Issue 9 Jan 2009.indd - Ministry of Defence

ASTOR
into service
Bulldog is
top dog
Making
a splash
On-line to
the front line
desider
the magazine for defence equipment and support
Masters of the globe
in a race against time
Jan 09 Issue 9

LARGER
ARE YOU DRINKING TO EXCESS?
Army
Health
Promotion
fit for life | fit to fight

14
Inside
cover image
Every second counts when you need to get service personnel home in
a family emergency. The Duty Movements Staff team, part of DE&S’
Defence Supply Chain Operations and Movements (DSCOM), has the
challenge of ensuring that service men and women can get home as
quickly as possible. In ten months last year, they dealt with nearly
1,800 cases, some more complex than others, but the gratitude of
those they help makes the challenging times worthwhile.
FEATURES
14 A race against time
It is the responsibiliy of the Duty Movements staff to ensure
that service personnel around the world can get home as
quickly as possible in an emergency. Jo Hutchings reports on
this essential work.
16 The blood suppliers
The rapid supply of blood to the front line is a life-saving service
provided by the Blood Supply Team, part of DE&S’ Medical and
General Supplies IPT. Lieutenant Commander Susie Thomson
reports on the team’s work.
18 It’s all in the preparation at Rosyth
Steve Moore takes a look at how Rosyth is preparing its
facilities for the assembly of the Royal Navy’s two new aircraft
carriers from 2011.
32 Positive progress on PACE
Rear Admiral Ian Tibbitt, DIrector General Safety and
Engineering, tells Caroline Wickham Smith how his area is
approaching the PACE programme enthusiastically.
14
18
NEWS
4 RAF takes on ASTOR
The RAF has accepted into service the new state-
of-the-art ground surveillance system, ASTOR.
The £860 million programme will provide a vital
intelligence and surveillance capability.
5 Helicopters will beef up the front line
Front line forces in Afghanistan are to get more
helicopters as Merlins are redeployed from Iraq,
Lynx helicopters are upgraded and 62 new Future
Lynx are ordered.
7 Boats prove a big hit
A second batch of Rigid Infl atable Boats is ordered for
the Royal Navy after the success of the fi rst delivery.
SUPPORT TO OPERATIONS
22 On-line to the front line
DE&S staff write Christmas messages to the front
line using the successful e-bluey system.
24 A new fi nish for RAF painting
A 10-year contract has been awarded to Serco for the
painting and fi nishing of RAF aircraft.
PEOPLE NEWS
29 Top apprentices honoured
The MOD’s top apprentices have been taking part in
the Apprentice of the Year competition.
30 Masters degree success
Nine workers from HM Naval Base Clyde celebrate
their graduation as Masters of Science
16

4 news
NEWSREEL
Building work
is on the up
PILING work at the site
of the new building
– Neighbourhood Five
– at DE&S headquarters
at Abbey Wood has been
completed ahead of
schedule. Preparation
of the site for the next
stage is beginning,
including removing
waste to be broken
down for hardcore at
another construction
site. Foundations are
set to be constructed in
the New Year including
the concrete slab
as base of the new
building.
UORs top £1bn
THE latest estimate
for Urgent Operational
Requirement spending
for 2008-09 is around
£1 billion. This falls
comfortably within
spending predicted in
autumn 2007, according
to Minister for Defence
Equipment and Support
Quentin Davies.
Typhoon fl ies in
FIFTY ONE Typhoon
aircraft had been
delivered to the RAF by
the end of last October,
according to fi gures
released to Parliament.
Forty-nine of them have
entered operational
service, 34 in the
forward fl eet available
to front line commands
for operational and
training. By that date
the fl eet had fl own
24,236 hours.
TriStars work on
THE RAF’s fl eet of
TriStars, currently
providing the airbridge
between the UK and the
Gulf region, is expected
to complete up to 11,560
fl ying hours for each
of the next six years
before the aircraft’s
out of service date
in 2014-15. The VC10
fl eet completed 9,940
from October 2007 to
September 2008 and is
expected to complete
9,260 in each of the next
three years, reducing
then to an out of service
date of 2014.
RAF takes on ASTOR
Sentinel aircraft will carry the
new all-weather capability
THE STATE-OF-THE-ART
Airborne Stand-Off Radar
(ASTOR) ground surveillance
system – which can spot ground
targets from more than seven
miles up – has been accepted
into service by the RAF.
The new £860 million system
reached its in-service date on
19 November and will provide
a new all-weather intelligence,
surveillance, target acquisition
and reconnaissance capability
from the Sentinel R1 aircraft.
ASTOR has been described
as ‘a unique and technologically
advanced capability’ by Quentin
Davies, Minister for Defence
Equipment and Support. A crew
of five on the aircraft will be able
to detect and recognise moving,
static and fixed targets at standoff
range.
Information is transmitted in
near-real time to commanders
on the ground, enabling rapid
tactical planning and efficient
cueing of other sensor and
attacks systems such as the
Reaper unmanned aerial
vehicle.
Bill Chrispin, leader of DE&S’
ASTOR IPT, said acceptance
into service with the RAF was
the initial stage in the roll-out
of an entirely new capability
for the UK Armed Forces. Full
operating capability is expected
within two years.
“Only through a strong
working relationship between
the MOD and the prime
contractor, Raytheon Systems,
has ASTOR matured into what
we see today,” he said.
“No 5 Squadron at RAF
Waddington has risen to
the doctrinal and training
challenges of this dynamic
platform, and is now well set to
face the future challenges.”
James Klein, vice president
Left: a Sentinel
R1 aircraft during
trials over the
Mojave desert
Below: the clarity
of ASTOR imagery
will be vital to
commanders on
the ground
of Raytheon’s Mission Systems
Integration business added:
“We are confident ASTOR will
be a critical asset, providing
the actionable intelligence
necessary to help protect British
and coalition forces worldwide.
“Raytheon is excited to see
ASTOR enter service. This
world-class capability is the
product of great teamwork with
the MOD, 5 Squadron, and our
industry partners.”
Other companies involved
in the project include L3
Com IS (system integration
and design authority), Lucas
Aerospace (electrical systems),
Messier Dowty (landing
gear), AgustaWestland
(doors), Marshalls (tactical
and operational level ground
stations), BAE Systems (defensive
aids), Selex (radar components),
and Rolls-Royce Deutschland
(BR710 engines).
MOD praised for agile response to new threats
THE MOD continues to respond well and adapt
to emerging threats to get the right kit to troops
as quickly as possible.
“When it comes to delivery of equipment
for our forces we should never be complacent,”
said Quentin Davies, Minister for Defence
Equipment and Support. “We always look to
make improvements and build on the progress
we have made.”
Mr Davies was replying to the National Audit
Office report on December 18 on major projects
in 2007-08, which looked at 20 out of 350 projects
worth more than £65 billion.
“We continuously adapt to emerging threats,
something the report acknowledges, procuring
new equipment for urgent operational use in
Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said.
The report acknowledges cost growth and
time delays in projects that pre-date reforms to
defence acquisition are not a complete reflection
of progress being made.
The National Audit Office added it recognises
the complexity of defence acquisition and rapidly
changing operational environments that defence
procurement operates in. The MOD said it was
good the report acknowledged decisions MOD
had taken in the light of changing priorities.
� Equipment successes in 2008: Page 13.

Building continues as carriers’ in-service date goes back two years
INTRODUCTION INTO service of the
Royal Navy’s two new aircraft carriers
will be delayed by up to two years, Defence
Secretary John Hutton has announced.
“The new carriers will be brought more
closely into line with the introduction
of the Joint Combat Aircraft, which
will result in a change to the delivery
schedule,” he said.
MORE HELICOPTERS are to
be sent to support operations in
Afghanistan.
Plans to redeploy Merlin
helicopters from Iraq will
mean there will be significantly
more aircraft and flying hours
available to commanders.
The plans form part of the
MOD’s equipment examination
announced on 11 December
which is reprioritising
programmes to better support
current operations.
Other measures announced
include a £70 million investment
to upgrade 12 Lynx Mark 9
helicopters with new engines,
which will free up other aircraft
for other tasks.
The new Future Lynx
helicopters will provide even
greater operational capability
when they come into service in
2014. Defence Secretary John
Hutton visited AgustaWestland
in Yeovil to announce that the
“This is likely to mean delaying the inservice
date of the new carriers by one to
two years (formerly 2014 and 2016). We
are in close consultation with the Aircraft
Carrier Alliance on how this might best
be done.
“Construction is already under way and
will continue with minimal implications
to jobs and industry. The programme will
MOD’s equipment examination has been unveiled. desider looks at the details
Merlin helicopters will be redeployed from Iraq to Afghanistan as part of the reprioritising of programmes
Helicopters will beef
up front line forces
Merlins to be
redeployed from
Iraq to give
commanders
more options
MOD would require 62 of the
new helicopters over the next
few years.
Mr Hutton said: “Putting our
forces on the front line at the
heart of everything we do is my
priority.
“Crucial to that, is making
sure that we get the best kit to the
people who need it, when they
need it – both in the short and
long term. Investing £70 million
to get more helicopters out to
Afghanistan is similarly about
prioritising the right equipment
for troops on operations.
“And that is why for the
longer term we are investing
in the new aircraft carriers,
Future Lynx helicopters, and
according the highest priority
to delivering the Warrior
Capability Sustainment
Programme and the FRES
Scout Vehicle – investment
totalling £6.5 billion.”
Mr Hutton added that,
after the announcement last
month of £700 million for
nearly 700 more protected
patrol vehicles for Afghanistan,
the equipment examination
had concluded the highest
priority for current operations
is the Warrior Capability
Sustainment Programme and
the FRES scout vehicle.
“We remain committed to
doing more for our people, here
and on the front line – improving
their support and welfare, pay,
medical care, rehabilitation
services and accommodation.”
news 5 news 5
still provide stability for the core shipyard
workforce, including 10,000 UK jobs.”
He added: “We have also reviewed
the MARS fleet auxiliary programme
(marine afloat reach and sustainability),
and have concluded that there is scope for
considering alternative approaches to its
procurement which is likely to involve the
deferral of the fleet tanker element.”
Acquisition
review on
the cards
BETTER VALUE for money in
delivering major acquisition
programmes will be the aim
of a new review.
Defence Secretary John
Hutton has announced the
review to examine progress
with implementing reforms
through the MOD’s Acquisition
Change Programme. It
will also make further
recommendations to secure
better value for money in the
delivery of major acquisition
programmes.
The review will be led by
businessman and journalist
Bernard Gray.
“Tough decisions need
to be made and, with future
value for money in mind, I
have asked Bernard Gray
to conduct a review into our
processes for procuring and
delivering major equipment
programmes to make sure
we deliver projects on time
and on budget,” he said.
The review has been
welcomed by the MOD’s
Permanent Under Secretary
Bill Jeffrey.
“Sir Kevin O’Donoghue
and I want to ensure that we
take full advantage of his
help and expertise to assess
the progress we have made
and what more we still have
to do,” he said in a message
to DE&S staff.
“I am well aware of the
huge amount of work put into
our acquisition effort and the
changes already underway.
The Secretary of State and
I are clear that this review
does not call into question
the direction of travel and
should not divert attention
from ongoing work.”
Mr Gray is a former
special adviser to George
Robertson and defence
correspondent at the
Financial Times.

6
news
NEWSREEL
Partnership gets
pat on the back
WORK TO improve living
accommodation in the
Fleet Accommodation
Centre in HMS Drake,
Devonport, over the
last four years has been
richly rewarded.
The project
– run by Interserve in
partnership with the
MOD – won both the
Partners in Private
Finance Initiative/Public
Private Partnership
Award, as well as the
overall prize at the
Premises and Facilities
Management awards.
One judge said: “This
partnership is among
the best these awards
have ever seen in their
15 years of operation. It
is delivering fi rst class
facilities for the navy,
which are well managed
and with a co-operative
and pro-active approach
that helps to recognise
the high value this
country places on its
armed forces.”
Harrier costs
on Op Herrick
THE costs of sustaining
eight Harrier aircraft
on Operation Herrick
in Afghanistan since
November 2004 are
estimated to be around
£30 million a year,
according to Armed
Forces Minister Bob
Ainsworth. Joint
Force Harrier is
being withdrawn to
be replaced by eight
Tornado GR4 aircraft.
Their deployment will
cost up to £40 million
with sustaining costs
estimated at £31 million
per year.
DMA talks
THE Defence
Manufacturers
Association (DMA) and
the Society of British
Aerospace Companies
are in talks to see if
they can work more
closely together. Several
options are on the table
for members to consider,
including a merger of the
two organisations.
Watchkeeper trials show control
WATCHKEEPER – the £899 million Unmanned
Air System – has completed its first system flight
trials using autonomous software to manage the
in-flight control from launch to recovery without
a ground-based external pilot.
The trials will continue at Elbit’s facilities in
Israel and migrate to the UK this year.
They will exercise the key mission systems
capability incorporating the automatic take-off
and landing system.
Watchkeeper will provide enduring support
to land commanders, providing real time
intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and
reconnaissance and is due to enter service next
year.
These latest trials follow the first successful
flight of the Watchkeeper air vehicle last April
and demonstration of Watchkeeper’s automatic
take-off and landing capability last August.
DE&S programme manager Dennis Cox said:
“The overall aggressive trials schedule is moving
the development and demonstration phase
towards the validation of the software intensive
capability and providing vital evidence to develop
the safety and airworthiness case.
“Key issues on delivery at this stage are
maintaining trials momentum and robust risk
mitigation.”
The air vehicle was designed by Elbit in Israel
to meet UK requirements; the command and
control software has been produced by Thales
UK in Crawley.
The GCS has been designed and manufactured
in the UK by UAV Tactical Systems Ltd (U-TacS),
the Thales UK/Elbit Systems joint company site
in Leicester.
Mark Barclay, managing director of Thales
UK’s aerospace business, said: “We have made
steady progress since the contract was signed in
2005.
“I am particularly pleased that Thales and our
external partners continue to deliver in line with
the agreed customer schedule.”
� Two teams into one: Page 26
Daring closes in on
reporting for duty
DARING, the first of the Royal
Navy’s Type 45 destroyers, has
been handed over to the MOD.
The 7,500 tonne ship was
accepted off contract from BVT
Surface Fleet in a ceremony at the
Scotstoun yard on the Clyde after
finishing contractor trials.
She is now due for more trials
and training before being ready
for operational service.
A delighted DE&S Type
45 programme director Dave
Twitchin said: “The acceptanceoff-contract
of Daring is by far
the most exciting and formative
milestone of the year.
“It is the culmination of an
i ncred i ble amou nt of hard work by
all those who have been involved
in the programme, particularly
in the past two years.
“Daring has proved herself to
be a highly capable ship and has
delivered on all of her promises
and more. The final phase of her
sea trials under MOD control will
test her even further.
“I have no doubt she will come
through with flying colours, and
will become the hallmark of the
modern Royal Navy and will go
on to provide great service for
many years to come.”
As part of the ceremony,
Daring’s commanding officer,
Rolls-
Royce
next to
put pen
to paper
Captain Paul Bennett, raised
the White Ensign as the ship’s
company marched on board.
Captain Bennett said: “Anyone
who has sailed on her will tell you
that she is a magnificent ship.
“The Type 45 is an incredibly
ROLLS-ROYCE is the latest company to sign up to the
MOD’s charter which aims to increase awareness of
environmental issues within the supply chain.
Martin Fausset, above left, of Rolls-Royce signed the
charter with Tim Flesher, right, of DE&S, who said: “I am
very much aware of the innovative approach which Rolls-
Royce takes to sustainability issues so our signature of
this charter with its joint commitment to work together
is doubly signifi cant.” The MOD plans to sign agreements
with all its key suppliers.
complex warship using cutting
edge technology throughout;
around 80 per cent of the
equipments used are new to
service.” Daring is set to arrive in
Portsmouth this month.
� Dauntless trials: Page 25

