Foxhound Makes Its Debut in Afghanistan
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July 2012 Issue 50 desthe magazine for defenceider equipment and support Foxhound makes its debut in Afghanistan DVD2012 - See inside Logistics is Carrier hull Safety New reactor Hercules support on the way up takes shape comes first cores deal agreed LTPA T&E begins here Are we on your radar for T&E? The Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA) is an innovative collaborative approach to provide Test and Evaluation, Training and support services to the MOD. Air Land The LTPA is a framework agreement under which the majority of your Sea fixed costs associated with Test and Evaluation are centrally funded. If your project has a T&E requirement call now, or visit the website to find out if the costs of your trial are covered under the LTPA. 0800 015 0594 www.LTPA.co.uk www.LTPA.co.uk is a QinetiQ registered domain name. FEATURES 17 22 £5.5bn in the pipeline for Armoured Vehicles Peter Luff, Minister for Defence, Equipment, Support and Technology confirmed the £5.5bn Armoured Vehicle pipeline LTPA at this year's DVD event at Millbrook, Bedfordshire. Linnett Andrew T&E begins here 24 Delivery of eighth C-17 records a first for DE&S Picture: DE&S' Command Support and C-17 team broke all records when it delivered the RAF's eight C-17 to the RAF in just 70 days. The team explains how it was done. 26 New deal for Hercules Support for the RAF's fleet of Hercules transport aircraft has been assured under a £350 million extension to the existing Are we on your Hercules Integrated Operational Support contract. 28 £1 billion investment in nuclear reactor cores The MOD has awarded Rolls Royce a £1.1 billion contract to produce new reactor cores for the Royal Navy's nuclear submarines and upgrade the UK's core production plant. cover image radar for T&E? The agile and versatile light protected patrol vehicle 2012 Foxhound has been undergoing final hot weather testing 30 The only way is up for logistics information in Afghanistan before operational deployment later JULY A new logistics information programme is helping drive down this year. Foxhound is at the cutting edge of vehicle support costs and improve availability of essential information. technology and provides unprecedented levels of blast The Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA) protection for its size and weight. is an innovative collaborative approach to provide Test and Evaluation, Training NEWS Air desider and support services to the MOD. Assistant Head, Public Relations: Ralph Dunn - 9352 30257 or 0117 9130257 4 First Foxhounds arrive in Afghanistan Land [email protected] Foxhound is undergoing final hot weather testing The LTPA is a framework agreement in Afghanistan before operational deployment. Deputy Editor: under which the majority of your Steve Moore - 9352 30537 or 0117 9130537 6 Industry wants to help us Sea [email protected] Soft market testing of options for the future fixed costs associated with Test and management of DE&S has produced genuine and Distribution Manager: significant interest from industry, CDM has told staff. Evaluation are centrally funded. Dick Naughton - 9352 34342 or 0117 9134342 [email protected] 8 Hard-headed finance vision shared The MOD's Director General Finance, Jon Advertising: Thompson has shared his vision of future finance If your project has a T&E Anthon Linton – Ten Alps Publishing, 1 New Oxford with DE&S staff at Abbey Wood. Street, High Holborn, London WC1A 1NU requirement call now, or visit the Tel: +44 (0)20 7657 1819. 13 Aircraft gear up for new military role Fax: +44 (0)207 7379 7155 Two BAE 146-200QC aircraft, purchased by the MOD, website to find out if the costs of [email protected] have arrived at Hawker Beechcraft for conversion your trial are covered under the LTPA. from civilian to military specification. Printing: 14 Trials ramp up on Scout Specialist Vehicle The Scout Specialist Vehicle programme has taken a major step forward with the roll out of the programme's first Mobile Test Rig. desider is distributed free of charge to DE&S employees 17 Review into helicopters complete and the equipment capability sponsor. Copies can also A review into the rotary wing requirement for the be made available to readers outside the MOD, including those in the defence industries. While the editor takes land, sea and air environments has been completed care to ensure all material produced is accurate, no with no major deviations from current plans. liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. Views expressed in desider, and the products and services 32 Safety comes first advertised, are not necessarily endorsed by DE&S or the On taking up position as Chair of the DE&S Safety MOD. All content for