Air Compressors for the Defence Industry
In the UK defence sector, compressed air is much more than just another utility. It is your mission readiness lifeline. The reliability of your compressed air system affects operational uptime, personnel safety, and mission success. Breakdowns are not an option.
Design Air (Scotland) Ltd provides the specialist compressed air systems and through-life support necessary to ensure operational assurance, as required by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and its prime contractors.
Compressed Air Applications Across the UK Armed Forces
From submarine survival systems to frontline vehicle repair, compressed air performs critical tasks across every branch of the Armed Forces.
Royal Navy: High-Pressure Systems for Surface & Subsea Dominance
Onboard Royal Navy vessels, system failure can have catastrophic consequences. We provide robust, shock-proof systems for:
- Crew & Vessel Safety: Emergency Surfacing: An instant submarine surfacing system, utilising high-pressure air (345 bar maximum), provides a safe emergency rescue system for the crew and protects the vessel’s mission capability.
- Combat Readiness: Weapon launching: The force required to eject a weapon from a torpedo tube is achieved using compressed air. Starting the main diesel engines: In the event of primary power source failure, compressed air is used to start the main diesel engines.
- Life Support: Our systems deliver certified breathing air for diving teams and submarine crews, where purity is non-negotiable.
British Army: Mobile & Robust Solutions for Land Operations
The British Army operates in harsh, remote environments far from established infrastructure. Our mobile and containerised solutions keep land forces moving.
- Field Maintenance: Our tough, diesel-powered compressors are used in the field to drive pneumatic tools used by REME units for frontline repairs and maintenance, keeping vehicles moving.
- Rapid Deployment: Self-contained systems, such as the Portable Tyre Repair Facility (PTRF), are mobile and can be set up wherever needed to deliver a complete workshop capability out of hours or on the battlefield.
Royal Air Force & Aerospace: Precision & Purity for Air and Ground Support
For the RAF, air quality is as critical as pressure. Contamination can cause catastrophic failure of sensitive equipment.
- Preventing Component Failure: We provide ISO 8573-1 Class 0 oil-free air to avoid the contamination of sensitive avionics, composites, and advanced coatings.
- Protecting Personnel: On-site Nitrogen Generators create inert atmospheres to protect sensitive electronics, while specialist systems supply pilots with safe, breathable air.
A Lifecycle Partnership for Maximum Uptime and Efficiency
As a premier distributor of Atlas Copco Compressors, we deliver systems engineered for the sector’s most demanding applications.
- Problem: Risk of oil contamination damaging sensitive avionics or weapons systems.
Solution: ZR & ZT Oil-Free Compressors.
Benefit: Guarantees 100% pure, Class 0 air (up to 13 bar), protecting critical components and ensuring mission integrity. - Problem: High energy costs and the need for absolute reliability in continuous operations.
Solution: GA VSD⁺ Oil-Lubricated Compressors.
Benefit: Reduces energy consumption by up to 50% while providing a reliable flow of up to 1,500 litres per second, thereby lowering the total cost of ownership. - Problem: Needing robust, high-pressure air for mobile field units or onboard naval vessels.
Solution: LE/LT Piston Compressors.
Benefit: Delivers durable, high-pressure air up to 30 bar in a compact footprint ideal for constrained spaces. - Problem: Requirement for a fully-equipped compressor room at a remote or temporary base.
Solution: AIRCUBE Containerised Systems.
Benefit: A plug-and-play, shock- and weather-proofed system ready for rapid deployment, minimising on-site setup and labour.
A Comprehensive Service Portfolio for Defence Assets
Our services are designed to maximise uptime, reduce operational costs, and ensure your assets are always ready.
Multi-Brand Servicing & Genuine OEM Parts
Defence sites often have a mixed fleet of equipment. Our multi-brand expertise (including Ingersoll Rand, Kaeser, and Boge) provides a single point of contact for your entire asset base, simplifying maintenance. By using genuine OEM parts and adhering to strict service intervals, we reduce your total cost of ownership.
24/7 Emergency Response & Predictive Maintenance
Downtime is not an option. Our Compressor Service Plans are backed by a guaranteed 24/7 emergency response from our SC-cleared engineers. Using Remote Monitoring technology, we can predict failures before they happen, ensuring your systems stay online.
Turnkey Pipework Installation & System Audits
Inefficient pipework wastes energy and money. We provide complete turnkey pipework and installation, and conduct detailed energy audit and leak detection surveys to optimise your entire system for peak efficiency.
Your Local Partner in Scotland’s Defence Sector
Based in Airdrie, Design Air (Scotland) Ltd is strategically positioned to provide rapid, on-site support to the dense concentration of defence establishments and prime contractors across Scotland.
Contact our defence sector specialists today to discuss tailored compressed air solutions for your operation.