New batch on the way
as boats
prove a
big hit
A SECOND batch of rigid inflatable
boats (RIBs) has been ordered for
the Royal Navy after the first proved
such a success.
Thirty of the 40-knot P24 boats
are in service in various parts of
the globe on board Type 22 and 23
frigates.
Now a second batch of 29 is on
the way in a £4 million deal with
BVT. The first went into service last
month.
“The P22 boats which these
replace were designed as rescue
craft and they were struggling to
carry a party of Royal Marines
with their size of engine,” said Paul
Morris, project officer for Military
RIBS (Navy) with DE&S’ Boats and
Sea Survival team.
“So we designed a better craft.
The P24 is a much more effective
craft, a huge step up in capability.”
The P24, at just over two tonnes,
can carry another tonne of cargo
or up to six passengers with its two
crew. Its powerful six-cylinder diesel
engine can drive the craft with a full
load for up to five hours at 20 knots.
It fulfils a multitude of roles,
including conducting boarding
operations, rescue, force protection,
stores transfer and diving support.
Lt Cdr Peter Dunlop of Navy
Command said the craft had proved
to be superior in all respects over
its predecessor in speed, load
carrying and reliability in harsh
and hazardous conditions in the
northern Arabian Gulf for more
than 18 months.
“It also provides high levels of
force protection, being able to mount
a forward facing General Purpose
Machine Gun,” he added.
“Glowing reports from theatre
ensured that, after the first
operational deployment, Navy
Command HQ directed that all
capable escorts deploying east of
Suez are to be fitted.
“Work is going on to upgrade
the davit fit of the Type 22 frigates to
enable them to operate two of these
RIBs.” They will also equip Type
45 destoyers and future aircraft
carriers.
A party
of Royal
Marines on
board one
of the P24
fast craft
Writing challenge laid down
on future of forces’ logistics
FUJITSU SERVICES has launched the first of three annual
essay competitions under the title The Fujitsu Future of
Logistics Challenge.
The competition is open to commissioned officers
of the UK’s forces. Essays are to be written on the topic
‘Advancing Logistics Thinking’ and may cover any
area related to defence logistics and supply or support
chain management that the author considers could be
improved.
Entries will be judged by senior officers and industry
executives. The prize of £1,000 for the best essay will be
presented at a dinner to be held on 26 March at Halton
House officers’ mess at RAF Halton.
Mike Newman, Chief Executive at Fujitsu Defence
and Security, said: “Fujitsu is an important partner of the
MOD and has a wide range of contracts and innovations
underway; we felt that it was appropriate we should
encourage original thinking in logistics and supply chain.”
Further details can be found by emailing logessay@
uk.fujitsu.com
news 7
NEWSREEL
Deployments
cost cash
TOTAL costs of UK
troop deployments on
peacekeeping in Iraq,
Afghanistan and the
Balkans in 2007-8 are
estimated to be around
£3.2 billion with full
fi gures to be released
shortly in the MOD’s
annual report and
accounts. Figures were
revealed in Parliament
which showed 2006/7
spending was £1.7 billion.
Mail nears top
of priority list
MAIL for the armed
forces is given the
highest possible priority,
behind essential
supplies such as water,
food, medical supplies
and ammunition,
Armed Forces Minister
Bob Ainsworth told
Parliament. Primary
means for transporting
post and parcels from
the UK and Germany to
Iraq and Afghanistan is by
military chartered or RAF
aircraft.
Vanguard costs
MAINTENANCE costs for
the fl eet of four Vanguard
class submarines in
2008-9 are estimated to
be £95 million according
to fi gures released in
Parliament. These cover
fl eet maintenance and
capital spend incurred
as part of the long
overhaul period (refuel)
maintenance programme.
Costs per year over the
next fi ve years range
from £105 million to
£161 million.
Babcock unifi es
BABCOCK Marine has
combined its engineering
system and equipment
skills with its platform
design and integrated
management services
to form Integrated
Technology. It brings
together Babcock’s
Design and Technology
and Defence Systems,
Weir Strachan &
Henshaw, Alstec
Defence and Armstrong
Technology.

8
news
Working at the coal face?
Take the offi ce
with you!
ENGINEERS REPAIRING
and maintaining kit on the
front line are to benefit from
field machine shops which
will be supplied later this
year
Forty-four will be
delivered to Royal Marines,
Royal Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers
and RAF mechanical and
electrical staff.
Each unit is based on a
standard 20ft ISO container
and will be deployed wherever
engineering support is
needed.
The Deployable Machine
Shop (DMS) will be supplied
by Marshall SV of Cambridge
in a deal with DE&S’
Courses taking
on a more
academic rigour
DEFENCE ACQUISITION
Learning (DaLearning) is
adapting its approach to
training to make its courses
of greater use to all MOD
staff.
DaLearning – part of
the Defence College of
Management and Technology
– is improving the academic
rigour of its courses and
offering delegates the
opportunity to achieve
professionally recognised
qualifi cations.
For example the system
safety suite of courses has
received recognition from the
University of York. Successful
students now receive credits
towards the relevant modular
Masters degree run by the
university.
DCMT’s Dr Sinnathamby
Vijayakumar said: “Delegates
prefer recognition for their
training. Many courses now
offer a nationally recognised
qualifi cation achieved by
examination and the System
Safety and Requirement
Management courses are an
excellent example of this.”
Deployable Support and Test
Equipment (DS&TE) team
worth £5.58 million for initial
contract let.
The DMS will enable
engineers to carry out front
line support milling, turning
and finishing mechanical
parts and provide space for
testing and repair of electrical
equipment and servicing of
complex equipment now in
service.
Nick Blackmore, the
team’s project manager for
DMS, said: “Considering
Single Gate Business Case
approval was only signed
in October, and given the
additional internal MOD
work required to transfer the
Latest Paveway bomb
blasts into service
HIGH PRAISE has been given to
the stakeholder community as
the latest precision guided bomb
enters service.
Paveway IV, which can hit
targets day or night and in all
weathers, will be fitted to the
Harrier GR9, Tornado GR4,
Typhoons and, eventually, the
Joint Strike Fighter.
DE&S’ Captain Howard
Holdsworth described the
weapon as hugely flexible and a
very welcome capability.
“This is the culmination of a
tremendous amount of hard work
on the part of the stakeholder
community, both in the MOD
and industry,” he said.
“We can be justifiably proud
of our achievements; Paveway IV
is a very capable weapon system
indeed.”
The highly sophisticated
weapon, provided by Raytheon
Systems UK as part of a
£400 million programme, can be
New machine shops
are based on a
standard 20ft ISO
container
project from Battlefield Utilities
team to DS&TE, the progress
on moving the delivery of this
vital new capability forward
has been phenomenal.”
Marshalls will start trials
next month and user trials
begin in April.
Peter Callaghan, chief
The precision guided bomb, Paveway IV, is pictured fi tted to a Harrier
guided on to a target through
use of Global Positioning System
satellite technology or through
laser guidance.
Raytheon Systems UK
is the design organisation
and prime contractor for the
weapon system, with Raytheon
Missile Systems (RMS), Tucson
responsible for warhead design.
General Dynamics, Dallas
is responsible for warhead
case manufacture and SEI,
executive of Marshall SV,
said: “Part of our success has
come from our understanding
of shelter based deployable
systems and the experience we
have gained over recent years
in building similar types of
solution including a powerpack
testing facility.”
SpA, Sardinia provides the
explosive fill. RMS also designs
and manufactures the weapon
guidance section and Thales
Missile Electronics, Basingstoke
is responsible for the design and
manufacture of the Fuze.
Integration contracts valued
at £100 million have been placed
with BAE Systems, Warton
and Eurofighter GmbH for
integration of the weapon onto
Tornado GR4 and Typhoon.

AN UPDATED command
system has been installed
in the last two Royal Navy
submarines to complete
an extensive installation
programme six months early.
HMS Tireless and Triumph
were the final two to complete
the Submarine Command
ROSS KEMP added his support
to charity uk4U Thanks! which
sent thousands of boxes of
presents – with help from DE&S
– to all servicemen and women
abroad over Christmas.
“My time in Afghanistan has
given me a great insight into
what life is like for the men and
women of our forces,” he said.
“I know how much it will mean
to them to receive these boxes,
and the message of support
and thanks from the public that
comes with them.”
The boxes are funded
by companies, groups and
individuals, and are filled with
items of everyday use, some
Christmassy, some amusing,
some useful, some educational,
and some just plain fun.
Fundraising support came
from DE&S staff with guidance
to the charity by a committee
chaired by Brigadier David
Martin of DE&S’ Defence
Logistics (Commodities).
Numbers needed each year
are advised by Defence Food
Services’ operations team, taken
from their ration strengths.
Sy s t em Nex t Generat ion (SMCS
NG) programme, designed to
handle the growing volume
of information available in
modern nuclear submarines
and to control sophisticated
underwater weapons.
Its core capability is the
assimilation of sensor data
DE&S skills back up
UK Christmas boxes
Ross Kemp,
inset, arrives at
HMS President
on the Thames
with his own
Christmas box
The majority of the boxes are
taken into theatre along with
food via Purple Foodservice
Solutions.
Defence Clothing team made
a financial contribution from a
calendar produced by Squadron
Leader Mike Cook.
“What a pleasant and welcome
addition your Christmas Box
was to my deployed Christmas,”
and the compilation (via
advanced algorithms and data
handling) and display of a real
time tactical picture to the
submarine command team.
The programme began in
2001 to prove commercial off
the shelf (COTS) technology
upgrade to a system in service
since the early 1990s.
Successful installation in
HMS Torbay led to another
11 submarines being fitted
with SMCS NG providing
commonality across the
flotilla. Installing SMCS NG
is forecast to save more than
£50 million, through life,
compared to support of the
previous bespoke solution.
The original 40-day
installation period was
reduced to 18 days for HMS
Vigilant’s conversion last year.
Captain Pat O’Neill,
leader of DE&S’ Submarine
Combat System Group, said,
said one Royal Navy officer.
“For those of us overseas
and all the family and friends
who remain at home it is so
encouraging to know there is
an organisation prepared to
acknowledge the sacrifices we
all make.
“I am now even prouder of
being a member of the UK armed
forces.”
news 9
Final subs get updated command systems
The updated command system is now fi tted to the entire fl otilla
“Completing the installation
programme six months early
is a fantastic achievement.
From speaking to operators
and maintainers, I know how
much they like SMCS NG and
the integrated support they
receive. The installation and
roll out of the technology
refresh is proof that we can
get COTS technology to
sea quickly and support it
affordably.”
SMCS NG is now fitted
to all seven Trafalgar class
submarines, all four Vanguard
class and one Swiftsure class.
There are also systems ashore
in training and integration
facilities.
As the Astute class
submarines enter service it
is anticipated that they too
will be updated to SMCS NG.
The entire submarine flotilla
will be on common software,
reducing through life costs.
Abbey Wood
wins apprentice
employer award
The Abbey Wood enhanced
advanced modern
technician apprenticeship
scheme has been awarded
the 2008 Engineering
Apprentice Employer of
the Year Award, from the
City of Bristol College
Apprenticeship and Skills
Academy. The apprentices
are typically completing
what is effectively a 42month
programme in a
challenging 36 months.
The award recognises the
support given to DE&S
students, which makes
completing the challenging
programme possible.
2009 recruitment
for apprentices
The DE&S Abbey Wood
technician apprenticeship
scheme will be recruiting
again in 2009, with a target
to employ 70 apprentices
across the electrical,
electronic, mechanical
and constructive
specialisations.
Applications will be invited
from mid-January to
mid-February on the MOD
recruitment website www.
jobs.mod.uk.

