Desidernov 2012 Issue 54
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desiderNov 2012 Issue 54 Carriers – a ‘Made in the UK’ success story Variety of front line rations expands to include kosher food See inside Viking On way to Watch out for Rapid work Scout proves reborn the front line Murphy’s Law on the Rock pulling power FEATURES 25 22 Vikings are on the march again The Royal Marines' fleet of amphibious all-terrain vehicles known as Vikings are to be regenerated under a new £37 million contract with BAE Systems with work already starting Picture: Babcock Picture: at the company's plant in Sweden 24 Between a Rock and a hard place A badly-weathered radome on top of the Rock of Gibraltar, which houses a radar crucial to air traffic control around the territory's airfield, has been repaired in rapid time with the help of a DE&S team 26 Merlin gets shipshape Another milestone has been successfully passed in the programme to upgrade the Royal Navy's Merlin helicopters to Mark 2 standard with trials taking place on HMS Illustrious 28 Services take the taste test cover image The best culinary talent in the services, using some of the 2012 best ingredients served up by DE&S, have been battling it out in Exercise Joint Caterer in front of appreciative audiences at Prime Minister David Cameron has praised UK engineering skills during a visit to Rosyth to catch up Sandown Park Racecourse on progress on HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first of two aircraft carriers being built for the Royal Navy NOVEMBER desider NEWS Assistant Head, Public Relations: Ralph Dunn - 9352 30257 or 0117 9130257 6 Chinook heading to the front [email protected] Operational training has begun in the US in the improved Mk4 Chinook in preparation for its first Deputy Editor: deployment to Afghanistan Steve Moore - 9352 30537 or 0117 9130537 [email protected] 7 Air capability refresh An almost complete refresh of UK Forces' air Distribution Manager: capability is the challenge facing the new DE&S Dick Naughton - 9352 34342 or 0117 9134342 Chief of Materiel (Air) [email protected] 8 Second UK Lightning II aircraft delivered Advertising: The second F-35 Lightning II short take-off, vertical Anthon Linton – Ten Alps Publishing, 1 New Oxford landing fighter has been delivered into UK hands at Street, High Holborn, London WC1A 1NU Eglin Air Force Base in the United States Tel: +44 (0)20 7657 1819. Fax: +44 (0)207 7379 7155 10 Private sector disciplines ‘essential’ [email protected] The new Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology has backed bringing private sector productivity to public procurement Printing: 12 More Phalanx to defend ships The Royal Navy is to receive a delivery of more Phalanx, the latest version of the highly advanced radar-controlled gun system desider is distributed free of charge to DE&S employees and the equipment capability sponsor. Copies can also Scout shows its pulling power be made available to readers outside the MOD, including 16 those in the defence industries. While the editor takes A key test of the Scout Specialist Vehicle project to care to ensure all material produced is accurate, no deliver medium weight armoured vehicles to the liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. Views Army is under way in Austria expressed in desider, and the products and services advertised, are not necessarily endorsed by DE&S or the 18 A key role in defence transformation MOD. All content for advertorials must be cleared by the Director Customer Design - to which Major relevant MOD project team before publication. General Peter Fox has been appointed - is a new role which will play an important part in defence © Crown Copyright transformation This magazine is produced on Cocoon 21 Nimrod R1 goes on show Silk 90gsm which contains 50 per The popular Nimrod aircraft will live on as a visitor cent recycled and de-inked pulp from attraction after XV249 was handed over to the RAF post consumer waste and Forest Museum at Cosford with the help of DE&S Stewardship Council certified material from well-managed forests. Insider Bernard Gray Chief of Defence Materiel ‘I was pleased to note that DE&S project teams have achieved significant milestones’ Hats off to Claire as The Prime Minister gave achieved an initial in-service a clear and powerful date. carrier’s first crew endorsement of the Queen The Materiel Strategy Elizabeth class aircraft continues to make progress LEADING Hand Claire Butler, 29, is the first crew member to joinH MS Queen carrier programme during across a very broad front. Elizabeth. his recent visit to Scotland. Ongoing activities were Claire was presented with the first He said the first of class, the reflected by Minister for HMS Queen Elizabeth cap tally (hat Queen Elizabeth, which is Defence Equipment Support band) by Rear Admiral