www.des.mod.uk Issue 140 April 2020 the magazine for defence equipment desider and support Our aircraft supporting the fight against COVID-19 AWARD® World leading software and solutions for complex procurements. Delivering unrivalled expertise, advice and knowledge to the MOD for over 20 years. Want to find out more? Speak to the team: [email protected] Foreworde are in the midst of Admiral Nick Hine and Deputy the biggest challenge Chief of the Defence Staff Wthis country has faced (DCDS), Air Marshal Richard in decades. It is a global crisis Knighton. It was fascinating which affects us right into our to hear their insights on the homes, where most of you will complex strategic landscape have been working for a couple and their views on the future of of weeks now. how we might operate and fight "We will emerge from this crisis more The first priority for all of us effectively in the modern world. is to protect ourselves, our The first Ministerial group resilient and determined than ever" families and the rest of society on Equipment and Capability by following government COVID Cooperation (MECC) held 19 guidelines. However, the since December 2018 took need to defend the nation does place in March and was not pause and neither does chaired by Germany’s State our duty to continue to play Secretary Benedikt Zimmer our part. This will require us all and our Minister for Defence to adapt and work out how to Procurement, Jeremy Quin. strike a balance. Many will be Invaluable discussions able to work from home, but covered a host of key topics many involved in the physical and programmes including the task of logistics delivery, or who Integrated Review, Industrial have responsibilities requiring Strategy, UK-Germany Defence a physical presence on site for Roadmap, plus a wide range of business or operational reasons programme issues. It was my cannot. absolute pleasure to meet with This is a rapidly changing the group and talk with pride landscape and I am proud that about the projects we deliver despite difficult professional and the cost-effective support and domestic circumstances, we provide. our people have already shown In terms of recent milestones, the determination, agility and Sea Venom has achieved ability to get on with the job and successful missile-firing trials support each other. off the South coast of France We are now on an operational – a major step towards the footing and accepting tasks introduction into service of the from across government and weapon system. I must also the NHS to support the national highlight the hard work from By Sir Simon Bollom, CEO effort. The challenge is ramping a number of people that has up and will require careful resulted in those with disabilities prioritisation of our day-to-day and injured ex-military personnel work. being given the chance to fly As we continue to support decommissioned RAF Vigilant defence-critical outputs, we T1 gliders. are working hard with our Finally, I’d like to pay tribute military customers and industry to Director of Strategy and partners to focus on some of Change, Barry Burton, who the practical challenges we have retired at the end of March. to overcome. I am personally Barry has been a superb continuing to work closely with servant to both the MOD and MOD at the most senior level DE&S, making a tremendous to determine those priorities contribution to Defence over and how they flow down to us many years. in terms of supporting defence I am acutely aware that this needs in the short-term. will be an anxious time for many Before this pandemic arose, of you. Stay safe and look after we enjoyed a busy month at yourselves, loved ones and your DE&S, with visits to Abbey community. We will emerge from Wood from Chief of the Defence this crisis more resilient and Staff (CDS), General Sir Nick determined than ever. Carter, 2nd Sea Lord (2SL) Vice 3 desider April 2020 Contents Contents www.gov.uk/government/publications/desider-2020 Twitter: @DefenceES On the cover Facebook: @DefenceES Clockwise from top left: RAF Atlas A400M, Wildcat helicopter HMA Mk2, two RAF Benson Puma 2 LinkedIn: Defence Equipment & Support helicopters and Chinook HC4 helicopter YouTube: DE&S Photos by Cpl Tim Laurence RAF, Si Ethell, Sgt Mitch Moore RAF and Amy Lupton Editor: Tom Morris - 0117 9137888 [email protected] Contributors: Louisa Keefe, Louise Allford, Lowri Jones, Daniel Evans, Ash Pitman, Hannah Swingler and Paul McLennan Photography and Design: Katherine Williams, Jack Eckersley, Charlie Perham, Beth Squire, Mark Hawke and Andrew Linnett Distribution Manager: Dick Naughton - 0117 9134342 [email protected] Advertising Manager: Edwin Rodrigues [email protected] +44 (0) 20 3411 1008 Printing desider