The LTPA: a Journey Shared

A Journey Shared

LONG TERM PARTNERING AGREEMENT Contents

It is now over a decade since the MOD Long Term Partnering Agreement Training in submarine escapes 5 (LTPA) was established with QinetiQ. The LTPA is now administered for the Taking part in Europe’s biggest military exercise – Joint Warrior 7 MOD by the Trials, Evaluation Services and Targets (TEST) Team in Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), and is available to DE&S Project Teams, Platform readiness and cross-site collaboration 9 the Armed Services and Defence industry. Glock pistols: thoroughly trialled and tested 11 Under the LTPA, QinetiQ manages 17 core MOD owned sites and is Supporting urgent combat air requirements 13 responsible for providing Test & Evaluation and training support services; Countering attack by fast in-shore craft 15 maintaining associated equipment, land and buildings; and for delivering an investment programme to ensure that the capability is maintained Sharing our amazing spaces 17 and developed to meet the MOD’s evolving needs. Transportable maritime ranges in the Gulf 19 Much has been achieved over this time, with the evaluation of a wide Keeping our range neighbours safe, aware and informed 21 variety of military capabilities to ensure their reliability and fitness for Assuring the next generation of People Who Know How 23 purpose. This has been delivered through technical excellence and, importantly, as the result of the relationship that exists between MOD and QinetiQ. The full extent of capabilities on offer through the LTPA is extensive; this booklet highlights some notable examples from the last few years. Time does not stand still and we will continue to shape the LTPA to meet future UK defence needs in the years to come.

Cathy O’Carroll Gp Capt Andy Tait LTPA Director TEST Team Leader QinetiQ DE&S 2 3 LTPA A Journey Shared

Training in submarine escapes

Submarines are vital for security In 2003, in order to assess an escape In the first phase, members of the crew but operate in a challenging from a Logistics Escape Tower (LET), were ‘rescued’ by the Submarine Rescue runs were conducted from a Vanguard Vessel from the NATO Submarine Rescue environment. MOD must Class submarine on the Loch Goil System (NSRS) once it had mated to undertake real-world testing QinetiQ-managed MOD sea ranges. Astute’s Escape Towers. In the second of procedures and equipment These submarines are fitted with both phase, a team of Royal Navy escape in order to ensure crew safety. single-man towers forward and a LET in instructors conducted multiple escape the aft compartment that is capable of runs from the FET. Once on the surface, “Support and coordination allowing two crew to escape in one cycle they were recovered by a rigid hull and is large enough to permit the transfer inflatable boat (RHIB) and transferred for from the QinetiQ team was of stores in sub-sunk situations. medical assessment onto supporting vessels equipped with decompression facilities. professional in every way In 2012, several unmanned escape cycles during both of these demanding were performed from the Forward Escape In such training scenarios on LTPA ranges, exercises. I am pleased to say Tower (FET) to prove all systems were QinetiQ is responsible for overseeing correct ahead of 16 manned runs being planning and support. Furthermore, that everything went well and completed, including ‘last man out’ drills. we have a duty of care to protect all we received a comprehensive Haslar’s Maritime Life Support team was the people and the assets involved. demonstration of the Astute onboard HMS Astute to gather data as the Stakeholders are many and various so submarine conducted both escape and efficient communication and operational Class submarine’s rescue and rescue exercises in western Scotland. coordination is essential, both before escape capabilities.” and during trials, to ensure aims are Adrian Laming, Astute Class Escape successfully achieved and that safety and Rescue Requirement Owner is always top priority.

