Issue 9 Jan 2009.indd - Ministry of Defence

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being withdrawn to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