is distributed free to DE&S employees and the equipment capability organisations. Copies may be sent to readers outside MOD, including in the defence industries and is published on the world wide web via GOV.UK and www.des.mod.uk. While the editor takes care to ensure all material produced is accurate, no liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. Views expressed in desider, and products and services advertised, are not necessarily endorsed by DE&S or the MOD. All editorial submissions must be cleared by the relevant MOD authorities. © Crown Copyright Cover story 7DE&S kit playing essential role in COVID-19 response This magazine is printed on Novatech Matt FS 100gsm DE&S is proud to procure and support the very best which is Forest Stewardship Council certified material equipment possible for the brave men and women in from well-managed forests and elemental chlorine free. the armed forces 4 desider April 2020 Contents 6Senior Leader Comment 8Sea Venom 12Barry Burton Chris Bushell, Chief of Firing trials a success Reflects on his rich and Materiel (Land) varied career 14FC Bisa 16First Person 18Mode 5 22MAMBA Upgrade for digital sensor- Engineering Services team Innovative friend or foe Contract awarded for life- to-shooter system leader, Phil Savvides technology saving radar system 23Minesweeper trials 24Determined to work at 28International Women’s Day Autonomous system DE&S after experiencing Women’s Network annual conference hosts inspiring success in Canada roadside accident speakers and workshops 5 desider April 2020 Senior Leader Comment Chris Bushell, Chief of Materiel (Land), talks to Desider about his role, his first few months in post and his reflections on how DE&S compares to industry t’s been 10 years since I last across my operating centres and previous experience to influence worked at DE&S. Back then, I functional areas, walking the floor our practices to benefit the Land was an Air Commodore in the plates and visiting regional sites, I believe there domain and DE&S as a whole. IRoyal Air Force (RAF) deployed where almost 1,000 of my 4,000 are several One is bringing a more as the Typhoon integrated project staff are based. collaborative approach to our team leader. But, in December Since then, I’ve been regularly ways I can use programmes. At Leonardo, I was 2019, I returned as Chief of visiting industry partners. For my previous the senior responsible officer Materiel (Land). example, I’ve been to Merthyr for Team Tempest, a highly- Over the last decade, I have Tydfil for Ajax, Ampthill to experience collaborative programme between completed my final RAF tour see Warrior and Telford with to influence industry and RAF Air Command supporting the export of Typhoon Boxer and Challenger – and will where each was an equal partner. to Oman. After leaving the continue to do so. our practices It resulted in a win-win situation service I moved into industry From my experience, there are to benefit the for all concerned and is an for seven years, working at a lot of similarities between DE&S approach I’d like to encourage. Leonardo – a company many of and industry, particularly in areas Land domain I also have a lot of international you will be familiar with and is like prioritisation of resources and DE&S as experience. When I look at predominantly responsible for and delivery of programmes. a whole our programmes within the helicopters and electronics. Of course, there are also some domain, there are some with In all honesty, I hadn’t planned differences. Industry by design international elements but they’re on returning to DE&S, but the is more agile, it’s able to move relatively minor. That’s another challenge of being CoM (Land) resources around quicker and can area I’m looking to capitalise on enticed me back. It is not a role recruit new staff at a faster pace. opportunities. you’d naturally expect me to take, We’re rightly moving in that Of course, my top priority but I believe my mix of military direction although we tend to put will always be delivering and industry background will the brakes on more heavily, simply our equipment and support help me add significant value. So because we’re a public body programmes on time and budget, far, I have found learning about spending taxpayer’s money. But in a safe manner. It’s why we’re the Army very enjoyable and coming back into DE&S, I have here and it’s the challenge I look appreciate how welcoming the seen a sharp improvement from forward to facing most as CoM senior commanders have been. before in the capacity and quality (Land). During my first few weeks of our project management, I have intentionally focused project controls and commercial on looking inwards at the activity.