At MOD Loch Goil, HMS Astute dived between the buoys to a steady tower depth of 30 metres to replicate a distressed submarine. 4 5 LTPA A Journey Shared

Taking part in Europe’s biggest military exercise – Joint Warrior

Controlled instrumented battle “Being able to base ourselves For QinetiQ, operating a number of core spaces provide realistic scenarios MOD test and evaluation (T&E) ranges at BUTEC and draw upon the in Scotland within the air and maritime for the test and evaluation of considerable resources you offer domains, Joint Warrior relies on our military personnel and equipment. is an immense advantage when resources to establish Forward Logistics Sites (FLS) in places such as the Kyle of The opportunity arises annually to establishing a busy Forward Lochalsh; in this instance, using BUTEC comprehensively test combat skills across Logistics Site.” (British Underwater Test & Evaluation all disciplines as part of a full maritime Centre) as a base for the coordination Captain R M Allen, Royal Navy, military exercise. This is Exercise Joint Director Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff of boat, helicopter and vehicle transfers Warrior, NATO and Europe’s largest such for both personnel and critical stores. military exercise, and it takes place over a large expanse of Scotland. A massive Joint Warrior is an essential training ground At MOD West Freugh and at the MOD endeavour, it draws in some 12,000 for personnel about to be deployed into Hebrides ranges, our site management personnel from the UK, the United States, theatre. Airborne infantry, artillery, engineers, capabilities come to the fore as we Canada and eight European partners in medics and logisticians develop readiness de-risk the equipment used in the a multi-threat environment. It is here for short-notice deployment anywhere in exercise. The Hebrides has a long that allied units can work and train in a the world. The exercise hones their skills, association with Joint Warrior and the replicated, volatile and complex situation enabling them to conduct the complete range large volume of airspace, which is the UK’s typically involving over 40 warships, 40 of military operations in preparation for a largest Air Danger Area, comes into its fixed-wing aircraft and 30 helicopters. possible Combined Joint Task. own for fast jet activity. The real time positional information on assets and the telemetry information for trial analysis captured here aids evaluation of the exercise. At Cape Wrath and Garvie Island, both locations owned by Defence Infrastructure Organisation, the scope of Joint Warrior is further extended with the wide variety of weapons-firing options available at this north-western outpost. Unique in Europe, the Garvie Island area used in Joint Warrior 2012 is the only place in the UK where live 1,000lb bombs can be dropped.

Royal Navy personnel from the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) Copyright ©MOD Crown attach an underslung load to a Merlin helicopter during Exercise Scottish Lion in the South West of Scotland. Troops of the 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery load a 105mm Light Gun during Exercise Joint Warrior in Scotland. 7 ©MOD Crown Copyright ©MOD Crown LTPA A Journey Shared

Platform readiness and cross-site collaboration

Phased infrastructure At the beginning of the LTPA in In 2010, further LTPA investment improvements over the last 2003, the British Underwater Test resulted in pan-QinetiQ radar integration & Evaluation Centre, BUTEC, in the improvements. Electronic Warfare decade have meant many more Kyle of Lochalsh, was the range of choice Capability transferred to BUTEC from fully-optimised trials programmes for underwater weapon-tracking trials. Skipness in 2012; accelerated technological across Scottish LTPA ranges. This well established range offered and infrastructure developments promptly a byelaw-protected, secure and sanitised began to yield greater value from every “Execution of the plan went environment for trials. At that time, the customer visit to the range. Range Tracking System (RTS) offered only smoothly; this is in no small Sophisticated instrumented environments acoustic tracking and it was acknowledged for signature services soon became the part down to the combined that there was potential for much more. norm, as did cross-site collaboration. Upgrading began in earnest in 2005. flexibility and forethought Tracking of aircraft was now possible By 2009, adoption of open architecture demonstrated by all to through MOD Aberporth’s electro-optical solutions permitted standardised trackers and Funtington’s Groundlark ensure that individual serials development of controlled changes. Radar Cross Section and Sonobuoy happened at the required time test facility. with the right assets in place”. Effective integration led to system-based Lt Ed Notley, Tactical Systems Officer, HM Royal Navy testing and trialling becoming a reality. By ensuring that infrastructure investment was done at a strategic level across multiple MOD sites, increasingly complex and realistic trials and training could be undertaken. Platform utilisation grew to include electronic warfare calibration, radar cross-section, sonar testing and weapon firings. Additionally, at nearby Rona, in-water radiated noise measurement could be conducted, giving the platform the potential for 24-hour working. In ranges such as BUTEC, Rona and Applecross, infrastructure development continues to offer opportunities to augment programmes, deliver increasingly complex trials, and create realistic operational training settings. Andrew Groocock ©QinetiQ Groocock Andrew

A mine countermeasures vessel hunting targets on the BUTEC range.

