.

These aren’t abstract percentages. They’re measurable, bankable results that defence primes and aerospace leaders have achieved by trusting ALTEN to take ownership of delivery.

 

Supporting Transformation Journeys

We also understand that transformation doesn’t happen overnight. That’s why we take a structured approach:

  1. Start with resource-based support and pilot projects. Build confidence in the partnership.
  2. Evolve to managed teams and repeatable tasks. Establish efficiency and scale.
  3. Move toward fixed-price delivery of outcomes. Reduce risk, unlock savings, and focus your teams on innovation.

For one defence prime, this journey involved moving from legacy embedded resource models to a managed strategic supplier relationship. By deploying 120+ repeatable work units, we enabled an 8% cost saving while supporting their transition to outcome-based delivery.

For a leading aerospace prime, we enabled a seamless shift from onshore to offshore delivery. The result? Significant cost savings, a dedicated Centre of Competence, and stronger foundations for long-term innovation.

 

Flexibility as Standard

Every organisation is different, and so is every programme. That’s why our delivery approach is deliberately flexible:

  • On-site: Our engineers embedded within your teams.
  • Off-site UK centres: Scalable capacity across our dedicated engineering hubs.
  • Hybrid and offshore models: A blend of cost efficiency and continuity tailored to your operational context.

This flexibility allows you to scale quickly, reduce overheads, and keep momentum on critical projects, all while knowing you have a partner who can flex as your needs evolve.

 

Why This Matters Now

The pressures facing defence and aerospace organisations aren’t easing anytime soon. Budgets are tight. Programmes are complex. And the pace of technological change means that yesterday’s models of delivery won’t cut it tomorrow.

That’s why it’s time to think differently about partnerships. Strategic engineering partnerships aren’t just about reducing costs (though they do). They’re about creating the space, capacity, and agility you need to keep your organisation ahead.

And that’s exactly what ALTEN delivers.

 

Let’s Talk at DSEI 2025

DSEI is the perfect opportunity to have these conversations face-to-face. Whether you’re looking to:

  • Accelerate delivery on a critical programme,
  • Unlock measurable cost savings,
  • Build a Centre of Competence, or
  • Explore how offshore and hybrid models could work for you…

…we’d love to talk.

Visit ALTEN at DSEI 2025 and let’s explore how a strategic engineering partnership could help you build an advantageous future.

Because in this industry, advantage isn’t given. It’s engineered, together.