10
news
ADVERTISEMENT
Vehicle durability
The British MoD is
leading the world in an
initiative that will help
improve the durability of
vehicles across a wide
range of applications.
Working with leading
test and development
centre Millbrook
(Bedford, UK), a suite of
Battlefield Missions
have been developed
that allow all vehicles up
to 80 tonnes to be
evaluated in repeatable,
highly realistic
conditions that push the
capability envelope.
“Different vehicle
categories – utility,
transporters, personnel
carriers, etc – are used
in completely different
ways across many
different terrains. To
effectively evaluate
durability, their specific
drive cycles must be
replicated under
laboratory conditions,”
explains Millbrook’s
head of military vehicle
operations, Julian
Bryan. “Our 700 acre,
purpose-built proving
ground is the only
location in Europe where
this can be achieved
with all the specialist
features needed to
simulate field
operations.”
www.millbrook.co.uk
+44 (0)1525 408408
Millbrook’s network of
roads includes
everything from
motorways and Alpine
hills to gravelled tracks
and cobbled city streets,
with features such as
curbs and pot-holes that
are carefully
constructed to be the
same year after year.
Off-road the same
standards of consistency
and repeatability are
maintained, with
constant gradient hills
of sand and clay and a
vast range of special
features such as mortar
holes, high-gradient
slopes and a log run.
Maddy Southey,
commercial
head at the
Disposal Services
Authority, above
right, signs the
agreement with Ed
Lowe, managing
director of Thales
UK’s naval
business
Right: Dulverton
and Cottesmore
TWO FORMER Royal Navy minehunters have been sold to the Lithuanians.
Cottesmore and Dulverton were converted in 1997 from minehunters to patrol vessels
before being declared surplus to requirements and listed for disposal in 2004.
Now Thales UK’s naval business will be prime contractor to reactivate the two ships
for use by Lithuania.
The sales agreement between the MOD and the Lithuanian Ministry of National
Defence was signed on board HMS Victory in Portsmouth by Maddy Southey, commercial
head of the Disposal Services Authority, part of DE&S.
The ship-regeneration package represents an innovative departure for Thales UK,
building on the naval architecture and engineering expertise already established in the
company to support the design work on the Royal Navy’s future aircraft carriers.
Work will include fi tting a new hull-mounted Sonar 2193 system, propulsion,
command and control systems, and mine disposal systems. The ships are expected to
enter service with the Lithuanian Navy by 2011.
THE FALCON communications
system – the next generation
mobile broadband for the army
and RAF – is now undergoing
extensive testing.
Tests on the deployable trunk
communications system are to
prove its system requirement
before key equipment
acceptance trials later this
year. In-service is scheduled for
2010 to replace Ptarmigan.
The first Falcon vehicle
arrived at BAE Systems
Integrated Systems
Technologies in Christchurch
for testing last autumn. The
test facility was also officially
opened by Martin Sheppard,
leader of DE&S’ Theatre and
Formation Communications
Systems team.
Falcon uses a common
vehicle and container for many
of its configurations. The first-
of-type Wide Area Switching
Point (WASP) capability provides
the backbone network to which
headquarters connect and
contains the most comprehensive
fit of all variants.
Mo Stevens of BAE Systems
Insyte said: “At this stage in the
programme the advanced status
of the WASP was truly impressive.
All observations and immediate
feedback was extremely positive
Former
Navy
ships go
hunting
in the
Baltic
Falcon system enters
its key proving phase
Falcon Wide Area
Service Provision
(WASP) container
mounted on a MAN
vehicle with, from
left, Maj Steve
Abram of the Falcon
implementation team,
Ian Maxwell of Insyte,
Martin Sheppard of
DE&S, Mo Stevens,
Insyte, Rob Tucker of
DE&S and John Howie,
Insyte
and allowed many to get a real feel
for the developing capability.”
Meanwhile, the Cormorant
communications system has been
deployed to Baghdad for the first
time.
Also managed by Theatre
and Formation Communications
Systems team with EADS,
Cormorant provides telecommunications
facilities for
deployed headquarters.

Bulldog is top dog!
DE&S programme’s performance
and leadership is highly praised
DE&S’ PROGRAMME to deliver the Bulldog armoured vehicle – the so-called
‘battlefield taxi’ – to the front line has won an award against some of the best equipment
programmes.
The programme took the programme excellence award from Aviation Week and
Space Technology magazine with high praise for its Urgent Operational Requirement
work and ‘game-changing leadership’.
Bulldog, the first land systems programme to be honoured at such an event, finished
runner up in the overall programme excellence award to the Joint Strike Fighter first
flight programme of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 aircraft.
The awards were made at a performance excellence seminar in San Diego,
California.
The £150 million Bulldog programme is managed by a joint team of DE&S’ Light
Armoured Systems team and BAE Systems, supported by the Defence Support Group at
Bovington together with more than 50 equipment suppliers.
The programme has transformed the ageing FV430 series of vehicles, significantly
improving performance and reliability with a new engine, and delivering enhanced
capability with the up-armoured version deployed in Iraq since November 2006.
“Through partnering, DE&S and industry has successfully delivered a war-fighting
capability providing confidence to the front line user to fulfil their mission,” said DE&S’
Lieutenant Colonel Andy Teare.
“This award is really good for the Bulldog team and UK industry as a whole. This is
international recognition to the contribution made by the Bulldog programme and the
partnering arrangements between the MOD and BAE Systems on this project.”
BAE Systems team leader Ian Mogey added: “The MOD project team, Defence
Support Group, which carried out the upgrade at Bovington, and our supply network
worked quickly and flexibly together to deliver more reliable vehicles with life-saving
modifications to troops in Iraq.”
Keeping an I-Ball on the enemy
TROOPS will be able to get an eye on the enemy
with development of new I-Ball technology.
The concept comes from the MOD’s
Competition of Ideas and is being developed
by Edinburgh company, Dreampact.
If successful the I-Ball could help troops see
into the battlefield before they risk their lives.
It is a portable, wireless, projectile camera
that provides 360-degree video coverage even
in flight after being thrown. Soldiers get highvalue,
high-quality images in realtime video.
The ball could be fired from a grenade
launcher or thrown into a room to give troops
information on what is on the ground.
Director of the Defence Technology and
Innovation Centre, Professor Andrew Baird,
said: “The technology behind I-Ball is an
exciting new development that has significant
potential across a range of military equipment
and operational scenarios, particularly in
difficult urban operations.”
Paul Thompson from Dreampact said: “We
have overcome some significant technological
challenges in developing the I-Ball technology
and it’s fantastic that the MOD is working with
a small company like us to help develop its
future capabilities in battlefield technology.”
news 11
Explosive safety process
is set to be withdrawn
A LEGACY safety assurance process
for mature ordnance, munitions and
explosives (OME) is to be withdrawn by the
end of this June.
The legacy process was established in
October 2003 to deal with the signifi cant
in-service inventory, providing teams
at DE&S with a streamlined, statementbased
assurance route for mature OME
systems. Suffi cient time has elapsed to
enable this process to be withdrawn.
After June 2009, all OME systems will be
subject to the full safety case report-based
assurance process.
I-Spy: the I-Ball will enable troops to get
an eye on the enemy
© Crown Copyright, image from www.defenceimages.mod.uk

12
comment
desider ider Sir Kevin
Editor:
Caroline Wickham Smith
9355 68015 or 01225 468015.
caroline.wickhamsmith139@mod.uk
Spur 5, E Block, Ensleigh,
Bath, BA1 5AB
The editorial team:
Steve Moore
9355 68719 or 01225 468719.
stephen.moore544@mod.uk
Pauline Boardman
9355 72101 or 01225 472101.
pauline.boardman511@mod.uk
Kevin Slade
9355 67273 or 01225 467273.
kevin.slade485@mod.uk
Design support:
Mark Hawke
9355 68669 or 01225 468669
mark.hawke914@mod.uk
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9 Savoy Street, London WC2E 7HR
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Distribution:
If you have any queries concerning
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to the number of copies you receive,
please contact the editorial team on
the numbers above.
Printing:
Corporate Document Services Ltd,
7 Eastgate, Leeds, LS2 7LY
desider is distributed free of
charge to DE&S employees and the
equipment capability customer.
Copies can also be made available to
readers outside the MoD, including
those in the defence industries.
While the editorial team takes care
to ensure that all material produced
is accurate, no liability can be
accepted for errors or omissions.
The views expressed in desider,
and the products and services
advertised, are not necessarily
endorsed by DE&S or the MOD.
This magazine is produced on
ERA silk which contains 50
per cent recycled and de-inked
pulp from post consumer
waste and Forest Stewardship
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well-managed forests.
Please recycle this magazine
looks at the
challenges
for 2009
Welcome back after the Christmas
holiday. I hope you managed to have
a good break and are returning
refreshed to meet the challenges of 2009. As I
look back over the time since DE&S was created
I’m delighted at what has been achieved so far.
In April 2007 we launched an organisation that
was ‘fit for purpose’, but it was clear there was
much to do in bringing the DLO and
DPA organisations together into one
coherent whole, which is effective and
efficient in its support of operations
worldwide.
The direction of travel of DE&S is
now set. We have one clear mission: to
equip and support our Armed Forces
for operations now and in the future,
and two clear tasks: to deliver our
mission, and to deliver it better. The
latter task is our change programme,
PACE. We are achieving these tasks,
and now we must work on modifying
our behaviours if we are to continue to
improve. One of my specific personal
priorities for the coming year is to
improve our internal leadership. We
have some very good leaders within
the organisation, but staff surveys
have shown this is an area where we
still need to improve. I will ensure
that our management receives the best
training and direction, and that Board
members have greater engagement
and visibility within their respective
areas. The staff surveys, along with
feedback from team leader meetings
and other focus groups, provided very
useful feedback to the Main Board this
year. We met recently to discuss the
view that too much concurrent change
was being imposed within DE&S, and
we prioritised these activities to enable
your Director Generals to smooth the
work loading within their clusters.
I also want to drive forward the
capability delivery initiative across
defence. We need to strengthen the
relationship between the Front Line
Commands, the Equipment Capability
Customer, MOD Centre and ourselves
so that we aren’t duplicating effort but
providing a seamless and streamlined
service to our customers on the front line.
Equipment safety is another important area that
I’ll continue to treat as a very high priority and
I’m committed to ensuring our personnel at the
front line can have the greatest confidence in
the equipment provided to them.
There is no doubt we’re operating in very
challenging times in terms of finance, and I

can’t see this changing in the future. We need
to exercise constant vigilance concerning
costs, and it’s my aim to make sure that over
the next year we work hard at bringing our
inputs and outputs into balance; in other
words achieving a better match of staff
resources to workload.
In last month’s statement about the
Equipment Examination, the Secretary of
State also announced that he has instituted
a review to examine progress of the Defence
Acquisition Change Programme. We must
continue to scrutinise our performance in
the acquisition area and, where appropriate,
we should apply the experience we have
gained from the successful and rapid delivery
of Urgent Operational Requirements more
widely. We have already done a great deal:
upskilling, developing through life capability
management, simplifying our processes and
partnering with industry under the Defence
Industrial Strategy, but there is more we must
and can do.
I consider 2008 to have been a very
successful year for DE&S and, as we move
forward into 2009, more challenges await
us; that is the price we pay for the continued
achievement of our mission – to equip and
support our Armed Forces for operations now
and in the future.
“Showcasing our capability”: General Sir Kevin O’Donoghue
and the former Minister for Defence Equipment and Support,
Baroness Taylor, inspect DE&S-supported vehicles at DVD 2008
January 2009 13 13
A successful year
THE LATEST Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Watchkeeper, made its maiden fl ight as part of
a £899 million programme. It provides real time imagery and situational awareness
to operational commanders, allowing them to gather vital intelligence information.
THE THIRD of the Skynet
satellite constellation, Skynet
5C, was launched from French
Guiana in South America. This
high-tech equipment gives UK
troops a huge increase in their
communications capability.
A CONTRACT was signed to
build a new state-of-theart
offi ce complex on the
Neighbourhood Five site at
Abbey Wood. The new offi ces
will provide space for 600
people and contribute towards
creating Abbey Wood as the
main hub of DE&S.
THE FIRST Type 45 warship, Daring,
was handed over to the MOD. Her
sister ships, Dauntless, Diamond,
Dragon, Defender and Duncan are
all making good progress. Dauntless
has started initial sea trials and
Dragon (left) has just been launched
on the Clyde.
DE&S DELIVERED the fi rst batch of new
MAN recovery vehicles and trailers to
the front line capable of retrieving the
heaviest vehicles on operations.
250 NEW quad bikes were
delivered to Iraq and
Afghanistan under the Urgent
Operational Requirement
process. They will enable troops
to carry ammunition, food,
water, stores and equipment
to tough terrain. They can also
evacuate casualties.

14
feature
defence equipment and support • • To equip and support our armed forces for operations now and in the future • • defence equipment and support •
Family emergencies can strike at any time and servicemen and women will
need to get home quickly from across the globe. By land, sea and air it’s . . .
A race against time
Report: Jo Hutchings
Search and rescue helicopters are often tasked to take personnel on the later
legs of their journey home to be with relatives. An RAF Sea King is pictured
during an exercise over the Thames
© Crown Copyright, image from www.defenceimages.mod.uk
When a family member falls ill
and service personnel need
to get home from wherever
they are in the world, every
second counts.
From an operational zone or a warship
on the other side of the world, to the
bedside of a sick relative in the UK, it
is the job of the Duty Movements Staff
(DMS), part of DE&S’ Defence Supply
Chain Operations and Movements
(DSCOM), to get that serviceman or
woman home, as fast as they can.
It is a job they do superbly.
Consider this success: a baby was
taken seriously ill at home while father
was serving on a submarine in the Arctic
Ocean. The submariner was transferred
to a hospital ship, but the weather was too
bad to move him ashore.
The baby’s condition continued to
deteriorate, so a helicopter lifted the
father to the Norwegian mainland.
A BAe125 aircraft was diverted to
Trondheim in Norway to collect the
submariner and fly him to an airport near
his home.
It was re-routed to a local airfield, only
two miles from the hospital, where a taxi
met him to take him to his child.
Or perhaps this one: the DMS needed
to get a crewman on board a warship in
the South Atlantic back to a hospital in the
UK.
The warship was turned around
to bring it within helicopter range of
the Falkland Islands, from where the
crewman was flown by an RAF Hercules
to Brazil to connect with a civilian flight
to London.
The Civil Airhead Detachment (CAD),
part of the RAF Movements Squadron
at RAF Northolt, escorted the passenger
to Northolt and onto an RAF helicopter
flight to a town in Yorkshire. A taxi took
the passenger from the helicopter landing
site to the hospital.
Complex though they are, they are just
two of 1,797 compassionate cases handled
by the DMS between January and October
last year. Staff operate round the clock,
every day of the year, providing cover for
service personnel and their immediate
family members.
Once a compassionate case is
authorised and referred by the Joint
Casualty and Compassionate Cell (JCCC)
at Imjin Barracks (the former RAF
Innsworth in Gloucestershire), staff

