Torus Alliance: The Future of The UK Defence Supply Chain

Four global leaders have announced an alliance to support the next generation of supply chain solutions for the UK defence sector.

The Torus Defence Supply Chain, formed by Amentum, Maersk, Accenture and GXO Logistics, is intended to help the sector face evolving threats amid heightened geopolitical tension around the world.

According to the Institute of Fiscal Studies the government has committed to increasing spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. Torus is designed to support the government’s policy shift to readiness, visibility and data exploitation.

The alliance draws on its members’ collective expertise in both the military and procurement and supply chain. Each member of the Torus alliance brings specialised capabilities to support defence logistics transformation.

Mark Smith, EMEA Defence Lead at Accenture, says: “This alliance brings together unmatched expertise in logistics systems and data-driven digital transformation, enabling scalable, interoperable solutions that enhance mission readiness.”

Beyond these priorities, the alliance is committed to investing in UK infrastructure, contributing to economic growth and fostering digital skills in local communities.

Industry leaders highlight supply chain resilience

Loren Jones, Amentum Senior Vice President, says: “Our combined global reach and military domain experience, specifically Amentum's proven success in deployed logistics and integrating complex systems for the US Government, perfectly aligns with the UK Defence sector’s requirement for future operational resilience and its imperative to move beyond systems optimised for just-in-time to ones of assured readiness and global reach.”

Amentum will provide overall integration and programme management. The company last year announced plans to add another 3,000 people to its UK workforce of more than 6,000 over the next four years.

GXO Logistics, meanwhile, recently bolstered its UK defence capabilities through the acquisition of Wincanton, a longstanding trusted partner to the UK defence and industrial sector.

“The defence sector is tasked with responding to dynamic global challenges which has created substantial demands on its supply chains," says Gavin Williams, Managing Director of GXO UK & Ireland. 

“GXO’s proven capability in the global defence sector optimises efficiency and builds resilience in complex supply chains, providing leading defence organisations with the assurance they will have the adaptive capacity required to deliver with confidence.”

Combining logistics, digital and defence expertise

Accenture’s experience of defence logistics information systems and digital transformation will enable real-time visibility and smarter data and AI-powered decision-making.

Mark adds: “Accenture’s deep defence logistics knowledge and cutting-edge digital capabilities, refined through working with more than20 NATO countries, can help ensure operational continuity and resilience in complex global environments.”

Maersk will provide global integrated movement solutions using its extensive multimodal logistics network. The company will support global reach while ensuring compliance with stringent security standards for defence and government cargo.