Defence tech shifts from fighter jets to ventilators

COBHAM has become the latest business to join the effort to make ventilators for the NHS.

The British defence firm has adapted the technology it uses for oxygen systems in fighter jets to build air pressure regulators – a key component used in desperately needed ventilator systems.

The group is working with an unnamed UK consortium and, if it gets the go-ahead from regulators, will be able to make 1,000 air pressure regulator units a day.

The Government has called for manufacturers to help with efforts to design and build ventilators for the NHS, which it is worried could be over-run with a flood of vulnerable patients during the coronavirus pandemic.

There are several projects on the go in case one or more should fail.

Two weeks ago technology group Dyson said it had won a contract for 10,000 ventilators.

Yesterday, engineer Smiths, which already makes the Para PAC Plus ventilator at its site in Luton, said it was switching several of its other production lines to ramp up production, going from ‘0 to 100’ in a matter of weeks and aiming to produce ‘thousands’ a month to help the national effort.

Babcock, which maintains the UK’s fleet of nuclear submarines, confirmed it will be manufacturing 10,000 ventilators.

Manufacturers and engineers worldwide are chipping in to provide medical equipment amid fears that doctors, nurses and other frontline staff could be needlessly exposed to the deadly virus while at work.

Apple has designed a protective mask for healthcare workers battling the coronavirus.

Chief executive Tim Cook said the iPhone maker plans to make more than 1m face shields a week.

These will be shipped to US medical workers first and later distributed globally.

It has also bought 20m face masks which will be donated worldwide.