Steve Brunton, in build at Rosyth, was the and Technology Philip Dunne DE&S’ Director Ship Acquisition (above), most impressive thing he had in his speech to industrialists at the head of the ship assembly dock in Babcock’s Rosyth facility on 2nd October. seen since he became Prime last month. The Minister Claire is one of eight Royal Navy Minister. explained that MOD has been personnel selected as the first crew desider has charted the engaging with industry to members to join the ship during the steady progress of the Queen develop options and to begin assembly process. Elizabeth from its inception, to develop a commercial Claire said: “Becoming the first but what was once a concept strategy. He went on to say member of the Royal Navy to wear this cap is now visibly taking shape as that MOD would ensure tally is a fantastic honour. We are all well trained and as a team will make sure this reality. Within the next few industry was kept properly warship becomes operational and helps to weeks we expect delivery of informed and its concerns safeguard the world’s oceans.” the last of the major lower taken into account. hull units to the assembly A second round of “soft yard at Rosyth and by the market testing”, during which end of next year we expect we talk to industry about how the ship to be structurally they could work with us in the complete. It is also pleasing future, is under way to feed to see continued progress into our developing thinking on the closely-related F35 on the best management Lightning II programme, with structure for DE&S. the second of our operational In the meantime the test and evaluation aircraft Materiel Strategy team successfully delivered to its is working closely with operating base in the US. the Centre to confirm the In other areas too, I was current assessment that pleased to note that DE&S a Government Owned project teams have achieved Contractor Operated (GOCO) Duke tour delights staff significant milestones. solution is the stronger of two The Julius programme to options under consideration – THE DUKE of Edinburgh, above, became the second Royal visitor in a week to view upgrade Chinook helicopter the other being an Executive progress on HMS Queen Elizabeth. cockpits to the latest Non-Departmental Public The Duke’s visit to Rosyth came just standards has achieved its Body. The Value For Money days after The Princess Royal toured the initial operating capability benchmark case, which ship and met the workforce. and aircrew are now under underpins this work, is Programme Director Ian Booth said: training. Head Mounted Night nearing completion as other “As Lord High Admiral of the Royal Vision System, an important work continues to develop the Navy and someone who has seen active service the Duke of Edinburgh wanted programme for the infantry, scope of the DE&S-Plus public to learn about how these ships are being and which is currently in sector comparator against constructed and what benefits they will use in Afghanistan, achieved which the assessment will be bring to the Royal Navy. its in service date ahead of made. As always, as decisions “Everyone who is part of the Aircraft schedule and the Royal Navy’s are reached, I will make Carrier Alliance is proud of the work we latest radar programme, the every effort to keep you fully have accomplished on this programme, informed. and it was an honour to be able to Medium Range Radar, has also demonstrate our progress.” NEWS 5 Lower Block 04, the biggest hull section of HMS Queen Elizabeth, is loaded onto the AMT Trader barge at Govan. The 11,300 tonne block was inched onto the barge in preparation for the 600-mile journey to Rosyth set to begin early this month Now biggest Carriers are a ‘Made in piece is on the move WORKERS at BAE the UK’ success story Systems have moved the biggest section of HMS Queen Elizabeth out of the company’s shipbuilding hall at Govan in Glasgow for the first time. PrimE MinistER David Prime Minister sees technical and A team of 40 moved the Cameron has praised UK 11,300 tonne aft section, engineering skills on a visit to engineering skills of carrier team known as Lower Block Rosyth to see progress on HMS 04, across the specially Queen Elizabeth. reinforced tarmac at the yard The 15th October visit saw incredible feat of engineering.” Jim Bennett, power and using 450 remote controlled transporters. him briefed on carrier strike Mr Cameron added: “We are a propulsion director of the Angus Holt, Queen capability and the work of the very peaceful country but I think Aircraft Carrier Alliance, Elizabeth class Block vast range of people involved in it is important that we always said: “The project team has Delivery Director at BAE one of the biggest engineering demonstrate we are prepared pulled together to meet critical Systems, said: “This marks projects in the country.