feature
• • To equip and support our armed forces for operations now and in the future • • defence equipment and support • • To equip and support our
15
plan and co-ordinate travel by land, sea
or air for personnel from their current
place anywhere in the world to their
destination, and back again.
The cell may also, from time to time,
be asked to help in returning MOD
civil servants and contractors working
alongside the armed forces to the UK.
Service assets are considered first before
other options are brought into play, such
as arranging flights on commercial
airlines, diverting existing RAF flights, or
chartering a civilian aircraft.
Compassionate travel is an object
lesson in teamwork from the DMS
and staff at Imjin, the Civil Airhead
Detachment at RAF Northolt, the RAF’s
Air Command, staff at RAF Brize Norton
and RAF Lyneham, the aircraft crews,
divisional movements staff in Land forces
and even the taxi driver at the end of the
chain.
The gratitude of those served by
the system is heartfelt. “I thank your
team for their excellent work over the
past year in getting my family on two
occasions back to the UK to support my
parents-in-law,” said one. “The service
you provide is first class.”
Or another. “Please accept our
thanks for your help in getting us
back to the UK during a recent family
bereavement. The smooth, efficient
nature of our travel arrangements eased
what was a very stressful time.”
Or a third: “I am extremely grateful
for the sensitivity, diligence and
proficiency that your team displayed
through the whole process, which went
as smoothly as one could hope.”
© Crown Copyright, image from www.defenceimages.mod.uk
Even the PM takes a back seat!
A COMPASSIONATE traveller in Cyprus, categorised
as Compassionate Alpha – the highest priority – by
staff, needed to be taken back to Aberdeen.
The DMS arranged for a VC10 aircraft fl ying from
the Middle East to the UK to be diverted to Cyprus to
collect the passenger.
On arrival in the UK, the DMS requested a
BAe125 aircraft to transport the traveller to
Aberdeen.
The aircraft was also required by the Prime
Minister but, following discussions, the DMS were
granted use of the aircraft and the passenger was
transported to their destination.
� The DMS arranged for a person to be transported
from Basra to their seriously ill relative in Great
Yarmouth in less than 12 hours.
An RAF C-17 aircraft departing from Basra was
diverted to Stansted airport.
Then, a search and rescue helicopter was tasked
to meet the C-17 at Stansted, where the person was
then fl own to the hospital in Great Yarmouth.
� The DMS needed to move a compassionate
passenger from Iraq to the north west of England.
The person was booked on a C-17 aircraft fl ying
from Iraq to Brize Norton. The DMS arranged for the
aircraft to be diverted to Manchester, the nearest
airport to the traveller’s fi nal destination.
The person was given priority clearance through
the arrivals procedure at the airport and they were
driven to their destination by a pre-booked taxi.
� Applications for travel from overseas on
compassionate grounds are made using JPA form
P001 to the JCCC who determine if authority for
compassionate travel is justifi ed.
� Compassionate travel is categorised according
to the urgency of an individual case and will fall into
Compassionate Alpha or Compassionate Bravo.
If the JCCC decide that travel does not fall into
one of these two categories it is referred back to
the individual’s unit and could be categorised at
Compassionate Charlie.
� The DMS also co-ordinates compassionate travel
authorised by the JCCC for the family of service
personnel suffering serious injury, which is known
as Dangerously Ill Forwarding of Relatives.
RAF transport aircraft are often the
quickest way of getting personnel
out of operational zones in Iraq and
Afghanistan and on their way home. A
C-17, above, and a BAe 125, below, are
pictured hard at work

16
feature
defence equipment and support • • To equip and support our armed forces for operations now and in the future • • defence equipment and support •
You’re a medic on the Afghanistan front line – an injured soldier needs a transfusion o
‘It is the greatest privilege to
be part of this team because
you know that everything we do
really does make a difference
and frequently it can be a matter
of life or death to the people who
need our help. How many jobs can
give you that kind of satisfaction?’
– Staff Sergeant Paul Lund
Report: Lt Cdr Susie Thomson
Pictures: Andrew Linnett
The bloo
The remarkable work of a small team
of military and civilian personnel
at Birmingham Research Park,
near the city’s Selly Oak hospital, is
key to the maintenance of British military
expeditionary operations.
They are the Blood Supply team of DE&S’
Medical and General Supplies IPT and
without them, and the National Blood Service
and military logistical chain that underpins
their work, UK military and supporting
personnel could not easily deploy around the
globe.
The Blood Supply team comprises
three Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC)
personnel: Major Steve Smedley, Captain
Michael ‘Jack’ Dawe and Staff Sergeant Paul
Lund. Neil Dalzell provides the pharmacy
lead from within the IPT. Clinical oversight
is provided by Colonel Sam Rawlinson
RAMC who is a consultant adviser in blood
transfusion. Major Smedley’s team works
alongside the NHS’ National Blood Service
which has several regional laboratories.
The team is responsible for supplying
blood components in the form of red
cell concentrate, fresh frozen plasma,
cryoprecipitate and platelets to UK forces
round the clock. It routinely supports
Operations Herrick and Telic, and UK forces –
and their civilian dependants where required
– in Belize, Brunei, Cyprus, the Falklands
(plus the whole of the resident population
there), Gibraltar and Kenya. In addition there
are non-routine customers such as the RAF’s
Aeromedical Evacuation Team, plus the
support given to major UK military exercises
worldwide, eight in 2008 alone.
The Blood Supply Team frequently has
to respond with little or no advance notice.
“There is a member of the team ‘on call,’ at

feature
• • To equip and support our armed forces for operations now and in the future • • defence equipment and support • • To equip and support our
17
or he’s going to die. Put a call in to. . .
od suppliers
any one time so we have always managed
to supply to their respective timelines
– it is a team effort and everyone plays a
part in getting the job done,” said Major
Smedley.
Blood and blood components for
deployed personnel are provided via
an agreement with the National Health
Blood and Transplant Service. Donated
blood is brought to one of several centres
throughout England where it is processed
and tested; these same stocks also provide
supplies for UK deployed personnel.
Blood required for the MOD is packed
into enhanced cold storage ‘Golden Hour’
boxes, and despatched to an RAF airhead.
The Blood Supply team responds to a
request within an hour and is expected to
have a delivery plan in place within four
hours, and to execute it within eight. A
shipment is often en route within four.
“If there is an urgent requirement, our
NHS colleagues will supply the required
components, often at very short notice,
to meet a particular flight deadline,” said
Captain Dawe. “And on more than one
occasion the RAF have delayed flights for
us to allow us to ship an urgent resupply
out to theatre. They are all, without
exception, terrific and we are always
grateful for the support we get from every
member of the team.” And no blue light
run for this team – they often get into
their own cars and drive the precious
packages to RAF Brize Norton or RAF
Lyneham themselves.
The team distributes all blood groups
routinely and can supply more specialised
blood if requested. During the last
financial year the team shipped 7,908
blood components at a value of £880,000;
in 2008, as the operational environment
has become more challenging, those costs
are likely to exceed £1 million.
The Blood Supply Team is licensed
by the Medical and Healthcare Products
Regulatory Agency to supply blood from
the UK and to bleed donors in the UK for
apheresis training. Apheresis – Greek for
‘to take away’ – is a medical process used
on Operations Herrick and Telic, where
the blood of a donor is passed through an
apparatus to separate out one particular
constituent and return the remainder
to the donor’s circulation. Apheresis
supplements rather than replaces the
usual methods of supplying blood and
blood components in the deployed
environment and is used in emergency
situations.
All members are highly qualified
biomedical scientists doing what they
consider to be more than just a job.
“Recently we had an urgent call from
Afghanistan on a Saturday for 100
units of fresh frozen plasma – the vast
quantity of this urgent requirement was
for the rare type AB FFP,” said Staff
Sergeant Lund. “As the Birmingham
centre could not fulfil the order they
arranged for the component to be brought
into Birmingham from other centres
throughout England. Even with this delay,
the shipment was still received in theatre
the next day.
“Those guys in the NBS and the RAF
did a stunning job not only for us but for
our injured colleagues out there on the
front line who were badly in need of this
component. It is the greatest privilege to
be part of this team because you know
that everything we do really does make
a difference and frequently it can be a
matter of life or death to the people who
need our help. How many jobs can give
you that kind of satisfaction?”
Above and left: MOD and
NHS staff work hard to
get the right blood to the
right place
Right: medical facilities
at Camp Bastion
RED CELLS
Lifespan in the body – Approx 120
days
Lifespan in a blood bag – 35 days
but can be extended to 42 in an
emergency. Stored at 2–6 degrees
Centigrade
FRESH FROZEN PLASMA
Can be stored for up to two years at
–30 deg C
The team supply Group AB and Group
A plasma only. Supply of these two
groups ensures that we have FFP
available to transfuse into any blood
group.
PLATELETS
Very temperature dependent and
with a lifespan in a platelet bag of fi ve
days.
Must be transported at 18-24 deg C
The team supply Group A platelets,
which can be transfused safely into
any recipient
CRYOPRECIPITATE
Specialised blood component which
can be stored for up to two years at
–30 deg C

18
feature
defence equipment and support • • To equip and support our armed forces for operations now and in the future • • defence equipment and support •
It’s all in the preparation
at Rosyth
If you see huge sections of warship on barges
inching their way up the UK coast in a few
years’ time, chances are they are on their way
to Rosyth. Work is under way to prepare the
Firth of Forth yard’s No 1 dock – originally built
in 1916 – to accommodate the two massive 65,000
tonne aicraft carriers to be in service in the next
decade.
The yard contains the largest non-tidal basin
for ship repair in the UK and Babcock Marine is
working to increase the capacity of the dock as
well as widening the entrance to allow entry of
the parts, and departure of the 280-metre long
56-metre high carriers. A £15 million 120-metre
span crane – nicknamed Goliath – is also being
installed to straddle the dock.
Up to 150 staff from BAM Nuttall are doing
the engineering in a £35 million contract with
Babcock on behalf of the Aircraft Carrier
Alliance, which also includes BVT Surface Fleet,
Thales UK, BAE Systems and DE&S as both
participant and client. There are workers from
around 50 other sub-contractors also working on
site.
Work on No 1 dock began last March and is set
to be completed by summer 2010.
“The project is in full swing and on schedule,”
said Sean Donaldson, Babcock’s carrier project
director at Rosyth. “The first parts of the first
carrier will arrive in the summer of 2011, so we
are not going to be short of things to do in the
next few years.”
While contracts to build the carriers were only
signed earlier this year staff at Rosyth have been
preparing for the work for at least two years.
“The work presents some challenges because it
is related to old structures and, as the majority is
below ground and in a marine environment, the
project has significant risks,” said Mr Donaldson.
“We have spent two years on site investigations
and de-risking activity to get to this stage. But
working with the MOD we knew that investing
the money up front would save us much in the
long term.”
The first carrier should be in dock for between
18 and 24 months. Assembly of the second will
begin soon afterwards. It is a complex logistical
process. “It is a joint team doing the integration,
led by BVT, to make sure all the pieces of the
puzzle do fit together,” said Mr Donaldson. “It
is a very challenging timeline but it is in all our
interests to make sure everyone comes together.
We are all incentivised to work together to
complete the project.
“We were refitting nuclear submarines
at Rosyth until 2001 and they were massively
complex projects. We have also refitted each of
the current aircraft carriers. But we are certainly
not complacent. We have had a team in place,
three years ahead, to make sure we can complete
this task.”
The dock is long enough to accommodate
each vessel but its cross section is unsuitable for
modern warship building, the ship’s hull being
flat-bottomed rather than the traditional V-shape.
Huge granite steps, known as altars, that stick
out from the side of the dock are being cut back
to the width of the top tier. The dock floor will be
nine metres wider when they have been removed.
Work is now underway to widen the main
entrance to the Rosyth basin from the Firth of
Forth. The 38-metre wide entrance features a
sliding gate to hold the tidal water back but is
soon to be increased to 42 metres. A 25-metre
deep wall will be installed behind the existing
entrance wall to allow excavation work, with
The Royal Navy’s two
new aircraft carriers
will be assembled in
Rosyth early in the
next decade.
Work is already well
under way to make
sure the dockyard is
ready
Report: Steve Moore
the void filled with concrete. This will a
existing entrance wall to be demolished
the final face of the new entrance is inst
Goliath is due to arrive in August 20
handover soon after. Built by Shanghai
Port Machinery, the 68-metre gantry cr
straddle the dock will be able to lift up t
tonnes from three hooks, two suspende
upper trolley and one from a central, low
which will have a capacity of 500 tonne
The individual capacity of each of th
hooks provides valuable flexibility in lif
awkward loads and will allow units or b
be turned over. Nearly 90 reinforced co
bored piles are being socketed three me
the underlying rock on the eastern side
dock as foundations for the crane with f
piles driven up to seven metres into roc
western side.
The crane will arrive partially erecte
the newly-widened dockyard entrance a
‘skidded’ from ship to shore onto the cr
DE&S visitors to the dockyard to see
progress Babcock are making have incl
Director Capital Ships, Tony Graham, w
the works in the autumn.
“This is an exciting time for the CVF
as, around the UK, we make final prepa
cutting of steel on the ships in early 09,”
“For stability, the Goliath crane will
two uprights either side of the dock and
a towering icon of engineering endeavo
industrial capability.
“In this sense, it parallels an ever-re
world class carrier strike capability rest
it does on the two iconic ships – HMS Q
Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales – lif
Royal Navy into a new modern age.”
‘We are certainly not complacent. We have had a team in place, three years ahead, to make sure we can complete this t

feature
• • To equip and support our armed forces for operations now and in the future • • defence equipment and support • • To equip and support our
19
ll allow the
ed, before
nstalled.
2010 with
ai Zhenhua
crane to
p to 1,000
ded from an
lower trolley
nes.
the three
lifting
r blocks to
concrete
metres into
de of the
h further
ock on the
cted through
e and will be
crane rails.
see the
ncluded the
, who saw
VF project
parations for
9,” he said.
ill rest on
nd will be
vour and
ready and
esting as
Queen
lifting the
task’
Above: No 1 dock, being made ready for
its next guest, the fi rst of the new aircraft
carriers
Right: the cofferdam in place
Below: concrete is removed during
demolition works for widening of the dock
entrance
Dam marks big milestone
A MAJOR milestone has already passed at Rosyth’s No 1 dock
with the completion of a cofferdam, a huge enclosure of steel and
rock fill extending 14 metres from the basin floor to dockside level.
The cofferdam creates a dry working environment where the civil
contractor can work.
Five circular steel 18.5m diameter cells have been built to sit
on the bed of the main basin and then filled in with thousands of
tonnes of imported rock. It is the biggest cofferdam of this type
built for many years.
“Modifying a dock in a marine environment like this is not
easy,” said Babcock civil engineer Mike Murray. “The design
and installation of the temporary works needed to hold back the
water during the construction period can be very challenging.
The No 1 dock cofferdam alone weighs more than 50,000 tonnes
and has to resist around 8,000 tonnes of thrust imposed by the
retained water in the basin. It has to be buildable and sealable.
Sealing is the craft bit and the difficulty is making the seal at the
basin bed.
“We are on time. The No 1 dock cofferdam was constructed in
six weeks and is working well.”
When work on No 1 dock has finished the cofferdam will be
removed and installed at the basin entrance along with another
bespoke structure on the river side to allow the entrance to be
widened.

