Mar 2015 Issue 82 desthe magazine for defenceider equipment and support Bristol fashion RAF honours city by naming first A400M Atlas Type 26 passes F-35 is a Scout earns Terrier’s in Tanker takes another stage ‘pilot’s dream’ top spot business to the water 2 FRONTISPIECE Winter wonderland A COMMANDO takes aim during a troop attack demonstration in Norway. Royal Marines from M Company, 42 Commando, based at Bickley, Whisky Company, 45 Commando, from Arbroath in Scotland, and colleagues from the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron and 30 Commando, based at Stonehouse Barracks, all part of 3 Commando Brigade, have spent much of the last month on winter training in Scandinavia. FEATURES 5 27 In pursuit of excellence Teams at the forefront of procuring world class equipment and support have been recognised at the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology acquisition awards Picture: Andrew Linnett Andrew Picture: 32 Pride of Bristol The RAF has honoured the contribution of the city of Bristol, including DE&S and industry, by naming its first A400M Atlas transport aircraft after the west country industrial hub in a ceremony at Airbus in the city 34 Warrior and Scout – progress in tandem Two of DE&S' biggest land equipment programmes are heading towards a crucial hurdle. Progress is good but there is much work still to do, says the head of DE&S' Armoured Vehicle Programmes 36 Kit moves on cover image DE&S has signed a contract for Virtus, a new personal 2015 protection and load carriage system, providing significantly The UK’s first A400M has been named City of Bristol by improved capability for UK soldiers the RAF in a rare honour to highlight the important role industry in the city has played in delivery of the aircraft. Businesses involved include Airbus, Rolls-Royce, GKN MARCH Aerospace and Atkins desider NEWS www.gov.uk/government/publications/desider Assistant Head, Corporate Comms: Ralph Dunn - 9352 30257 or 0117 9130257 5 Just the job! [email protected] The commanding officer of the first RAF A400M squadron praises the contributions of DE&S and industry as the aircraft continues to impress Editor: Steve Moore - 9352 30537 or 0117 9130537 [email protected] 8 PM kicks off latest stage of Type 26 Investment in the next generation of Royal Navy frigates - the Type 26 Global Combat Ship - has Distribution Manager: Dick Naughton - 9352 34342 or 0117 9134342 been unveiled by the Prime Minister DES [email protected] 9 Leidos given logistics nod Advertising: Leidos has been named preferred bidder for the Logistic Commodities and Services (Transformation) Richard Stillman – Ten Alps Media, 1 New Oxford Street, High Holborn, London SC1A 1NU programme Tel: +44 (0)20 7657 1837 Fax: +44 (0)20 7379 7155 10 RAF begins F-35 operational testing [email protected] The RAF's 17 Squadron has begun operational testing of the UK's first F-35B Lightning II aircraft in Printing: the United States 12 Typhoon set to up its game again Integration of the Brimstone 2 missile onto Typhoon desider is distributed free to DE&S employees and the is part of a new contract to further enhance the fast equipment capability organisations. Copies may be jet's capability sent to readers outside MOD, including in the defence industries. While the editor takes care to ensure all 15 Work starts on new comms kit material produced is accurate, no liability can be Options for the future of vital tactical accepted for errors or omissions. Views expressed in communications equipment are to be explored in a desider, and products and services advertised, are not new £11 million contract necessarily endorsed by DE&S or the MOD. All editorial submissions must be cleared by the relevant MOD 17 Tidespring hits the water authorities with content for advertorials to be cleared by Tidespring, the first of the new support tankers for the relevant MOD project team before publication. the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, has completed her first © Crown Copyright float out in South Korea This magazine is produced on Cocoon Silk 18 Chinook boost 90gsm which contains 50 per cent recycled DE&S has signed an amendment to in-service and de-inked pulp from post consumer support for Chinook helicopters for the next five waste and Forest Stewardship Council years certified material from well-managed forests. Insider Bernard Gray Chief of Defence Materiel ‘It is a pleasure and a privilege to work with a great group of people’ Home from home: the RAF's first A400M transport aircraft makes a spectacular You will all be aware that right decisions on those sight as it passes over I have come to the end of programmes should be. the Second Severn Crossing between a four-year contract as At the same time, we