Mar 11 Issue 34 desthe magazine for defenceider equipment and support Typhoon clocks up the hours Lord Levene delivers his first MOD reform See inside Specs Sentinel Corsham’s Testing, Finding appeal shines global reach testing the range Picture: Geoff Lee NEWS 32 4 Prime Minister backs C-17 capability Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed the seventh C-17 transport aircraft to the RAF during his visit to RAF Brize Norton. 5 Future structure still uncertain In his latest town hall session with staff Bernard Gray says he believes DE&S is a fundamental part of what the MOD does. 8 Carriers show joined-up thinking Two giant sections of the first of the Queen Elizabeth 2011 class aircraft carriers have been moved together for the first time at Govan. mar 10 Range-finders ahead of the game The final batch of surveillance and range finder equipment has been delivered two months ahead of schedule. 11 Sharpening the shooters British troops will be able to improve their shooting skills using the latest generation of live fire training equipment. 12 Update to medical administration New software is all set to improve front line records of patients using the medical centre at Camp cover image Bastion. 17 More success on the ammunition front Typhoon, pictured above on take off at RAF Leuchars, has A new factory producing ammunition for the front now passed the significant milestone of 100,000 flying hours line is opening, another success for DE&S’ long across the six air forces who operate the leading edge combat term ammunition contract with BAE Systems. aircraft. There are more than 260 aircraft in service with the air forces of the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain, Austria and Saudi Arabia FEATURES 21 Foxhound wants to be a lifesaver It may be miles from the front line but a prime example of the next generation of light protected patrol vehicles is ploughing across the rough terrain of Bedfordshire in its latest set of trials. 26 Corsham unveils its global reach The Global Operations and Security Control Centre delivers and assures information and communication services around the clock for UK Armed Forces. desider takes a look inside the new hub at Corsham. 28 Cracking down on the insurgents Sentinel aircraft – deploying the RAF’s stand off radar system – are continuing to play a key role in helping local security forces and coalition troops crack down on Taliban activity in Afghanistan. 30 The regeneration game Shipping vehicles in need of an overhaul back from Afghanistan to the UK could be a thing of the past as a new facility opens at Camp Bastion to give vehicles a regular refresh, keep them fit for front line duty, and save money on the cost of their transport back home. 32 Typhoon clocks up 100,000 hours Typhoon aircraft have passed 100,000 hours in service with six air forces across Europe and Saudi Arabia. In the UK, the RAF works with DE&S and BAE Systems to ensure Typhoon is available for protecting and defending national air space. Insider NEWS Bernard Gray 18 Rescue system takes flight The Nato Sub Rescue System will be packed up and flown to Norway to take part in its final tests. Chief of Defence Materiel 19 DE&S adds specs-appeal Front line troops will be issued with anti- blast protective glasses and goggles to ‘The Government has indicated that protect their eyes from after-effects of blasts. it does not intend to shrink the UK’s strategic ambitions, whatever the PEOPLE NEWS current economic difficulties’ 38 Howard’s way A DE&S director is transforming the lives of some of India’s poorest children. Since I last wrote a desider clearly said that it will not be foreword to you, I have held able to maintain staffing levels 40 Clyde looks to education another set of town hall in military or civilian areas, Workers look at further eduction after a visit meetings in Abbey Wood, and early release schemes are from the Open University. visited Information Systems planned. and Services at Corsham, None of this makes it any PJHQ at Northwood and the easier for everyone to feel Atomic Weapons Establishment great about coming to work, desider at Aldermaston, met my and it is hard when you are opposite number in France, unclear about your future Assistant Head, Public Relations: worked with Defence Board career. Many of you have asked Ralph Dunn - 9352 30257 or 0117 9130257 [email protected] colleagues in Main Building me, both individually and in on next year’s budget and the groups, for guidance about the Investment Approvals Board way forward within DE&S, to Deputy Editor: Steve Moore - 9352 30537 or 0117 9130537 on projects, started work on