support to ops
20
NEWSREEL
Duchess tries
out Mastiff
The Duchess of
Gloucester discusses
equipment
THE Duchess of
Gloucester has visited
the Contingency
Operating Base in Basra
to visit troops in theatre.
While she was there the
Duchess spent time with
a Mastiff team learning
about the weapons used
at the front line. She was
also driven in a Mastiff
protected vehicle which
was recently praised by
troops for its safety.
It’s a dog’s life
in the services!
THE Army has 165
military working
dogs and the RAF 292
according to the latest
fi gures for the number
and type of animals kept
in each of the services.
Dogs are used for many
tasks including patrol,
explosive search,
vehicle search and drug
detection.
The Army also has 489
horses while the Royal
Navy possesses 16 birds
of prey.
Regimental or unit
mascots are also kept
by the Army and include
two Drum horses, one
Indian Black Buck, one
Irish Wolfhound, two
mountain goats, two
Swaledale rams and
three Shetland ponies.
Pay offers
DETAILS of the 2008
industrial and nonindustrial
pay offers
have been announced.
The offers are threeyear
awards and will
provide shorter pay
scales with a three per
cent pay step each year
for the majority of staff.
The aim is to pay the
award and arrears in
February. More details
via the DE&S home page
on the defence intranet.
The cause is just – cult
A ‘just’ culture
should exist in
the military to
help servicemen
and women
have confidence
in leadership,
says Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock
Stirrup, Chief of the Defence Staff,
whose message has relevance for
all branches of the services and
the MOD.
British doctrine identifies three components of
fighting power: conceptual, physical and moral.
The physical – manpower, equipment, performance,
readiness and sustainability – is easy to report
against. Conceptual is guided by principles of war. Moral
is more difficult to quantify but includes motivation,
leadership, organisation, management and
supervision.
Get the moral component wrong and the
impact on fighting power is disproportionate. In
aviation terms, for example, such a failure can
manifest itself during training through accidents
when people make mistakes; or aviators not
willing to exploit their aircraft and the nature of
their environment to the advantage of the overall
campaign.
We must strengthen the moral component
by addressing the human factor, particularly in
the context of where we want people to work,
balancing the operational imperative to achieve
our mission against the safety culture in which
we expect them to operate. This is
a difficult balance, even in benign
circumstances. Such challenges
increase during operations when
our men and women work under
more pressure to get the job done,
and the propensity to make mistakes
increases.
Human factors are those which
drive the way individuals and their
interaction with other people, rules, procedures,
tools and equipment or with the operating
environment, influence the delivery of fighting
power.
Evidence shows that more than half our
accidents and incidents are down to human
factors; in other words it is our people who are
causing most damage to our fighting capability.
We must do something to understand these
factors and drive down the number of accidents
and incidents.
One of the most effective ways of doing
this is to promote a culture that encourages
open and honest reporting, that allows for a
structured investigation of errors which lead to
an incident, and that takes ‘just’ action which is
fair and measured. This action should address
all individual, systemic and environmental issues
relating to an incident and allow us to learn from
what took place. The actions and feedback will
prevent us making the same mistakes again. It is
the justness of what we do that gives rise to a ‘just
culture.’
To me, such a culture is based on trust.
It suggests a working environment where
individuals are encouraged to
‘We should have
no truck with
those who do not
do their jobs
properly’
Dealing with subordinates fairly
contributes to a key element of the moral
component and a fundamental strand in
the strategy to reduce accidents, which
helps to maintain the best operational
capability on the front line, says Air
Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup. Right:
a member of the Royal Gurkha Rifl es is
seen in action in Afghanistan
contribute to providing essential
safety information and where they
are commended for owning up to
mistakes as they try to do their
best.
It should promote a sense that
they will be treated fairly and with
integrity while we investigate why
mistakes have been made to make
sure we get things right next time.
But it is not a blame-free regime where no-one
is ever held to account. Everybody must be clear
about where the line must be drawn between
acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.
I judge that the creation and proper
maintenance of a just culture will promote
confidence in our leadership, lead to more
effective management of expensive and scarce
resources and help motivate people through
the belief they will be treated reasonably and
equitably.

ture must be too
Do we have a just culture in place? Is there a tolerant and non-punitive
environment where mistakes can be admitted freely before they cause an
accident? My sense is that it is not as well established as it might be, nor as
comprehensive as I would wish. The greatest challenge for senior leaders
and those with command responsibility, including me, is to make a just
culture a fact, not an aspiration – a challenge critically dependent on our
people’s belief in us as leaders.
So I look to all of us to promote a just culture by our actions on
operations and when undertaking routine work. I want this message to
reach all levels in our services. I expect those with command responsibility
to be seen to put the just culture into practice, mindful that any culture
takes years to evolve but can take minutes to damage.
There will be no prizes for those who pay lip service to a just culture
and see their own personal success measured by an unmitigated drive for
glory with disregard for others. But equally, we should have no truck with
negligence or with those who do not do their jobs properly.
We can only get the balance right if we understand the context in which
human factors come into the equation. To do this we need an open and
honest reporting system to encourage full disclosure of errors; we need an
impartial investigative structure to understand why mistakes have been
made and provide feedback for lessons to be learned. Then we can take the
just action which will give our hardworking, professional men and women
the confidence they should have in us as leaders.
I look to each and every one of you to make a just culture a reality,
through your actions and the way in which you deal with your
subordinates. In so doing you will be contributing to a key element of the
moral component and therefore a fundamental strand in our strategy to
reduce accidents and incidents, maintain operational capability and thus
contributing to my long-term intent of delivering the highest levels of
British fighting power from the intelligent expenditure of precious but
necessarily limited government resources.
(This is an abridged version of an article which fi rst appeared in DARS AViate magazine).
support to ops 21
Audit will ensure DE&S
is safe on the roads
DE&S IS completing an audit exercise to assure
that the organisation is undertaking road and
transport safety in accordance with the latest
legislation and best practice.
An audit questionnaire has been sent to all
DE&S Directors General and their health and
safety primary focal points for return by the end
of next month. If the questions can be answered
positively in every case, we can be assured that
DE&S is successfully undertaking road and
transport safety.
Line managers are responsible for checking
that all licences and insurances are up to date
and the correct categories are shown, as newer
style licences do not automatically entitle the user
to the same privileges as those issued previously.
The questionnaire also details basic checks
that have to be performed prior to vehicles being
used for the first time and before daily use.
These include lights, tyres, oils, waters and that
the vehicle fits the requirement for which it has
been issued.
Further information can be obtained from JSP
800 Volume 5, by calling Health and Safety Policy
on 01225 468086 or by e-mailing DES SE CESO-
OHSE-HS-OFFICE.
Winter driving tips
•Vehicles need to be checked thoroughly before
starting. This includes checking tyres and tread
depth, that all lights are functioning correctly, and
that breakdown equipment is available and working.
•Consider packing a shovel (especially if the journey
includes more remote areas), blankets, sensible
walking shoes/boots, high visibility jackets and a
fl ask with a hot drink .
•Plan a defi nite route and give that route to a
nominated contact. Plan regular breaks where you
can check in with that person. Discuss any deviation
from the plan before your journey or when you
contact your nominee so any signifi cant break in
contact can be understood as a cause for concern.
•Adapt your driving techniques to suit the conditions.
Larger gaps between vehicles, slower gear changing
techniques and smoother braking are the obvious
targets. Slower speed and longer journey times will
also help.
•Further leafl ets and information can be found on the
defence intranet or by calling the Health and Safety
Policy offi ce on 01225 468086.

22
support to ops
On-line to the front line
Staff get writing to
give UK forces
a seasonal boost
HUNDREDS OF DE&S staff got online
with the front line to illustrate the
simplicity and success of the forces’
e-bluey system.
The web-based process can deliver
a hard copy private message free of
charge to a loved one on the front line
anywhere in the world within hours.
Around 100,000 letters a month
are downloaded by the system as
family members look to send their
best wishes to servicemen and women
in Iraq, Afghanistan, and wherever
British forces are operational.
“This is the last half mile to the guys
on the front line,” said Major
General Alan Macklin, leader
of DE&S’ Armoured Fighting
Vehicles Group, who was at the
Abbey Wood demonstration to
e-mail a colleague. A second
demonstration took place at
Andover with a third at MOD
Main Building.
“People are used to e-mail
but not everyone can get e-mail
in the forward operating bases.
This system adapts what the younger
generation – the internet generation
– has as standard and delivers it to
areas where you don’t have those
facilities.”
The system is part of the forces’
welfare package and is run by the
British Forces Post Office.
“The system is very successful,”
said Sgt Kevin Pellington of BFPO.
“We are downloading so many each
month it shows how popular it is. And
even before Afghanistan it was being
well used. It is a very quick connection
between families and troops.”
Letters can be composed in any
popular word processing system and
pasted into an e-bluey, or one can be
downloaded from the e-bluey website.
Photographs can be attached, while
there is also a fax-bluey option.
When the message reaches its
destination it is downloaded, printed
and sealed like any ordinary letter by
one of more than 60 special machines
near front line units.
The number of machines is
growing – equipment has recently
been installed in the Fijian High
Commission in recognition of the
increasing number of Commonwealth
troops on operations.
Hi Dad. Hope your Christmas will
be great. Sorry you won’t be here
with me and mum when we open
our presents on Christmas Day.
Hello to our troops in
Afghanistan and Iraq. I think of
you always. God bless you and all
those away at Christmas.
Left: Sgt Kevin Pellington
of BFPO shows staff at
Andover how to send an
e-bluey while, below,
Quentin Davies, Minister
for Defence Equipment
and Support, sends his
message to the front line
and, bottom, staff at Abbey
Wood got on line to send
messages as sessions
began on 9 December
Pictures: Allan House,
Andrew Linnett and
Alan Casperd
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Log on to www.bfpo.mod.uk,
go to the e-bluey link, create
a new account, complete
some required security
questions and add in your
personal details.
As long as you have the
name, rank and BFPO
number of the person you
wish to write to, and details
of regiment/unit/ship etc
and location you can then
compose a message and
send it. It will be delivered
in sealed, secure form.
To all who will be away at
Christmas, I hope you can make
it as enjoyable for yourselves as
possible.
UK forces abroad at Christmas 2008: Afghanistan 8,050; southern Iraq 4,100; Baghdad 250; at sea 1,050; Falklands/
South Atlantic 1,500; Qatar 700; Cyprus 300; Kuwait 550; Kosovo 150; Bahrain 50; Bosnia less than 50; others 150.

New system keeps
Type 23 in command
A TYPE 23 Frigate will lead the
way in a long term programme
to converge the command
systems used in all of the Royal
Navy’s surface ships.
Part of HMS Montrose’s
upkeep period, which began
in Rosyth in November, will be
used to fit the command system
known as DNA2. Then a series
of trials and testing is planned
ahead of the in-service date
in August. DNA2 is a similar
system to that being fitted on
the new Type 45 destroyer,
where it is known as CMS1.
DNA2 will replace the
current DNA1 system fitted
to all Type 23s. The system
consists of a series of consoles
in the ship’s operations room
and acts as the ‘brain’ of the
ship’s weapons system.
Mike Salisbury, head of Fleet
Wide Combat Management
Systems current programmes
team in the Destroyers
Directorate, said: “The battle
is fought from the operations
room and the core of it is the
command system. It sits within
the overall combat system and
presents tactical information
to the ship’s warfare team.
It enables operators to make
informed tactical decisions
and allows the ship to fight the
battle.”
The £30 million contract
to upgrade the Type 23s with
DNA2 was signed with BAE
Systems Insyte in 2006. Land
based testing has just been
completed.
The surface fleet uses a
range of systems on its frigates,
destroyers, landing ships,
minehunters and aircraft
carriers, with others fitted
on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
support and logistics vessels.
Managing all the systems,
particularly with some dating
back to the 1970s, is the
responsibility of the new Fleet
Wide Combat Management
Systems team in the Destroyers
Directorate.
“We are trying to bring
about the convergence to a
single family of systems,” said
Mr Salisbury. “Big savings can
be made converging on newer
common equipment across
the fleet so that producing
common software packages
and interfaces will reduce the
cost of integration.
Steve Carter of Insyte added:
“With the use of CMS1/DNA2
on a large portion of the fleet,
the operation of the system and
the carrying out of core system
operations will be common
on different platform classes,
ensuring that the operators will
be effective more quickly when
moving platform classes.”
support to ops 23
HMS Montrose, above, and below, some of her weapon systems
including Harpoon, Sea Wolf and her 4.5 inch gun
Left: at the controls – a new command system will be installed
across the surface fl eet to improve effi ciency
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to homologate to any world standard.
For further information:
+44 (0)1525 408476
militaryvehicles@millbrook.co.uk
www.millbrook.co.uk

support to ops
24
Taking steps to a
greener future
THE SUSTAINABLE Development and
Environmental Protection Policy team has
been working towards a greener future
for DE&S sites.
A recent workshop for site
environmental focal points has kicked off
a project to translate MOD sustainable
development policy targets into
initiatives that can be delivered on sites
in 2009. Topics included improving site
management systems and ideas for waste
and energy-saving initiatives.
As well as wider site plans, there are
things we can all do to help reduce our
carbon footprints.
What you can do
Energy
• Switch all equipment and appliances
off (not stand-by) when not in use.
This includes photocopiers, computer
terminals, monitors and printers.
Equipment can be ‘woken up’ remotely for
software updates
• Switch off lights when not required
• Minimise through life energy use of new
equipment or infrastructure, and choose A
or A+ rated goods if replacing appliances
• Alter heating controls or clothing rather
than opening windows when radiators are on
• Replace light bulbs with energy saving
varieties
• Service boilers/pumps and other
machinery regularly
• Change to renewable energy suppliers,
or consider solar panels, wood-burners
and other self-generation
Travel
• Minimise the need to travel. Use video/
tele conferencing instead of meetings
• Minimise car use by car sharing, cycling,
walking or using public transport
Water
• Buy a water butt and use rainwater for
the garden or car-washing
• Have showers rather than baths
• Fit low-fl ow shower heads and taps, or
put a water displacement device (hippo) in
your cistern
Waste
• Avoid buying more food or consumables
than actually needed
• Re-use or recycle as much waste as
possible.
Wildlife
• Plant native or wildlife-friendly plants in
your garden.
Community
• Volunteer for community or wildlife
projects
• Buy local produce
A new fi nish f
Ready for the fi nishing touches: just like a plastic model kit, a repainted
Harrier training aircraft awaits numerous additional markings,
including warning triangles, jacking points and safety markings before
it is ready to return to fl ying duties
A NEW chapter in surface finishing
of aircraft, ground support equipment
and military vehicles has started with
the award of a 10-year contract to
Serco. The company has taken on a task
previously done by RAF tradesmen.
The Defence Logistics
Transformation Proqramme (DLTP)
Commodities Study report concluded
that surface finishing was a Depth
function, and that the trade group
involved, TG13b (Painter and Finisher),
had no specialist deployable role, so
support to the RAF could be provided
by a civilianised workforce.
With an Air Force Board decision
in 2006 to dissolve the trade group,
the Air Commodities IPT (AC IPT) was
tasked to identify a replacement output
solution for 16 RAF sites in mainland
UK, Northern Ireland and the Falkland
Islands for painting and finishing
services.
Neil Plowman from the AC IPT
said: “Various options were explored
and we found the best value for money
solution would be for a single contract.
Following an intensive competition
Serco was selected as the preferred
bidder in December 2007.
“This project was the first to be
subjected to the new DE&S scrutiny
and approvals process, and it was only
after this, and trades union consultation
process had been successfully
concluded in August 2008, that the IPT
was able to award the contract.”
The joint AC IPT, Air Command
and Serco implementation team has
worked hard with each other and the
units to ensure the transition to the
contractorised solution was as smooth
and efficient as possible. This has
involved the integration of more than
90 RAF painters and 20 MOD civilians
with a newly recruited workforce of
more than 100 Serco technicians across
the country, and the introduction of a
new and innovative IT infrastructure to
coordinate the complex range of tasks
involved in the programme.
“It is a unique contract for us in
many respects,” said Ian Wiggans from
Serco. “We’re starting off with residual
RAF manpower, who are going to be
a diminishing commodity. The sites
we’re operating from are also quite
diverse, and range from the largest, at
RAF Marham to RAF Boulmer with
only a couple of staff. This programme
is very important to us, not just in
business terms, but also in giving us the
opportunity to extend our support and
work more closely with our colleagues
in the RAF across the country.”
The end of the successful transition
process was marked at an event at RAF
Cottesmore in December, formalising
the handing over process between the
RAF surface finish trade and Serco.
It was attended by representatives
from the AC IPT, Air Command and
Serco. Speaking at the event, Group
Captain Nick Cox from Air Command
said: “The surface finish programme is
another great example of industry and
the military working in partnership to
enhance operational capability.
“We are delighted with the excellent
work that Serco has undertaken during
the preparation for the handover of the
responsibility for the task.
“Their services will make a
significant contribution to enhancing
the support to a wide range of RAF
aircraft and support equipment over the
coming years, and we look forward to
working with them.”

