By Paul R Salmon FCILT, FSCM
In today’s battlespace, there is no margin for error. The speed, safety, and success of a mission can hinge on something as deceptively simple as how a load is balanced. A single miscalculation in cargo weight distribution can delay an aircraft departure, destabilise a ship, or cause a convoy vehicle to roll in hostile terrain. Yet across the UK Defence supply chain, one of the most critical pieces of information for preventing these risks — the Centre of Gravity (CoG) — is still not consistently captured, recorded, or shared. In a world of contested logistics and compressed decision timelines, this is a gap we cannot afford.
1. Understanding Centre of Gravity in Defence Logistics
The Centre of Gravity of an object is the point where its weight is evenly distributed in all directions — the exact balance point. For a standard box of rations, this might be at its geometric centre. For a missile in a launch canister, a generator set, or an irregularly shaped engineering tool kit, the CoG could be offset significantly.
In load planning, the CoG is defined in three coordinates:
COG_X – the distance from the datum point along the length of the item. COG_Y – the distance from the datum point along the width of the item. COG_Z – the distance from the datum point along the height of the item.
In practical terms, the CoG determines:
How the item is lifted (forklift tine placement, crane hook positioning). How it sits in transport (to avoid tilting, shifting, or tipping). How it integrates into a wider load plan (balance within a container, aircraft hold, or ship’s deck).
2. The Defence Context: From NSN to Operational Load
In the UK Defence inventory system, every item is assigned a NATO Stock Number (NSN). For movement purposes, there are two levels of CoG data that matter:
NSN CoG – the fixed CoG of the item in its standard packaging, measured once in controlled conditions and stored in the master item record. Special to Type Container (STTC) CoG – the operational CoG of the same item when it is packed into a specific container or load unit for movement.
An armoured vehicle spare might have its own NSN CoG, but when it’s packed in an STTC with tie-down points, protective bracing, and other equipment, the combined load’s CoG will shift — sometimes significantly.
This means both the NSN CoG and STTC CoG need to be known and recorded to ensure safe, efficient transport.
3. Current Gaps and Risks
Defence’s current volumetric data proposals include length, width, height, volume, weight, stacking capability, and rotation attributes. These support cube utilisation and movement planning but do not provide information on load stability.
The absence of CoG data creates several risks:
Aircraft Trim and Balance Delays – Loadmasters must manually measure or estimate CoG at the point of embarkation, slowing air movements. Ship Stability Hazards – Incorrectly balanced cargo can impact vessel roll and pitch behaviour. Vehicle Handling Issues – Poorly balanced loads increase the risk of rollover during convoy operations. Increased Handling Time – Movement Control teams must re-measure items instead of drawing on stored, verified data.
In high-readiness or contested logistics environments, where every minute counts, this delay can compromise mission timelines.
4. NATO and MCCE Standards
NATO’s STANAG 2828 and the Movement Coordination Centre Europe (MCCE) data model both require CoG coordinates for each load unit. Many NATO allies already include this data as standard, meaning UK Defence risks creating interoperability delays when working in coalition operations.
If UK load data does not include CoG coordinates, it must be re-measured or estimated before it can be entered into MCCE systems — creating another friction point in multinational operations.
5. The Case for Change
Capturing CoG data delivers immediate operational value and long-term strategic benefits.
Operational Safety
Accurate CoG data reduces the risk of load shift, rollover, or crane lifting accidents. It ensures that lifting points, strapping, and tie-down methods match the actual balance point of the load.
Speed of Deployment
If CoG data is available at the NSN and STTC level, load plans can be generated rapidly — often in minutes — instead of conducting time-consuming measurements at the point of loading.
Automation Enablement
Once stored in Defence’s master data, CoG coordinates can be fed directly into automated load planning tools, AI-assisted cargo optimisers, and autonomous logistics vehicles. This future-proofs the data for emerging Defence digital transformation programmes.
Digital Interoperability
With MCCE-aligned field names and formats, CoG data can be shared instantly with NATO allies, eliminating reformatting or re-measurement delays.
6. How CoG Data Would Be Captured and Stored
Data Capture:
NSN CoG measured once using calibrated volumetric scanning and multi-point weighing in controlled conditions. STTC CoG measured every time a container is packed for movement, reflecting the actual operational load.
Collection Priority:
CoG data to be collected for all new items at initial codification. Priority given to existing items flagged as: PEP – Primary Equipment Pack items. FAP – Fly Away Pack items. CAL – Consolidated Allowance List items. Any other warfighting or humanitarian tagged items in Defence systems.
Data Storage:
NSN CoG stored in the master item data record in a format directly exportable to MCCE systems. STTC CoG stored in the movement manifest for each operational load.
7. Long-Term Benefits for Defence
Implementing CoG data capture will transform Defence logistics over time:
Permanent Asset – Once measured, CoG data becomes a permanent attribute for that NSN, usable in any future deployment. Training Efficiency – Movement Control personnel can focus on high-value planning rather than repetitive measurement tasks. Digital Twin Integration – CoG data enhances simulation and modelling accuracy for equipment and platform behaviour. Force Protection – Fewer handling errors and more stable loads reduce accident risk in-theatre. Environmental Gains – Better balance reduces fuel consumption and wear on vehicles, contributing to sustainability targets.
8. The Future: CoG as a Standard Defence Data Attribute
The vision is clear: a Defence logistics system where every item — from small arms ammunition to bridge-building equipment — has a verified CoG stored in the master data. Where every STTC load is scanned, its CoG recorded, and its manifest ready for instant sharing with allies.
In such a system:
Aircraft loadmasters can receive digital manifests before the cargo arrives. Ship planners can calculate stability margins days in advance. Convoy commanders can know exactly how their loads will affect vehicle handling before departure.
This is not an expensive capability leap — it’s the smarter use of existing volumetric scanning and weighing technologies, aligned with NATO standards and embedded in Defence’s digital transformation agenda.
Conclusion
Centre of Gravity data is not just a technical detail — it is a combat enabler. In an era where contested logistics and rapid deployment are the norm, knowing the exact balance point of every item and load can mean the difference between operational efficiency and dangerous delays.
The commercial freight industry has long understood the value of accurate CoG data for safety, efficiency, and cost savings. For Defence, the stakes are even higher. The technology exists, the standards are in place, and the benefits — from speed to safety to interoperability — are clear.
It’s time for CoG data to take its place as a standard Defence volumetric attribute, ensuring that the UK Armed Forces can deploy faster, safer, and in full alignment with our NATO partners.
Author: Paul Salmon FCILT
Chair, CILT Defence Forum
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