Merlin Mk 1 from 829 Naval Air Squadron in the sights of the QinetiQ Electro-Optic Tracker after a successful Sting Ray drop on the BUTEC range. 9 Andrew Groocock ©QinetiQ Groocock Andrew LTPA A Journey Shared

Glock pistols: thoroughly trialled and tested

Following an in-depth endurance “This important acquisition and testing programme, the British programme was managed by Army’s latest side arm is now in QinetiQ through the LTPA. use by all three Armed Forces. Coordination was highly challenging, but they pulled More than 25,000 new side arms and holsters were issued in a £9m contract all the test and evaluation that saw the removal from service of the elements together and really Browning 9mm pistol and the P226 SIG made it happen.” Sauer. Having shortlisted seven handgun manufacturers, the MOD approached Phil Page, Lethality Team leader in QinetiQ to conduct the test and evaluation Soldier Systems Programmes, DE&S of the design safety and suitability of candidate pistols. Combining a variety The overall trial comprised a series of of expertise, we designed and developed tests that put the weapons through every a complex trials programme delivered conceivable scenario that they might face in a tightly-scheduled comprehensive in military service. The environmental assessment of the new firearm. The phase included temperature cycling plus facilities involved included those at the shock and vibration exercises. The pistols firing ranges at MOD Pendine and MOD were also subjected to a variety of rough Shoeburyness. Fort Halstead provided the handling trials, such as being dropped from technical and project management support. a height of one metre onto meadowland and concrete, immersion in a mud bath, and firing in freezing, driving rain. The handguns were put through endurance firings where they were tested to the end of their effective life. At the end of the programme, approximately 78,000 rounds had been fired across all weapons. The chosen pistol, the 9mm Glock 17, is lighter, more accurate and has a larger magazine The pistol undergoing sand drag and dust tests. capacity than any of its forerunners.

Supporting urgent combat air requirements

Access to the right equipment Under the LTPA, QinetiQ delivers the Short turnarounds were vital to enable the at the right time is vital on the test and evaluation of military and enhanced aircraft to enter service within civil platforms, systems, weapons and days of the requests, the introduction of front line. components across the land, sea and the ASRAAM missile onto Tornado within air domains. Never is this ability to 18 hours of tasking being a prime example. deliver excellence under pressure Similarly the Brimstone missile, originally more demonstrable than in response designed as a radar guided anti-armour to an urgent requirement from our weapon to support Cold War operations, customer. Frequently, this means that but integrated onto Tornado GR4 by standard military equipment may have QinetiQ as a dual mode seeker variant to be modified or supplemented to suit in 2008, to allow its use against a wider conditions and results must be delivered range of vehicles and fixed targets, was fast, while at the same time meeting the further cleared for use in Tornado mixed same stringent criteria used to evaluate load configurations with the Paveway IV the procurement of regular UK Armed precision guided bomb. This provided a Forces equipment. much enhanced and flexible operational The UK’s participation in March 2011 capability for Tornado operations over in the international coalition to enforce both Libya and Afghanistan. Facilities at a no-fly zone over Libya meant a number MOD Shoeburyness and MOD Boscombe of urgent requests were issued to accelerate Down collaborated, coordinating expertise clearances of the British fleet of Typhoon and stakeholders to meet an extraordinarily aircraft. Tornado GR4s were also given tight schedule using QinetiQ resources ©MOD Crown Copyright ©MOD Crown enhanced capability. The standard RAF available under the LTPA. Typhoon needed to be cleared to refuel A pilot’s view from the cockpit of a Royal Air Force “We already have in place Typhoon multi role fighter jet. at nominated Italian airbases, so a team from MOD Boscombe Down carried out the facilities through the LTPA the assessments necessary to have the to help us respond to urgent aircraft cleared for limited front line operations with a new fuel type. This requirements efficiently and was achieved within two weeks of the cost-effectively. We are just initial military briefing. making maximum use of the Other urgent clearance requirements resources that we have and the gave both Typhoon and Tornado GR4 more we put through the LTPA, aircraft increased defensive capabilities through new computing configurations the greater value we get from it.” and clearance activities. Steve Attrill, LTPA Operations Manager, DE&S TEST PT

Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft wait for their next sortie from Gioia del Colle Air Base in Italy, during Operation Ellamy, the UK contribution to help enforce the no-fly zone over Libya. 13 ©MOD Crown Copyright ©MOD Crown LTPA A Journey Shared

Countering attack by fast in-shore craft

Demonstrating capability The aim was to test in a realistic scenario, “This demonstration against a group of marine targets the end-to-end deployment of this rapidly developed game-changing new weapon represented a significant the size of dinghies – and doing system. Following a series of seeker milestone in the development it safely – means meeting the development trials, a multi-disciplinary of an anti FIAC capability. most exacting standards. team of specialists came together in a seamless endeavour in 2012. A Tornado MBDA trust QinetiQ to deliver It is a challenge to detect and track small, launched from RAF Coningsby successfully on their side, so that we can fast-moving targets in complex coastal acquired and intercepted a remotely- concentrate on looking at the environments. It can also be difficult to controlled sea target at MOD Aberporth. mount an effective defence against them; weapon performance. especially when the attack is from a group Building on this success, the next phase of heavily armed vessels. However, this is was to demonstrate a surface-launched The thing that impressed me the reality facing military and commercial salvo attack against a target group. This was the way that MBDA and shipping across the world. To counter the would replicate the real-world defence QinetiQ both managed to threat from fast in-shore attack craft (FIAC), of a high-value asset against an attack. weapons manufacturer MBDA modified its overcome a number of major battle-proved Brimstone weapon and turned Despite a demanding schedule (only two challenges and still achieve months from contract to first trial) safety to the LTPA to help develop, test and then a successful result on time.” demonstrate its new capability. of the public, operational personnel and assets was, as always, top priority. Simon Forsyth, MBDA Programme Manager The project’s first challenge was to find Following a successful proof-of-concept a suitable location, a coastal launch site firing, a world first was achieved with with a sufficiently large uninhabited area. a salvo of three weapons successfully MOD West Freugh in Scotland, a former defeating three separate targets and RAF bombing range, was chosen. It has demonstrating the system’s fire-and-forget around 380sq km of sea danger area capability to an MBDA-invited audience. which can be cleared of all shipping. With powerful long-range tracking cameras Specially-built fast targets incorporating along the shore observing and recording remote-control systems and high-speed how the missiles performed, together with cameras were deployed. cameras situated on the platform and the The weapons were launched from a target craft, video footage was captured bespoke temporary platform that required for analysis. a novel means of safely transporting and firing the live weapons.

One of the specialist high-speed (50+ knot) remotely-controlled targets successfully Salvo of three modified Brimstone weapons fired at MOD West Freugh. intercepted by the modified Brimstone weapon. 15 LTPA A Journey Shared