or RAF painting
Surface Finishing
Surface Finishing is an engineering maintenance activity. It
is essential that the surface fi nish is correctly maintained
to preserve structural integrity by inhibiting or preventing
corrosion. A good fi nish can also contribute to smoother airfl ow
and improve aircraft effi ciency.
Examples of the different aircraft coatings available are:
� Low Infra-Red Refl ective: Designed to blend in with a sky
background and hamper IR electronic sensors from locking onto
an aircraft when looking at it against a sky background. Typically
used on fast jets.
� Infra-Red Refl ective: Designed to match foliage refl ectance.
� Solar Heat Refl ective: Applied correctly over a suitable
primer and or undercoat this fi nish can reduce the effects
of solar loading quite signifi cantly. Mainly used on transport
aircraft.
� Alkali Removable Temporary Finish: Formulated as a readyuse
temporary camoufl age coating (e.g. transition to war). It
is available in a restricted range of colours and is designed to
blend in with the surrounding terrain.
Dauntless takes the plunge
in her fi rst sea trials
DAUNTLESS, the second of the Type 45 destroyers, has
successfully completed her first sea trials.
The 7,500-tonne ship spent 29 days at sea through a blustery
November and December, finishing 96 per cent of the trials
programme.
“Sea trials have provided a rigorous environment for testing
the hull which has now steamed 5,114 nautical miles,” said a
spokesman for DE&S’ Destroyers Directorate.
“The platform has operated well, achieving success in most
serials. Overall Dauntless is in very good shape.
“However, a number of issues in terms of equipment, fittings
and routines have emerged that require further investigation
and/or resolution before we move to stage 1.2 sea trials and
acceptance off contract.”
The ship hosted visits from DE&S’ chief of Materiel (Fleet),
senior naval officers, media, sponsors and the House of Commons
Defence Select Committee.
Dauntless, the second of the Type 45s after Daring, pictured on the Clyde
support to ops
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Defence Equipment & Support
Combat Air starts
switch from Wyton
DE&S’ COMBAT Air Cluster has begun
arriving at Abbey Wood from its former
home at RAF Wyton.
The cluster includes acquisition
and through-life support to Harrier,
Tornado and Typhoon; UK participation
in development of future air systems,
including the Joint Combat Aircraft
and unmanned air systems; managing
flying training; aerospace industrial
partnering; and providing aircrew
survival equipment for all fixed and
rotary wing aircraft in RAF service.
Air Vice-Marshal Simon Bollom,
Director General Combat Air, said:
“We are looking to create an operating
hub, which will involve the movement
of staff from RAF Wyton to merge with
the Combat Air organisations currently
based at Abbey Wood.
“Other staff will relocate from RAF
Wyton to the main operating bases as
part of agreed availability contracting
in partnership with industry.
“This will be a major challenge for
personnel but it will create a more
cohesive cluster unit and a much broader
range of opportunities for those who
work in Combat Air.”
Be more
effective in your
current role
Improve career
and promotion
opportunities
Ensuring the
front line gets
the best possible
support
Providing
skilled people in the
right place at the
right time
25

support to ops
26
NEWSREEL
Forum addresses
improvement
THE fi rst Continuous
Improvement (CI)
Forum will be held at
the Defence Academy,
Shrivenham on 28
January. The Forum’s
aim is to understand
the MOD’s strategic
view on CI, to hear from
workshop experts and
to share experiences
with a view to improving
practices. General Sir
Kevin O’Donoghue,
Chief of Defence
Materiel (CDM), will be
keynote speaker. Other
speakers will cover
lean principles, Six
Sigma, system thinking
and MOD Streamlining.
Professor Peter Hines
of the Lean Enterprise
Research Centre (LERC)
will close the Forum.
Strong leaders
key to the future
VICE Admiral Trevor
Soar, Chief of Materiel
(Fleet), has told senior
managers from the
Director General
Safety and Engineering
cluster that strong
leadership will provide
the key to success
within the future
DE&S. VAdm Soar’s
address formed part of
a training event which
focused on leadership,
communication and the
learning organisation.
He also highlighted the
importance of clarity of
direction and leaders
allowing initiative,
empowering and
trusting their teams.
Talk to the
Board success
ANOTHER successful
‘Talk to the Board’ was
held on 11 December.
More than 100 questions
were received, 25
per cent more than
last time, on subjects
ranging from early
release to DII and
collocation. Questions
and answers are
available on the DE&S
‘Talk to the Board’ page
on the defence intranet.
Two become one as Unmanned
Air Systems team is formed
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, including Taranis (left) and Watchkeeper, are now to be managed under a single team
A ONE-stop-shop for all DE&S Unmanned Air
Systems projects has been formed. On 1 January,
Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) and
Strategic Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Experiment
(SUAVE) IPTs were brought together to form the
Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) IPT.
The new organisation is responsible for UAS
acquisition policy and standards, safety and
Safety and engineering assurance
improvements benefi t DE&S teams
DE&S’ INTEGRATED project
teams (IPTs) are benefiting from
changes made to the safety and
engineering (S&E) assurance
process.
The changes mean there are
tangible signs that assurance
planning and delivery are now
being seen as core project
activities and are losing the
‘blocker’ label they once had.
S&E assurance processes
have now been re-aligned
with the recently-published
DE&S Through Life Investment
Assurance Framework. This
tailors assurance to a level
appropriate to the project’s risk
and value, and delivers it through
an agreed assurance plan.
Safety and engineering
assurance statements are also
now mostly signed off by staff
within the Cluster DG business
areas, under delegation from
Director General S&E. Given
the complexity of the safety and
engineering subject coverage,
a number of Service Delivery
Managers are on hand across the
S&E area to help with planning
and to provide links to Subject
Matter Experts.
Many IPTs have worked
closely with Director General
S&E to pilot the S&E assurance
process, including Typhoon. The
engineering discipline, future research and
development and providing guidance to industry
on all matters UAS from within DE&S.
The merger has brought together the skill sets
developed in both teams allowing efficiencies
and streamlining the delivery of coherent UAV
capability. The team is led by Jonathan Barratt
and remains in the DG Combat Air cluster.
original approval for the Typhoon
programme pre-dated the
changes to the assurance process
meaning more recent approvals
did not have an assured baseline
against which to be assessed.
With a baseline established,
assurance can now be tailored
to reflect the specific changes
being introduced, rather than
repeat the full assurance activity.
This approach has benefited
such diverse project elements as
synthetic training, future support
and Tranche 3 procurement.
The Future Medium
Helicopter team leader Darren
Ash said: “The assurance
process runs very smoothly,
provided the IPT embraces it.
For PUMA, we are engaged with
our lead assuror, and it’s been
simple to get a suitable tailored
assurance plan agreed. We’ve
just completed the Through Life
Project Management review and
that was straightforward as well.”
DE&S manages an exceptional
portfolio of projects that, by
value and technical complexity,
ranks at the highest level among
defence organisations worldwide.
Such complexity needs sound
investment decisions based
on focused and independent
assessment of a range of
functional issues, including S&E.
Latest version of
support solution
tool goes live
INTEGRATED PROJECT
teams in DE&S can now
take advantage of a more
focused and user-friendly
Support Solutions Envelope
(SSE).
The latest version
contains the support
policies an IPT must
consider when developing
a support solution for an
equipment or capability.
It is now available on the
defence intranet through
the Acquisition Operating
Framework (AOF).
The new improved tool
will help IPTs identify any
risks associated with the
support solution. It will also
help them maintain their
Through Life Investment
Assurance Plan. The latest
SSE has been refocused
on the specific, tailored
evidence required to be
compiled and matured
throughout the acquisition
process.
Further information
and contact details for
the SSE Policy Team and
Engagement Teams can be
found on the Acquisition
Operating Framework and
SSE pages on the defence
intranet.

Ships cluster
successes marked
Record double success for
DE&S project managers
THE PROJECT Management
Licensing Authority (PMLA)
has celebrated double success:
the award of the 500th project
management licence and the
highest candidate pass mark in
the UK for the Association of
Project Management’s (APM)
Level 2 qualification.
The 500th licensee, Wesley
Rodgers, a project manager
within the Future Local Area
Air Defence System team said:
“I’m really pleased to get my
Level 1 licence - it will give me
greater credibility as a project
manager and help with my
career progression.”
Laurence Bryant, the
UK Military Flying Training
System Integrated Project
Team leader, who achieved the
record Level 2 qualification
score added: “The Licensing
scheme is an excellent example
of how we can all benefit from
the MOD’s commitment to
training and development.”
The PM Licensing Scheme
contributes to the DE&S
Upskilling programme by
helping project managers gain
professionally recognised PM
David Marsh (left), Head of Profession
for PPM awards Wesley Rodgers with
his Level 1 PM Licence
STAFF FROM the Director General
Ships cluster have been honoured
for their successes at the cluster’s
first Commendation ceremony. Rear
Admiral Bob Love, Director General
Ships, presented his awards on
10 December at Abbey Wood. Four
commendations were presented;
three team awards and one individual
award. A copy of the presentations
made to the members of the cluster
and the citations can be found on
the DG Ships’ page on the defence
intranet.
The recipients, clockwise from top: The
Transformation Focus Group; Lieutenant
Commander Matthew Stratton and Chief Petty
Offi cer Richard Cope for their work on the ADAWS
system; Joe Reilly, George White and Martin
MacCorquodale from Babcock Marine on behalf
of the HMS Grimsby hull repair team; and Rod
Vennell for his work on HMS Victory
qualifications. So far uptake
has been high and the team
has engaged with over half of
the DE&S Project Management
community.
Matt Ivins, Head of the
PMLA, said: “The award of
the 500th licence is a major
milestone in the rollout of the
licensing scheme. We have
excellent pass rates and now
the highest ever PQ result.
All of this ensures the MOD
remains the government
forerunner in programme and
project management.”
To find out more about
the PM Licence email DES
SE TLPM-PM LICENCE Team
(MULTIUSER).
support to ops
Helen commended
REAR ADMIRAL Andrew
Mathews, Director General
Submarines, has commended
Helen Burns-Sweeney for her
work in the Directorate of
Strategic Weapon Systems finance
operations. Her award recognises
her encouragement of staff during
a period of turbulence, as well
as her efforts with the US/UK
financial programme.
Rear Admiral Andrew Mathews
presents Helen Burns-Sweeney with the
commendation award
2.5 million
Operational Ration Packs (ORP)
produced in one year. 220,000 packs of
Hot Climate Supplements were issued to
troops using 24 Hour ORP in Afghanistan
and Iraq between 1 May and 31 October
2008. A brand new 38 Menu, 24 Hr Multi
Climate Ration pack commenced packing
in November and will be
despatched to HERRICK
and TELIC for
trialling from
1 May 2009.
Defence Equipment & Support
27