England and Wales Chief of Defence Materiel will continue to deliver the Picture: Cpl Paul and leader of Defence Defence Equipment Plan Oldfield, RAF Equipment and Support. and push ahead with the You will also know that implementation of the DE&S in an announcement last transformation. month the Secretary of We already have a State for Defence has asked number of successes to me to stay on and lead celebrate. I’m particularly DE&S for another year. proud of the work we’ve We have a lot to deliver done on the Marshall project in 2015 and I am delighted where we worked with our to have the opportunity to suppliers to deliver the lead DE&S and the great programme 12 months early team of professionals who and the Scout programme THE MAN charged with bringing work within it through the where robust negotiations A400M Atlas into service with the RAF challenges ahead. with our industry partners has spoken of his pride at re-forming the first dedicated front line squadron to fly This will be a pivotal delivered better value for the aircraft. year for DE&S. We have a our customers and the tax Wg Cdr Simon Boyle leads 70 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton, the new General Election and the payer. home of the A400M. Strategic Defence Review to These are great “It is a huge privilege to be part of the come. examples of how we are team charged with bringing Atlas into service with the RAF and standing 70 None of us has any real improving the way we do Squadron back up as the first dedicated idea what is going to happen things in DE&S. front-line squadron to operate the aircraft – a job that is as exciting as it is in May but I want to make As I have said, it is a challenging,” he said. sure the voice of DE&S is pleasure and a privilege to “To have the opportunity to work greatly heard around the work with a great group of with colleagues at RAF Brize Norton, DE&S, from industry and European issues which are important people and I value all that partner nations as we build the capability to our programmes. you do. Let’s work together is immensely rewarding. “There is no doubt that, while the We will have to give to make 2015 another hardware in the shape of the cutting- clear advice on what the successful year for DE&S. edge platform that is Atlas is central to all that we do, the success of the programme rests to a great degree on the partnerships between all those involved as we work together to unlock the aircraft’s potential.” Wg Cdr Boyle said the various desider in April and May capability milestones over the next few years would take the aircraft from a Rules surrounding Government communications and the impartiality of civil servants strategic air transport aircraft to a state- in the run-up to a General Election mean desider will not be publishing in April. The magazine will be back in May with a joint April/May edition published immediately after of-the-art tactical airlifter. Atlas would the 7th May election. therefore become the cornerstone of a modern and highly capable air mobility fleet at RAF Brize Norton. NEWS 5 While the RAF honours the first of its new A400M Just Atlas transport aircraft by naming it after the city where much of its technology was conceived the and its hardware manufactured, the head of the first squadron to operate it delivers his verdict job! on the quality of the aircraft and the work of the partnerships that have made it happen “It has the speed, range and flexibility to respond to our Government’s requirements from high-end tactical operations to humanitarian assistance missions, or in support of the British Army. We continue to develop the airborne delivery capabilities that sit at the centre of the Air Assault Task Force concept,” he said. “With the prospect of further deliveries throughout 2015, the portents are very good. From a pilot’s perspective I am delighted to report that cockpit is a superb environment to work in and the aircraft is an absolute pleasure to fly." Looking to the future Wg Cdr Boyle added there was still work to be done. “We must work with Airbus Defence and Space to continue to develop the cargo hold in a similar vein,” he said. “There is much work to be done by both industry and the RAF at Brize Norton and beyond to ensure that the Pride of Abbey Wood, pride of Bristol aircraft delivers on its great promise. “But we have a dedicated and DE&S’ A400M team has spoken of the “I am delighted that in naming our first enthusiastic team of aircrew, engineers excellent support from industry in Bristol A400M Atlas ‘City of Bristol’ we have been (both military and civilian) and support which has inspired the naming of the first able to recognise both Bristol industry and staff with considerable experience transport aircraft.