Issue 9 Jan 2009.indd - Ministry of Defence

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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 The UK’s leading specialist in military vehicle test and development Millbrook is Europe’s most experienced provider of independent test and development expertise for military vehicles. Home of the UK’s Battlefield Mission, we have the capability to evaluate and develop vehicles for almost any usage conditions worldwide, to test reliability, refinement, safety, human factors and emissions and to homologate to any world standard. For further information: +44 (0)1525 408476 militaryvehicles@millbrook.co.uk www.millbrook.co.uk
Page 1 and 2: ASTOR into service Bulldog is top d
Page 3 and 4: 14 Inside cover image Every second
Page 5 and 6: Building continues as carriers’ i
Page 7 and 8: New batch on the way as boats prove
Page 9 and 10: AN UPDATED command system has been
Page 11 and 12: Bulldog is top dog! DE&S programme
Page 13 and 14: can’t see this changing in the fu
Page 15 and 16: feature • • To equip and suppor
Page 21: ture must be too Do we have a just
Page 25 and 26: or RAF painting Surface Finishing S
Page 27 and 28: Ships cluster successes marked Reco
Page 29 and 30: MOD APPRENTICES gathered at Main Bu
Page 31 and 32: Working a different beat DE&S exper
Page 33 and 34: PACE • Performance, Agility, Conf
Page 35 and 36: PROMOTE YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE IN

Issue 9 Jan 2009.indd - Ministry of Defence

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