28
support to ops
NEWSREEL
New staff
commendations
ROUND four of the Chief
of Defence Materiel (CDM)
Commendation scheme
has been launched.
The closing date for
nominations is Friday
23 January. Further
guidance can be found
in HR information note
49/2008 on the defence
intranet.
Service medals
presented
EIGHT staff from the
Defence Storage and
Distribution Agency
(DSDA) have been
rewarded for their
contribution to a
successful drawdown
operation in Kosovo.
Neil Firth, Chief
Executive of DSDA,
presented the eight
civilian staff with NATO
Service Medals for
their achievement. The
team inspected and
conditioned around 240
ISO containers, and
with the help of local
British forces, the level
of serviceable stock
and containers to be
retained in Kosovo was
signifi cantly reduced.
Thanks to their work,
the MOD is estimated
to have saved around
£247,000 and is
expecting further
income from Disposal
Services Authority
activity.
Special offer
Military staff can take
advantage of special
offers on packages
to Disneyland Resort
Paris, thanks to Forces
Travel. Families can
stay in any Disney
hotel, on selected dates
between December and
March 2009, and save
up to 40 per cent on
room and park ticket
packages. Kids also
go free. For full terms
and conditions ring
0844 499 5752, or visit
www.forcesfi nancial.
com/travel.
AVM Allan: “Your contribution is vital”
Air Vice-Marshal Bob Allan with the Information Systems and Services award winners
AIR VICE-Marshal Bob Allan, Director General
Information Systems and Services (ISS), has given
his personal thanks to his staff for their hard work
in a commendations ceremony.
Civilian delivery partners also received
operational campaign medals from ISS. AVM Allan
Commendations
Sheena Lamont
Major Michael Sideras
ISS Reaper Team
Manpower Management Team
The Royal Warrant
WO Adrian Edwards
Imperial Service Medal
Carol Boon
Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
WO 2nd Class Paul Roberts
Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
Clasps
WO 1st Class Steve Clayton
FS Brian Stuart
Medals (30 days continuous service)
Op Telic: FS Martin Coles
Op Veritas: Wg Cdr Martin Pickard
Op Herrick: Capt John Blyth, WO Trevor
Safety & Engineering
achievements praised
DIRECTOR GENERAL Safety &
Engineering, Rear Admiral Ian Tibbitt,
has commended the hard work of his
staff in a ceremony at Abbey Wood.
The awards recognise achievements
beyond normal performance
expectations and which deserve senior
management recognition.
Randall, Sgt Jim Bennetts and Sgt
Debbie Pygott
Op Herrick Clasp
Cpl Garreth French
Individual awards
Andy Kingston, Land Systems Directorate
Beverley Lighten, Continuing Airworthiness Support
Division
David (Tug) Wilson, Test & Evaluation Support Division
Colin Smith, Test & Evaluation Support Division
Matthew Syndercombe, Test & Evaluation Support Division
Civilian delivery partners on
deployment, Op Herrick
Serco:
William Russell – Operational Service
Medal Afghanistan with Clasp
Jim Wilson – Operational Service Medal
Afghanistan with Clasp
Civilian delivery partners on
deployment, Op Telic
EADS
Steve Bibby, Alex Cousins, Chris
Gouldson, Wayne Grant, Matthew
Morgan and Andrew Williams
Electronic Data Systems
Nicholas Chin, Ian Dixon, Jonathan
said: “This is one of the delights of my year, a chance
to say thank you personally. Operationally, we are
still very busy in Iraq and Afghanistan and really
making a difference. Your contribution is vital and
all the awards are equally important. Recognition
is crucial and there’s certainly a lot to be proud of.”
Hammond-Bach, Robert Woodhouse,
William Scott and Adrian Tandy
Fujitsu
Steve Gilmour, Gary McIntosh and Mark
Rimmington
Serco
Cliff Aitkin, Del Anderson, Andy Antell,
Derek Ashley, Phillip Cork, John
Cromwell, Robert Crook, Paul Davies,
Gordon Donaldson, Scott Drysdale,
William Foster, Garry Greensmith,
Peter Godfrey, Neil Hardy, Brian
Hillson, David Hitchman, Dennis
Holloway, Graham Johnson, Andrew
Legg, John Moncrieff, John Murphy,
Sidney Parker, John Pollitt, John
Pritchard, Douglas Robb, Robert Smith,
Darren Stephen and Graeme Wearn
Steria
Jon Isles and Steve Whipp
Rear Admiral Ian Tibbitt presents his staff with their certifi cates
Flt Lt Mary James, Through Life Support Directorate
Teams
Through Life Project Management Gateway Team
Through Life Project Management Project & Programme
Management Skills Learning & Development Team
D STAN Standards Programme Management Team
Picture: Andrew Linnett
Picture: Andrew Linnett

MOD APPRENTICES gathered
at Main Building in early
December for the annual
Apprentice of the Year Awards
Ceremony, with this year’s
awards being presented by
Quentin Davies MP, Minister
for Defence Equipment and
Support.
“There are currently 325
apprentices undergoing
training in 19 establishments
around the country’, said Vice
Admiral Trevor Soar, Chief
of Materiel (Fleet). “Today’s
winners are evidence of the high
standard of training MOD has
to offer, and it is a pleasure to
welcome them here to recognise
their achievements before they
embark on an exciting and
rewarding career.”
“Apprenticeships are an
extremely important national
asset”, said Quentin Davies, in
his address to the assembled
apprentices, their families,
friends, training staff, senior
manages and other guests.
“They endow people with skills
for the rest of their lives, and I
want to thank you all for putting
in your time and effort.”
The MOD has a considerable
commitment invested in
apprentice training. Craft and
Technician Apprentices follow
a training programme which
fully meets the Advanced
Apprenticeship National
Framework requirements,
and provides a route into an
engineering career with the
MOD with an emphasis on
vocational training. Overall,
an apprenticeship completion
rate in excess of 80 per cent is
continually achieved, which is
support to ops 29
Top apprentices honoured at annual awards
Evidence of a high standard of training, the MOD apprentices at the ceremony with Quentin Davies, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, and Lady Cardwell
Results
Apprentice of the Year
Gold Medal Winner
David Whiting, DSDA Gosport
Silver Medal Winner
Tom Williams, DSG Donnington
Bronze Medal Winner
Thomas Barrett, DSG Donnington
Sir David Cardwell Memorial Prize
Joshua Samphier, DSDA Gosport
Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation Medal
Richard Bland, DSDA Gosport
Elvy and Coast Charity Award
Nicholas Kirkland, DSG Donnington
Tom Nevard Memorial Competition results
1st Phase Mechanical Section
Winner
Iain Nicolson, Vector Aerospace Almondbank
Runner Up
Leigh Citroen-Symes, DSG Bovington
2nd Phase Mechanical Section
Winner
Ryan Currie, Vector Aerospace Almondbank
Runner Up
Christopher Parkins, DSDA Gosport
high even in the competitive
engineering sector.
The 2008 Apprentice of
the Year, and Gold Medal
Winner was David Whiting
from the Defence Storage
and Distribution Agency
site at Gosport, Hampshire.
David has now completed his
apprenticeship and is now a
gun bay fitter on cannons,
refurbishing them for reissue
back to the fleet.
“It has been a brilliant
experience”, said David, “and
being Apprentice of the Year is
great. I wouldn’t be here now
though without the support
of my family, friends, fellow
apprentices and the training
staff. I am really grateful to all
of them.
“The success that is on show
here today shows people what
1st Phase Electronic Section
Winner
Laura Moore, DE&S Technician Apprenticeship
Team Abbey Wood
Runner Up
Andrew Ager, DSDA Gosport
2nd Phase Electronic Section
Winner
Ashley Tollerton, DE&S Technician Apprenticeship
Team Abbey Wood
Runner Up
Louis Woods, DSDA Gosport
we can do and how good we
can be. It gives us a future.”
Winner of the Sir David
Cardwell Memorial Prize,
which is sponsored by the
family of a former Chief of
Defence Procurement and
presented to the apprentice
who has had to overcome some
great or physical difficulty to
successfully complete their
apprenticeship, was presented
by Sir David’s widow Lady
Cardwell to Josh Samphier,
from DSDA Gosport.
“It was great to win it,” said
Josh. “It’s made everything
I’ve gone through worthwhile.
It’s been very much a learning
curve, but enjoyable and I’ve
learned a lot. I also think it’s
good that the Minister was
here to show support for the
apprenticeship scheme.”
1st Phase Mechanical Hand Skills and
General Fitting
Winner
Matthew Lyons, DE&S Technician Apprenticeship
Team Abbey Wood
Runner Up
William Thomas, DSG Donnington
2nd Phase Mechanical Hand Skills and
General Fitting
Winner
Russell Targett, DSG Donnington
Runner Up
Aiden Johnson, DSG Donnington
Engineering Project Management Team Event
DE&S Technician Apprenticeship Team
Abbey Wood:
Richard Brookes
John Gillard
Daniel Newman
Steven Robbins
Picture: Darren Setter

30 people news
NEWSREEL
Supply Chain
appointments
FROM 30
January
Paul Wilson
will head up
Supply Chain
Support.
AIR Cdre Dai
Williams will
take over
as ACOS
Support
at HQ Air Command
on 6 April. He will
undertake a short
study to assist with
the Future Joint
Supply Chain between
February and April.
BRIG David
Martin will
take over
as Director
Change
in DSDA in January
for one year before
assuming the DSCS
(DSCM) role on 2
March. He will cover
his existing role as
well as supporting
Chief Executive DSDA
from 30 January.
AIR Cdre Sue
Armitage-
Maddox will
take over
as Director
Defence Fuels Group
(DFG) wef 23 February,
but will not assume a
full-time role until 14
April.
Roger
Spencer
(right)
will act as
Director
DFG during
this period. Brig Ian
Abbott retires from the
Army.
AIR Cdre
Andy Gell
will become
Director
Logistic Commodities
on 16 February.
BRIG Ian
Copeland
will take
over from
Brig Jeff
Mason as Director
Defence Supply
Chain Operations and
Movements on
5 January. Brig Mason
joins the Royal College
of Defence Studies.
Naval Base nine celebrate
Masters degree success
The nine graduates mark their achievements with the two course designers, Neil Grant and Alex Duffy
NINE WORKERS from HM Naval
Base Clyde are celebrating after
graduating as Masters of Science
in Operations Management in
Engineering.
The group, consisting of
five MOD and four Babcock
Marine workers, spent the last
two years working towards the
qualification, studying in their
spare time as well as travelling
regularly to classes at Strathclyde
University.
“It was a lot of hard work, but
the sense of achievement at the
end has made it all worthwhile.”
said Graeme Falconer, one of the
graduates who works as Astute
Captains Steve Burchill and Peter
Ashford share the golfi ng challenge cup
Maritime teams take
up golf challenge
GOLFERS FROM the Fleet
Wide Equipment Directorate
have faced up to each other in a
friendly golf competition. Staff
from the Maritime Equipment
Transformation (MET) and
Maritime Equipment Systems
(MES) teams took part in the battle
for the prestigious “Ashford Cup”.
Five groups of four players
played 18 holes, with Alan
Walkington winning the longest
drive competition and Steve
Burchill winning nearest the pin.
The competition ended in a welldeserved
draw.
Project Manager at the base.
“By funding the course the
MOD and Babcock will ensure
they have the best trained
workforce, one that can deliver
the best quality work.”
The course was designed
by Babcock Marine’s Technical
Director, Neil Grant, along with
Alex Duffy, a visiting Professor
at Strathclyde University.
Covering subjects such as
logistics, project management,
risk management and process
improvement, the skills gained
from the training are ideally
suited to the work undertaken at
HM Naval Base Clyde.
THE ROAR of
a 6,000-strong
crowd and the
pride of being
part of a crew.
This was the
experience
of the Abbey
Wood Field
Gun crew who
had responded
to an invitation
from RAF
Cosford to put on a Field Gun
Competition during the 20th
Birmingham Tattoo. Field gun
embraces physical and mental
strength, precision teamwork
and the unswerving desire to
succeed and this was all on
display during the event.
Abbey Wood was asked at
short notice to provide a crew
for the event after Cosford’s
original opponents, the
Military Corrective Training
“This is one of the proudest
days in my career,” said Barrie
Duncan.
“I had to dig deep to hold
down a full-time job and study
too, but I’ve come out the other
end with a Masters degree and
that has broadened my whole
outlook and given me a greater
understanding of the role of
change and best practice here at
the base.”
The successful students were
Morag Cook, Mike Bramall, Jim
Cunningham, Grant Templeton,
Richard Hamilton, Barrie
Duncan, Joanna Slack, Graeme
Falconer and Stewart Millar.
Thousands see fi eld gun
run at Birmingham Tattoo
Strength, teamwork and an urge to succeed: the Abbey
Wood Field Gun crew put on a show of military might
Centre, Colchester, had to
pull out. Truly joint, the crew
and support staff contained
representatives from all three
services. Each race was keenly
fought with RAF Cosford
emerging as the victors.
The two-day event also
did much to enhance the
public image of the military,
demonstrating the prime
values of leadership, teamwork
and delivery under pressure.

Working a
different beat
DE&S experiences help Stephen Mains keep the peace on the streets
DISARMING A man brandishing
a knife, talking down someone
threatening to throw themselves off
a bridge and generally keeping the
peace in Yeovil are all in a day’s work
for Stephen Mains – when he’s not at
DE&S.
Stephen is a quality assurance
representative at AgustaWestland
doing risk-based surveillance on
aircraft such as the Apache and Merlin
helicopters as well as contractors in
Somerset and Dorset.
But at least one evening a week – a
shift can be up to nine hours at times –
Stephen pounds the beat, dealing with
the challenges a modern town centre
can throw at him, sometimes literally.
“Memorable moments over the
years have been the first arrest and
process of a very angry delivery driver
at a takeaway shop, confiscation and
disposal of large quantities of alcohol
from teenagers from the town centre,
dispersing youths from outside shops
during a period of high anti-social
crime and helping to talk down a man
about to commit suicide off a bridge,”
he said.
He was also presented with a
certificate from the chief constable
of Avon and Somerset for helping a
constable arrest a man with mental
Stephen is presented with a loyal service
certifi cate for his fi ve years on the beat
health problems who was brandishing
a kitchen knife in a street in Cheddar.
Stephen has now completed five
years in the job, with a certificate
of loyal service from the chief
superintendent of east Somerset. He
believes his job with DE&S and his
tasks on the streets of Yeovil need
similar qualities like leadership and
developing people.
“It includes working together,
authority, the ability to communicate,
thinking on your feet, discipline and
personal presentation,” he said. “And
mental and physical courage!”
Staff reach new heights of understanding
on air operations familiarisation visit
Air-to-air
refuelling,
from the DE&S
perspective
STAFF FROM the
Information Systems and
Services cluster have
been flying high to better
understand air operations.
The group of ten staff were
hosted on a familiarisation
visit by 101 Squadron at RAF
Brize Norton.
They were flown from the
base to the North Sea, where
they experienced Tornado
F3 and Typhoon air-to-air
people news
DE&S man helps UK to
rugby league victory
CHIEF PETTY Officer “Perry” Mason of the
Submarine Production IPT has played a key
role in helping the Combined Services Rugby
League team to world cup victory.
The team has become the first Great
Britain representative rugby league team to
win a world cup since 1972. CPO Mason is
Secretary of the Combined Services Rugby
League organisation and was instrumental in
organising the trip to the inaugural Defence
Forces World Cup in Sydney. The tournament
consisted of teams from five nations; Australia,
New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands
and Great Britain.
“This is not only a victory for this squad
but also for all those that have pulled on the
Combined Services Rugby League shirt,” he
said. “The players have done themselves, their
individual Service and Great Britain proud.”
The Great Britain team fi ghts its way to victory at the
Combined Services Rugby League World Cup
refuelling operations first
hand.
The experience allowed
the team to recognise the
excellent job the RAF does in
sustaining and operating the
VC10 aircraft.
Feedback from the
day was that this sort of
experience only comes “once
in a lifetime” and that they felt
extremely privileged to have
enjoyed such an opportunity.
HR Information Notes are for
YOU
They contain vital information for all staff in DE&S - they are the main vehicle
for announcing implementation of HR changes to line managers & individuals.
See latest releases this month: 50/2008 - The Flexible Resourcing (FR) of Military Personnel.
49/2008 - Chief of Defence Materiel Commendation Scheme - “arrangements for the fourth round open for
individual and team nominations.”
31

