Mar 10 Issue 23 desthe magazine for defenceider equipment and support Merlin weaves its operational magic in Afghanistan PACE supplement See inside Cutting ‘Lusty’ takes ‘Spy’ is back Perfect Husky is edge a break in the sky pancakes new top dog NEWS SUPPORT TO OPERATIONS 21 4 Together for the first time 34 Team will keep ships in the hunt The first two Type 45 destroyers have been pictured A team to manage engineering and support working together for the first time as they completed for Hunt class vessels has been launched in complex manoeuvres in the English Channel. Portsmouth. 5 Saved by his body armour 36 New finance system helps decisions A soldier whose life was saved by his body armour A new through-life finance system will roll has thanked the DE&S and industry team who made out this month to place the most up-to-date it by buying them all a pint of beer. information at the heart of decision-making. 6 Search and Rescue moves forward The Soteria Consortium is out in front after being PEOPLE NEWS 2010 named the preferred bidder for the 24-hour Search and Rescue service contract. 39 Duo defeats southern oceans Two Royal Navy officers are back at work arch 8 Let the future defence debate begin after battling rough waters off Australia. M The debate about the future direction of UK defence has begun with the publication of the Green Paper, a 41 Climber faces mountainous task prelude to a new Strategic Defence Review. A DE&S employee will be battling up Kilimanjaro, 18 months after having a leg 12 Mastiff does its job on patrol amputated. The crew of a Mastiff emerged unscathed when their armoured vehicle was damaged by a roadside bomb during a patrol in Afghanistan. desider 15 ‘Lusty’ drops in on Rosyth HMS Illustrious has arrived in Rosyth for a 13-month Assistant Head, Press and Publications: cover image docking period on a contract awarded under the Ralph Dunn - 9352 30257 or 01179 130257 [email protected] Significant work by AgustaWestland helped the deployment Surface Ship Support Alliance. of the Merlin Mk3 helicopter to back up front line operations 16 Deal puts craft into Royal Marines’ work in Helmand Province as the aircraft is currently involved in New engineering support for landing craft has been Deputy Editor: Steve Moore - 9355 68719 or 01225 468719 Operation Moshtarak. Ballistic protection for the Merlin was described by DE&S as a turning point in backing for [email protected] completed in just three months. Strategic partnering with the the Royal Marines. company by DE&S is helping to increase the capability of the helicopter force during operations. Design support: Mark Hawke - 9355 68669 or 01225 468669 [email protected] Advertising: Steve Forsdick (Group Sales Manager) – Ten Alps FEATURES Publishing, 1 New Oxford Street, High Holborn, London WC1A 1NU Tel: 020 7878 2334 21 Partnering in action [email protected] The Strategic Partnering Arrangement between DE&S and AgustaWestland was hailed as a ground-breaking deal when it was signed in 2006. It is now providing big benefits in Afghanistan where helicopters are providing much-needed support to the front line. Distribution: 25 ‘The best kit we have ever had’ If you have any queries concerning distribution or 4 Brigade trains on Salisbury Plain for deployment to require alterations to the number of copies you receive, Afghanistan. Troops put their kit to the test, and met DE&S please contact the editorial team on the numbers above. project staff for some much-needed feedback on how kit performs. Printing: Corporate Document Services Ltd, 7 Eastgate, Leeds, LS2 7LY 28 A common combat system for all submarines desider is distributed free of charge to DE&S employees The latest version of Sonar 2076 will be integrated into a and the equipment capability customer. Copies can also submarine later this year. It will lead on to development of a be made available to readers outside the MOD, including combat system for all the Royal Navy’s flotilla of submarines, those in the defence industries. While the editorial team including the new Astute class. takes care to ensure all material produced is accurate, no liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. Views expressed in desider, and the products and 30 Light weapons on show in London services advertised, are not necessarily endorsed by DE&S teams, along with some industry partners, have put DE&S or the MOD. a host of light weapons on show to MOD staff in London, building on the success of a similar event held in Abbey © Crown Copyright Wood before Christmas. This magazine is produced on 32 Out of the frying pan . ERA silk which contains 50 per DE&S could not let Shrove Tuesday pass without