Sharing our amazing spaces

Trial-based test and evaluation “QinetiQ-managed sites typify activities can mean pressure the MOD estate in that they on sensitive environments, support a very diverse range of so we take special care to species and habitats across large protect threatened habitats. areas that act as increasingly QinetiQ manages a diverse range of important wildlife reservoirs sites on behalf of the MOD and some – and they have a high profile of these places are life support systems among statutory bodies and for nationally and internationally important © Dr Chris Lewis flora and fauna. Many of these sites have wider stakeholders. Our formal conservation designations to protect responsible stewardship of these The corn bunting, among numerous other British habitats, species and also cultural and native birds, thrives at MOD Shoeburyness. historical features such as Scheduled sites is essential to facilitate and Ancient Monuments (SAM). future trials and development.” Oliver Howells, Ecologist, An essential part of our work is Defence Infrastructure Organisation undertaking Sustainability Appraisals that evaluate a range of environmental Trials take place within a context and socio-economic impacts of site activities of complex regulatory requirements. as appropriate. We liaise with the relevant Balancing these with our conservation MOD officers across the sites and our own obligations and ensuring compliance with project teams to identify and implement our joint sustainability policies, demands avoidance measures, control measures and skill and sensitivity. We support these any necessary mitigation for a particular commitments through regular consultations task. These appraisals are carried out for with conservation groups and the statutory a range of activities, including operational conservation bodies in England, Scotland trials, capability investments and estates and Wales. Working within the framework maintenance. Our efforts are underpinned of the LTPA, we are proud of our record in by a robust Environmental Management environmental stewardship and we have System certified to ISO14001. We are received a number of Sanctuary Awards responsible for the day-to-day management for conservation work. of our sites as we go about delivering extensive test, evaluation and training services, smoothly and efficiently.

Dauphin helicopter on the pad in St Kilda’s Village Bay. 16 17 LTPA A Journey Shared

Transportable maritime ranges in the Gulf

Taking ranging facilities to Not having to return to port for vital Although much of the activity involved deployed Royal Navy vessels safety and efficiency checks can mean is in calibration and material assessment considerable savings; time and money. and in recommending system and supports in-theatre confidence. QinetiQ’s experts in the specialist fields machinery configurations, our teams of magnetics, acoustics and noise and add value whenever possible by “It’s the specialist, vibration, work alongside divers and incorporating inspection of shore-side knowledgeable and highly engineering support teams to provide facilities and education of stores and experienced QinetiQ staff fully-equipped mobile ranges that can do engineering staff in magnetic hygiene. this work, to places such as the Persian Gulf. The use of maritime transportable ranges who carry out the ranging This activity is underpinned by the LTPA has the added advantage of being able to and means that the teams operating these tests, interpret the results assist in highlighting issues that may have ranges are able to offer essential support and make suggestions on how arisen since a vessel was initially deployed, to the Royal Navy’s deployed vessels, such thereby identifying any problems and the stealth performance of the as mine sweepers, which, crucially, can providing quality and safety assurance remain in situ while they carry out checks mine hunters can be improved.” in-theatre. The training benefit to QinetiQ and enhancements, including optimising Rob Wild, Project Manager, MOD and the LTPA is evident, as engineers electromagnetic signature performance and data analysts gain intensive ‘on-site’ and collection of data for tactical appreciation. experience beyond the traditional range capabilities based in the UK. Callum c © Tam M © Tam

HMS Atherstone anchored in Manama, Bahrain. Transferring back to shore at the end of range work on HMS Atherstone. 18 19 Tam McCallum ©QinetiQ Tam LTPA A Journey Shared