32 PACE
• • Performance, Agility, Confi dence, Effi ciency • • Performance, Agility, Confi dence, Effi ciency • • Performance, Agility, Confi dence, Effi ciency •
Positive progr
Rear Admiral Ian Tibbitt
sees that PACE is viewed
positively by the safety
and engineering staff
within DE&S.
Director General Safety and
Engineering (DG S&E) Rear
Admiral Ian Tibbitt heads up a
group of just under 1,000 people
within DE&S, and in taking forward PACE
in his area clarity is very important.
“I feel clarifying the requirements of
our customers is paramount to our success
in forming the safety and engineering
area into a part of the business which is
well-equipped to deal with the challenges
the future defence environment will
produce,” he says. “Once we’re clear
about what our customers want we can
improve the processes to service those
requirements, and our approach to PACE
has been built on this premise.”
The approach has certainly been
enthusiastic. All staff were encouraged
to formally look at ways the safety and
engineering aspects of DE&S’ work could
be improved, and around 120 ideas were
put forward. Thirty of these were selected
to be taken forward first under PACE,
with the other 90 to be followed up in due
course.
The Admiral feels the response by staff
has been positive because this is the first
opportunity for some time where people
at all levels in the organisation have been
given a real chance to influence the way
forward.
“I got the feeling when I took up this
post 18 months ago that in some ways
the S&E area felt a bit bruised. It
had evolved by pushing together
some fairly disparate groups and
had been subject to what it saw
as fairly arbitrary cuts. PACE is
giving us the chance to get on
the front foot again, and I think
it’s seen as a better way of going
about change. Generally, people
seem to view this as a good,
positive experience, and I see
this borne out by how active they were in
generating the initial ideas.”
One of the ideas currently being taken
forward relates to air systems, where
there are currently two policy-making
areas, at different locations. Under the
DE&S collocation initiative those two
Rear Admiral Ian Tibbitt, Director General Safety and Engineering, believes his area is becoming a much
more forward looking part of DE&S with the help of the PACE programme
elements will eventually be sited together,
but they are already working together to
see how they could restructure their part
of the organisation and change business
processes, while dovetailing into the
changes associated with collocation.
Another significant change concerns
the S&E assurance process, and after what
the Admiral terms ‘a difficult birth’ he
“It’s good to see that PACE is
making people come together
and work out solutions that
really benefi t the business.”
sees it as the beginning of a success story.
In the past the S&E assurance process had
been considered a significant blocker to
the process of getting business cases for
projects through the various Investment
Boards. The Admiral says: “We’ve
changed the process so that now project
teams don’t see us wielding a big red
stamp saying “NO”. They see us as part of
the organisation which is keen to assist
them in pulling good assurance evidence
together, so they can get their business
cases through the Investment Boards
more quickly.” He reports that this change
of approach was initially quite hard for
some to adopt, but the ‘lighter touch’ is
already accelerating progress on
projects and is welcomed by project
teams.
“It’s good to see that PACE
is making people come together
and work out solutions that really
benefit the business,” says the
Admiral. “It’s only by everyone
pulling together and coming up
with good ideas for change in their
own areas that we can achieve the
big objectives for DE&S, and I’m really
starting to see it happen in my own area,
which is very pleasing.”
In going through PACE one factor
always at the forefront of the Admiral’s
mind was relating the activity to
supporting operations.
Picture: Andy Glover
•

PACE
• Performance, Agility, Confi dence, Effi ciency • • Performance, Agility, Confi dence, Effi ciency • • Performance, Agility, Confi dence, Effi ciency • •
33
ess on PACE
Report: Caroline Wickham Smith
“What I hope we’ve done is that in
focusing on the requirements of our
customers in DE&S Clusters, we’re doing
what they want in a way that allows them
to provide a better service to their front
line customers on operations. It’s always
more difficult when you work in an
‘enabling area’ such as this, to get a clear
line of sight of how what you’re doing
at your desk actually relates to someone
in Iraq or Afghanistan. We’re trying to
make this connection more visible, and I
hope the work we’re doing under PACE
and other work we’re doing on staff
engagement, should help.”
For the future the Admiral sees what
he terms ‘the three S’s’: safety, systems
engineering and skills, as his three
priorities, and his area is already making
“It’s always diffi cult in an
‘enabling area’ to get a
clear line of sight of
how what you’re doing
relates to someone
in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
We’re trying
to make this
connection more
visible.”
good progress on them. On the safety side
there are big corporate improvements to
be implemented and recommendations
from the Safety Improvement Working
Group to be taken forward.
Systems engineering underpins
through-life capability and the MOD is
becoming much more focused on this
area, so there is also work underway
for more improvements here. And as a
Skills Director the Admiral is taking an
extremely close interest in upskilling his
1,000 staff.
“Having people in place with the
right skills is a key enabler for PACE. It’s
important for me to see that we have the
right professional profile and approach to
allow flexible resourcing to be adopted,
which is another PACE enabler.
“There are a lot of highly-skilled and
technically competent people in the
S&E area and I want to make the best
use of their skills for the benefit of the
individuals concerned and the business as
a whole.”
The Admiral is generally pleased with
the progress made so far under PACE,
and is looking forward to what 2009 and
beyond will bring.
“With the help of the PACE initiative
I feel S&E is becoming a much more
forward-looking part of DE&S than
previously, and is now well-placed to
support what DE&S wants to achieve as it
moves forward. I’m anticipating a good
year ahead, and consider we’re in an
excellent position to meet the challenges
we’ll encounter.”

34 puzzles
Sudoku
Fill in the grid so that every row, every
column, and every 3x3 box contains the
numbers 1 to 9. The solution to this puzzle will
be printed in the February issue of desider.
7 9
3
2 4 8
5 8 3 6
1
8 3 5
2 1
6 9 7 8 4
2 5 9 7
Last month's
solution
6 9 7 2 5 4 1 8 3
2 3 5 9 1 8 7 4 6
4 1 8 3 6 7 9 2 5
7 8 2 6 9 5 4 3 1
9 4 6 8 3 1 2 5 7
3 5 1 4 7 2 6 9 8
1 7 3 5 2 9 8 6 4
5 2 4 1 8 6 3 7 9
8 6 9 7 4 3 5 1 2
WORD SEARCH
A R I E D A M C A C R O J A M
V I Z Y S Q A O R A H O Y A S
A T K A M U N O U P K A L C T
L U N D Y I R K B R O T S I E
O A T E F S I P A I A O A S E
N I T I B I Z A Y A C F S R P
B N J P O W A A R C A B C O H
R I M A N E B T N R C D E C O
O D C X W L I R O T L T N A L
C R H O D E S E H H E M S L M
K A H S R N V S V R S A I D E
A S O P R F S C C T B L O E D
L K R A S Z U O N T O E N Y N
L H A R V Y L I C I S D O G S
Spot the difference
THE TOP photo has been taken from the Defence Image
Database. Six changes have been made to the bottom photo.
Can you spot them? You can access the database by visiting
http://www.defenceimagedatabase.mod.uk/fotoweb.
Last month's
solution
Hidden within this block of letters are the
names of 15 Mediterranean Islands. These
are listed below. The words can run forward,
backward, up, down and diagonally. Your
task is to find them all.
Capri
Corfu
Corsica
Crete
Cyprus
Ibiza
Kos
Lesbos
Majorca
Malta
Paxos
Rhodes
Sardinia
Sicily
Zante

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Holidays - UK
ISLE OF JURA, Inner Hebrides,
Scotland. For more info visit www.
juraholidaylet.co.uk or contact Kim
Henry on 94480 3353 or 01785 614701
SOUTH DEVON Salcombe. Familyfriendly
holiday let (sleeps up to 6). Avail
Sep - Dec 08. For more information
contact www.salcombe.com and search
for Aloft, Island Street or call David
Brown on 07703 436051. 10% discount
offered for DE&S staff. Just quote
‘RIFLES’ when booking
ST MICHAEL’S Mount, Cornwall.
Self-catering accommodation for up
to 4. In the heart of Marazion, Zennor
Cottage is a short walk to the beach and
causeway to St Michael’s Mount. www.
zennorcottage.co.uk or 01736 711452
ABBA SELF catering apartment in
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and single bedrooms. Sleeps 3-4 people.
Close to all amenities. Guests welcome
throughout the year. £350 per week.
Email bbraham@btinternet,com Tel:
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SELF-CATERING Cottage in Modbury,
South Devon. Duvets, pillows, bedlinen
and towels included. No smoking.
Call Toad Cottages on 01548 853089 or
www.toadhallcottages.co.uk
HOLIDAY HOME in St Ives, Cornwall.
Sleeps 4. Visit www.stivesholidayhome.
com or contact 01225 469384 or 07977
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Holidays - overseas
FUERTEVENTURA GOLF course.
Single storey villa, 1km from Caleta
de Fuste. 2 bedrooms, sleeps 4 Heated
communal pool nearby. 15 min from
airport. Prices from £250 per week. Call
Ann on 01225 885097 or Nicky on 01225
467426 or visit www.casamanzana.co.uk
NERJA, COSTA Del Sol. 2 bedroom
apartment, sleeps up to five. Fully
equipped. Garden with patio.
Swimming pool available. 1 May – 31
October. Beach and restaurants approx
10 minute walk. Prices from £200 per
week. Call Jenny on 0117 979 8142
FRANCE. FULLY equipped mobile
home on campsite in the Vendée region.
Direct access to safe, sandy beach.
2 heated pools plus amenities. Golf
complexes within easy distance. Sleeps
up to 6. Contact Mike Woolls on 01480
452451 x3874 or 01487 822518, or e-mail
mike.woolls@yahoo.co.uk
COSTA BLANCA. Detached villa in
Denia area. 3 bedrooms & private
pool. Quiet but not isolated.Panoramic
views from terrace. 10 min from
sandy beaches and 5 min from town.
Easy reach from Alicante or Valencia
airports. Visit: www.deniavillarental.
com or phone 07875 026927
SPANISH VILLA between Alicante
and Torrevieja. 3 double bedrooms.
Rooftop solarium with views and large
balcony overlooking pool. Comfortably
furnished and in a quiet area close to
beach. Call Jacky on 01225 813856 or
visit www.villa-lamarina.co.uk
PAPHOS, CYPRUS. 2 bedroom
apartment in the Limnaria area.
Lounge/diner with sat. TV, bathroom
and kitchen. Balcony overlooking
communal pool and gardens. Towels,
bed linen and air-con supplied free
of charge. Rates from £250 - £380 per
week. Contact Brian Smith on 07875
249787 or email fas_bgs@yahoo.ie
COSTA DEL Sol, Elvira. South-facing
air conditioned apartment near
Marbella. Panoramic views to the coast.
2 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,
living/dining area, fully fitted kitchen,
large terrace. Communal gardens, pool
and tennis courts. Call 07976 271747 or
visit elvicario.co.uk.
PORTUGAL, Silver Coast. 45mins from
Lisbon . Stunning, spacious interior
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SW aspect and great sea views. 100m
from fabulous beach in World class
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UNIQUE FRENCH Farmhouse in 6
acres of the Central Massif. Stunning
views to ski resort - distance 12 kms.
Sleeps up to 14 in 4 double bedrooms
and dormitory.Wood burning stove,
open plan dinning room, kitchen and
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appointed. Ideal for outdoor activities,
skiing, hill walking, canoeing etc.
Contact Stewart on 07960592490 or
email, daykes1@hotmail.com
POLARIS WORLD La Torre Golf
Resort, Costa Calida. 1st floor 2
bedroom apartment. Balcony overlooks
communal pool/gardens. A few mins
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airport (1 hr) and Murcia San Javier
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Call Jean on 01980 626067 or e mail
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FRANCE LIMOUSIN gite with
beautiful private pool. Fully equipped
4 bed renovated cottage/barn in
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GRAN CANARIA. 1 bed apartment
in Playa del Ingles. In quiet zone but
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07941 330642
SPANISH APARTMENT to let in
Villamartin, near Torrevieja. 2 bed,
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info at www.alldesignz.co.uk/spain.
htm or call Danny on 01225 468732
AEGEAN COAST. Altinkum, Turkey.
1 bedroom apartment with air con.
Fully furnished, suitable for 4 people.
Set in a new complex with 2 pools, 2
children’s pools, cafe/bar and games
room. Walking distance of 3 beaches,
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from £100. For more info visit www.
turkishtreats.com or call 01480 451257
OLU DENIZ/ Fethiye – Turkey. Villa in
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Overlooks Olympic size pool. 10 mins
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p/wk. Go to www.holidaylettings.co.uk
entering show home number 71171 on
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NEW BRUNSWICK, Canada. Peaceful
4 bedroom cottage, sleeps 6. Rural
area on 14 acres. Close to town and
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01962 761197 or visit www.chillouthols.
ca. 20% discount for MOD staff
CYPRUS PENTHOUSE stylishly
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Angela on 07544 700635 or visit www.
holidaylettings.co.uk (ref 66743). 20%
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PEYIA, CYPRUS. 2 bed penthouse
apartment. Views of the sea and hills.
Kitchen, air con, TV/DVD, parking and
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£200 per week (low) and £350 per week
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classifi eds
LUXURY FLORIDA villa. 4 beds,
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For more information visit www.
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For sale
FRAMING OF pictures, medals, sports
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FULLY FURNISHED/Equipped 1bed
apartment near golf course in
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pool. Near shops, bars, restaurants.
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Barbara on 0117 961 1172
MERCEDES C Class Estate in silver.
£3,950 ono. 2001, average mileage,
automatic, petrol, central locking,
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alarm, audio remote control, PAS,
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CALDICOT. THREE bedroom semi-det
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and Bristol. £168,000 Contact sarah.
poole495@mod.uk or 07779650898
To rent
FURNISHED DOUBLE room available
to rent in shared house in Staple Hill,
Bristol. £300pcm plus bills, sorry no
smokers or pets. Contact Laura Hedges
on 07921725581
COSY ONE double bedroom house,
furnished, double glazed, new
carpets. Parking, low maintenance
garden with patio, quiet location close
Parkway station. No smokers, DHSS,
or pets. Available early December.
£500pcm Contact Sarah 07821313504
sarahgoolden@yahoo.co.uk
ROOMS AVAILABLE, fully furnished
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bills. Mon-Fri Contractors acceptable.
Contact Julie on 07779 600 390
MODERN TWO bedroom furnished
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city centre. Suit professionals. No
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£600 per month. References/Deposit
required. Contact 01733 897291 or
07891 003887
35

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