help you shape your decisions [email protected] our Conversation on Change in about what you choose to do in Abbey Wood, and been for my coming months. Distribution Manager: first encounter with the Public Unfortunately, I cannot be Dick Naughton - 9352 34342 or 0117 9134342 Accounts Committee. as clear as I would like to be, [email protected] It’s been a busy few weeks, because not all of the issues and my one regret is that I have are yet clear, but I can say this. Advertising: not had enough time to wander Some of you may feel that the Anthon Linton – Ten Alps Publishing, 1 New Oxford the floorplates and get to know time is right for you to change Street, High Holborn, London WC1A 1NU Tel: 020 7657 more of you informally. I hope direction, and I respect that. 1828 to set that straight in coming But for those of you who wish [email protected] weeks and months, but in truth, to stay with the great defence I don’t see the pace slackening family, there will continue to be off for quite some time. great challenge, excitement, There is a tremendous and opportunity. amount of change running The UK will remain one Printing: through the MOD at the of the foremost military moment. The implementation powers in the world, staffed of the SDSR, grappling with by the most dedicated, skilled, the implications of the MOD’s highly trained personnel, with budget settlement in shaping among the most sophisticated what resources we have and equipment available anywhere. desider is distributed free of charge to DE&S employees where we apply them, working The Government has indicated and the equipment capability sponsor. Copies can also with Lord Levene’s Defence that it does not intend to shrink be made available to readers outside the MOD, including Reform Unit which may the UK’s strategic ambitions, those in the defence industries. While the editorial team takes care to ensure all material produced is accurate, fundamentally reshape the way whatever the current economic no liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. the department is organised, difficulties. Views expressed in desider, and the products and and trying to deliver on our That offers the long term services advertised, are not necessarily endorsed by core job of supporting our prospect of exciting careers DE&S or the MOD. Armed Forces on operations and the opportunities for © Crown Copyright and in training, and delivering meaningful service. There will their new equipment is hugely be turbulence ahead, we can This magazine is produced on challenging for us all. all see that. But there is also Cocoon 50 Silk which contains As well as being incredibly life beyond that turbulence, 50 per cent recycled and de- busy, I recognise that this is and I would like to work with inked pulp from post consumer also a time of great uncertainty all of you to create that future waste and Forest Stewardship Council certified material from for many people. In a time of DE&S through our Conversation well-managed forests. great change, one of the few on Change. It is our chance to certainties is that the MOD has shape our future. 4 news NEWSREEL Prime Minister puts C-17 FSTA passes fuel test The Airbus seal on Afghan airbridge Military A330 has successfully passed fuel to receiver aircraft Prime minister David Cameron using the Fuselage Refuelling Unit has welcomed the seventh C-17 (FRU) for the first transport aircraft to the rAF. time – meaning that mr Cameron was at rAF Brize all of the aircraft’s norton for the arrival of the aircraft refuelling systems which will bolster the airbridge have now been between the UK and front line demonstrated. operations. In a three hour sortie from Getafe mr Cameron said: “What i am near Madrid on 21 looking at today is the investment January, the Future that we’re making to make sure Strategic Transport that we succeed in Afghanistan, Aircraft variant for and make sure we have got the very the RAF conducted best airbridge between Britain and a series of ‘wet Afghanistan. contacts’ with two F-18 fighters of the “this aircraft can carry three Spanish air force at Apache helicopters, or take a whole around 15,000ft and Chinook helicopter. up to 325 knots. “it’s a very efficient piece of The FRU is a Above: one of the equipment and it’s very good probe and drogue RAF’s fleet of seven news that we are investing in this similar to those C-17s fitted under the – evidence that we’re giving our Forces the capability, the flexibility wings, but with a Left: Mr Cameron on and the mobility that they need to higher rate of fuel board the latest C-17 transfer, and which which has arrived at do the job that we ask them to.