Specialist military vehicle manufacturer North Defence has invested in two significant hires as the £25m firm prepares to announce its next wave of innovation.

With vast autonomous technology expertise, Greg Homewood has joined as chief engineer. An accomplished defence sector designer with 15 years’ industry experience, he most recently led a robotics team on UGV projects for a major prime contractor.

Operating from North Defence’s West Yorkshire facilities, he will play a critical role in the development and deployment of next-generation technology for the modern battlefield.

Known for innovation with empathy – and with strong military DNA running throughout the existing team – North Defence has also welcomed esteemed British Army veteran Russell Bailey, as chief defence liaison officer.

Russell joined the army as a private soldier in 1989 and, having moved up through the ranks, commissioned to officer in 2013. Assigned to multiple missions including Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo, he retired as major earlier this summer, as second in command of Old College at the Royal Army Military Academy Sandhurst.

Core to his new role is continued dialogue with the stakeholders North Defence is here to serve, especially on the front-line. Russell will also drive deeper collaboration between the firm’s UK manufacturing hubs and Luxembourg centre of innovation excellence, where he will work closely with Ana Vale Lopez who already heads up that operation.

Completing the people announcements, Oscar North – son of founder Oliver – has graduated as a production engineer, having begun his apprenticeship with the group two years ago.