finding cent recycled and de-inked pulp some chefs back from Afghanistan to demonstrate the from post consumer waste and variety of meals to be made from front line rations. Forest Stewardship Council Schoolchildren reaped the benefit by enjoying pancakes, certified material from well- managed forests. Please recycle cooked by the experts. this magazine Insider 4 news news 5 NEWSREEL NEWSREEL Marchwood Prince experiences a spring in his step Osprey’s a winner (again!) backs Haiti JSF takes on a UK look Personnel at Soldier shot Marchwood played The F-35 Lightning their part as efforts Plain sailing: Prince in Afghanistan II aircraft which will to help the people of Charles takes a ride in eventually arm the earthquake-torn Haiti Springer as he visits troops thanks DE&S staff UK’s new aircraft revved up. on Salisbury Plain before carriers has taken on RFA Largs Bay was they deploy to Afghanistan. a further British look loaded with vital aid and The Prince is Colonel- who helped with its first UK pilot. supplies at Marchwood, in-Chief of 1st Battalion, RAF Squadron Leader the military Sea the Mercian Regiment save his life Steve Long is the first Mounting Centre near (Cheshire) UK pilot to take to Southampton, as part of Report: Hannah Swingler the skies in the Joint the international relief Strike Fighter, flying at 20,000 feet over Naval effort in Haiti. Kit goes on show on the Plain: A soldier whose life was saved She carried 40 Land pages 25, 26 and 27 Air Station Patuxent Rovers for personnel by his body armour has thanked River where he has the DE&s and industry team who to reach the affected Picture: been based with VX-23 made it – by buying them a pint! areas, shelter materials Cpl Jim Barron, RLC US Navy Test Squadron such as corrugated iron lance sergeant daniel since May 2008. and support equipment Collins from 1st Battalion the such as forklift trucks royal Welsh was shot in the back Medical care to rebuild the nation’s while on patrol in Helmand last port. earns praise year. Pints all round: Lance Sergeant Daniel Collins pulls the first ‘thank you’ His osprey body armour of beer alongside Mike Pigott of DE&S’ Defence Clothing team Research Clinical treatment DE&S extends quality ceramic ballistic plates stopped hard armour protective plates “This body armour is among and rehabilitation of conference the bullet from piercing his body. and a fragmentation vest. it has the best in the world and we are service personnel lance sgt Collins, 27 from been in service since early 2006. proud that, collectively, our hard seriously injured on Defence Research west Wales, said: “When i DE&s’ defence Clothing work has paid off. daniel is living military operations is highly effective, the 2010, a part of DE&S’ was shot i thought the worst, project manager Mike Pigott, proof of this.” supplier engagement ammunition partnership National Audit Office programme, will especially because it was from who worked on osprey, said it Chairman and chief executive has reported. take place on March DE&s has extended its Munitions leader, Colonel only about 200 metres away and had been a real boost to the team of NP Aerospace roger Medwell Military commanders 23-24 at Birmingham partnering agreement with Andrew Gibson, said: “The i think it was a 7.62mm round – to meet lance sgt Collins. said that working on the body and patients have International rheinmetall Waffe Munition MOD only buys high quality that’s a high calibre bullet to be “it was big job for the team armour had been a great example confidence in the Conference Centre. for another five years to provide munitions which are reliable, hit by. to deliver this essential kit in of the MOD and industry working treatment at facilities The event will draw security of supply of critical safe and suitable for service. “i was examined on the spot such a short time but we were in partnership. in Afghanistan, at Selly together key decision- Oak, the main hospital munitions to meet operational “over the last five years expecting to be told bad news determined to do it,” he said. “it was a challenge to get the makers, including for seriously injured DE&S, the Equipment and training needs. rheinmetall Waffe Munition but there was nothing there. The “The team is always thinking armour produced in such a short troops, and at Headley Capability Sponsor it is a new order volume have proved they can deliver a body armour had stopped the about the boys and girls out on time as well as meeting the high Court, the MOD’s main (military customer), worth more than £130 million wide range of both pyrotechnics bullet and saved my life.” operations and we are committed standards set by the MOD.