Keeping our range neighbours safe, aware and informed

Concerted community forewarning MOD Shoeburyness, a Top Tier COMAH “We are confident that QinetiQ and reassurance helps sustain good site (Control of Major Accident Hazards) in Essex, is required to communicate is doing everything possible local relationships. awareness of the hazardous nature to manage and reduce impacts of some of the activities conducted At MOD Aberporth, MOD Pendine and and keep local communities on the range. Our dedicated web pages MOD Shoeburyness, we work with the flag up forthcoming activity and advise informed of anything that local authorities to keep key stakeholders residents and visitors about possible may affect them.” and the public informed of any range impacts from activity on the range. activities that may affect them. With Group Captain Andy Tait, TEST Team Leader This may be audible, from explosive our Advance Alert Service and site-specific ordnance disposal training or gunfire websites, local residents, businesses and trials; or it may be visual, perhaps smoke In addition, our STEM outreach and visitors to the area can benefit from a emanating from trials. It is notable that, education programmes help to establish better understanding of the work we do because of our proactive relationship with strong and positive relationships with local and when they can safely use the public the community, the number of complaints schools, all of which nurture respect for rights of way or cross the Sea Danger Areas. received at Shoeburyness concerning unique and historic English, Welsh and Having channels in place to alert the local operations has reduced considerably Scottish environments. community can be very useful for trials over the past ten years. planners and managers, particularly if an QinetiQ may be global, but we work activity has to be cancelled or postponed at This good work does not go unnoticed. hard close to home. We are committed short notice due to a change in requirement. Essex County Council regards MOD to respecting the community and keeping Even a change in the weather or tides can Shoeburyness as a model for good it safe, on side and informed about the have an adverse impact. COMAH practice and uses QinetiQ’s work we carry out on the MOD ranges public safety information campaign we manage. to demonstrate to other COMAH sites how best to fulfil their obligations with ‘warn and inform’ communications.

Public information about range activity needs to be clear, timely and relevant.

QinetiQ’s public relations efforts at MOD Shoeburyness demonstrate that dialogue with local communities can have a very positive influence. 20 21 LTPA A Journey Shared

Assuring the next generation of People Who Know How

QinetiQ’s continuing success lies “The success of the LTPA depends on the availability of in attracting more young people highly skilled people just as much as specialised facilities and into technical, scientific and equipment, and this means getting the right people into the engineering roles. right posts. The Apprentice Training School at MOD Boscombe A dedicated facility for the training Down plays a vital role in securing this goal.” of aircraft technicians was first built Group Captain Andy Tait, TEST Team Leader at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire in 1969 under the auspices of the Ministry Trainees take an Advanced Level They foster an innovative learning of Defence Procurement Executive. Apprenticeship course in one of environment within the School that Now run by QinetiQ, but still part four Apprenticeships: Mechanical can boast an exceptional training funded by the MOD, this award-winning Maintenance Aeronautical Engineering; completion rate. Apprentice Training School at MOD Avionics Maintenance Aeronautical Twenty-nine apprentices graduated in 2013 Boscombe Down has its future assured Engineering; Mechanical Manufacturing and these young people follow in the by externally recognised qualifications Engineering; and Electrical Engineering footsteps of many of QinetiQ’s managers and robust plans for growth. Maintenance. Initial training concentrates and Fellows who began their own careers on the core engineering hand skills and It is a commitment we are making for as apprentices. basic academic training leading to the our future and an endorsement of young completion of an engineering National Our CEO, Leo Quinn, is an ardent people wanting to grow with us. Originally Vocational Qualification (NVQ). champion of apprenticeship and graduate established to train few more than a dozen programmes and is determined that we can aircraft technicians a year, expansion has Tuition staff are highly-trained, qualified create a still wider range of roles offering meant that, in 2013, there were 106 young and experienced. Some are ex-military, apprentice and graduate entry. The 5% Club, people in training from DSTL and QinetiQ having practised their aeronautical and led by Leo for QinetiQ, is a campaign to get Air and Weapons Divisions spread across engineering trades in the Royal Navy, the UK’s companies to commit to raising four year groups. the Army or the Royal Air Force, or the number of apprentices, graduates and from industry. sponsored students on formal programmes to 5% of their total workforce within the next five years.

2012 graduating apprentice Sam Prichard, aeronautical engineering. 22 23 Cody Technology Park Ively Road Farnborough Hampshire GU14 0LX United Kingdom Tel +44 (0) 8700 100 942 www.QinetiQ.com For more information and enquiries: www.ltpa.co.uk Tel: 0800 015 0594