advertorials must be cleared by the Board, Vice Admiral Andrew Mathews outlines his relevant MOD project team before publication. approach to safety. © Crown Copyright 37 Modified 'garage' gets the thumbs up A modification of an existing vehicle maintenance This magazine is produced on Cocoon capability has been given the thumbs up in 0800 015 0594 Silk 90gsm which contains 50 per Afghanistan by Army Vehicle Mechanics. cent recycled and de-inked pulp from post consumer waste and Forest Stewardship Council certified material www.LTPA.co.uk from well-managed forests. www.LTPA.co.uk is a QinetiQ registered domain name. Insider Bernard Gray Chief of Defence First Foxhounds arrive in Afghanistan Materiel The 'agile and versatile' 'Working better Foxhound is undergoing together will make us final hot weather testing stronger and improve in Afghanistan before our ability to deliver operational deployment the equipment the later this year Armed Forces need' THE FIRST of the British Army's new Foxhound vehicles have arrived in Afghanistan. was very pleased to speak Defence Vision, recently launched Foxhound is at the cutting edge of protected patrol vehicle technology and again to several hundred staff by Secretary of State Philip provides unprecedented levels of blast I at town hall events at Abbey Hammond. protection for its size and weight. Wood last month and give those I was very pleased to see that After being flown out from RAF Brize of you able to attend an update MOD Director General Finance Norton in a C-17 aircraft, these patrol on continuing progress on The Jon Thompson spoke recently at vehicles are currently undergoing final Materiel Strategy. an additional town hall session testing in the dusty and hot conditions As I explained during the at Abbey Wood on the wider of the Helmand desert before being briefings, Ministers will make Transformation agenda and how deployed on operations later in the year. a decision on the way ahead in its many elements fit together to Foxhound has been specifically due course. But one of the most deliver the Defence Vision. designed and built in Britain to protect against the threats troops face in important underlying features Another underlying factor Afghanistan. However, this is an agile of the Materiel Strategy as it has in The Materiel Strategy is the and versatile vehicle that will be a been developing is the ever- importance of the relationship mainstay in the Army for years to come. sharper focus it has thrown on the between DE&S and industry. Being lighter and smaller than other importance of the relationships We know that we lack some of protected vehicles such as Mastiff and between all of us in DE&S and the skills we need to work more Ridgback, Foxhound brings a whole our partners in the MOD – Head effectively with our industrial new capability to the Army and is ideal Office, the Military Capability partners. Independent, structured for soldiers operating in mentoring and Customer and the Front Line analysis shows a clear gap partnering roles as it makes it easier for Commands. between where we are now and them to engage with Afghan National Security Forces and the local Afghan During the town hall the best in class capabilities that population. events I explained that as the we need to work towards if we are General Dynamics Land Systems: professionalism and capabilities to deliver the improvements in Force Protection Europe (GDLS:FPE), of DE&S improve as it develops to performance that will be required who produce Foxhound, have worked meet the challenges of the future, of us. with engineers from the World Rally the strengths of our customers Increasing the skills of existing Championship, McLaren F1, Ricardo and will need to grow in step with us. staff will be part of the solution, BMW to incorporate Formula One racing DE&S, while a large and but we also need an infusion of technology so it has a top speed of 70mph diverse organisation in its own fresh talent and we need to have (113km/h), but can still protect against right, is part of a much wider the freedom and flexibility to improvised explosive devices thanks to its v-shaped hull. system whose activities flow right retain our best people. A £90m contract for an additional across the MOD. The ongoing As I’ve said to you before, 100 Foxhounds has also been signed. It work of the Materiel Strategy people in DE&S have fewer means a total of 300 vehicles will now team has demonstrated very freedoms to do the jobs they be delivered to the Army as part of a clearly that working better need to do compared with their deal with GDLS:FPE worth £270m that is together will make us stronger, counterparts in industry. sustaining around 750 highly-skilled jobs help us work to avoid the delays This debate about business across the UK.