www.des.mod.uk Issue 124 November 2018 the magazine for defence equipment desider and support Putting the 'S' in DE&S: new contracts for RFA fleet Over 100 years invested in leading UK technology. FUTURE RUAS CONCEPT UNMANNED ELECTRONIC WARFARE ‘HERO’ RUAS PROVISION STATE-OF-THE-ART SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AESA MULTI-MODE RADAR FULLY-INTEGRATED MISSION SYSTEMS Leonardo has over 100 years of history at the leading edge of advanced design and manufacturing in the UK. 7,100 highly-skilled employees and a vast network of suppliers and partners design and develop industry-leading aircraft, electronics, space, defence and security systems for UK and export customers, worldwide. Inspired by the vision, curiosity and creativity of the great master inventor - Leonardo is designing the technology of tomorrow. leonardocompany.com Helicopters | Aeronautics | Electronics, Defence & Security Systems | Space Forewordt’s been another busy month in air defence capability, securing DE&S and it’s great to receive 100 jobs in Belfast and ensuring Ifurther positive feedback our armed forces have a potent over the past few weeks from defensive ability. the Chief of Defence Staff and Last month I know the A400M Defence Minister Stuart Andrew Atlas team were delighted to see the aircraft deliver UK aid to Indonesia, which had been "It’s great to see employees spreading the word that DE&S is devastated by an earthquake and tsunami. A very proud a great place to work, giving their time to inspire hundreds of moment that was facilitated by DE&S’ Defence Supply Chain young people about job opportunities with us" Operations and Movements (DSCOM) team at MOD Abbey about the excellent work we Wood. deliver. More than 15,000km away Some of this month’s in New York, there was huge achievements include the excitement when the HMS signing of contracts with British Queen Elizabeth anchored firms to support the UK’s Royal in the city’s harbour during a Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships and break from F-35B flight trials. the Royal Navy’s Survey and This incredible aircraft carrier Hydrographic Fleet. Expected to is a spectacular capability and be worth more than £1 billion, I am also immensely proud these contracts secure more that DE&S continues to play than 700 jobs at shipyards a key role in supporting the across the country. The deal is Royal Navy getting back into also expected to deliver savings the business of Carrier-borne worth more than £100 million for operations. defence. Closer to home, it’s great In addition, we have signed to see employees spreading a £23 million agreement to the word that DE&S is a great provide Royal Navy and Royal place to work, giving their time Fleet Auxiliary ships with new to inspire hundreds of young state-of-the-art radios that are people about job opportunities more secure and easier to use, with us at South Gloucestershire ensuring those on board can and Stroud College last month, concentrate on performing their while a daring team of DE&S roles to the very best of their graduates and apprentices By Sir Simon Bollom, CEO ability. successfully completed the The Apache Capability Three Welsh Peaks Challenge Sustainment Programme is as part of the Prince’s Trust progressing well with the news Million Makers competition. that the final two Apache AH And finally, congratulations to Mk1 helicopters from storage DE&S business manager James will be transported to the Gregory, who recently won a United States later this month. World Strongest Man title in This programme to replace Finland. You are clearly a force the current Apache fleet with to be reckoned with! Well done. the latest Apache AH-64E is a huge endeavour and the team’s foresight to use parts from the current fleet rather than buying brand new variants is expected to save the MOD in the realms of £175 million. And the Minister for Defence Procurement has also announced a £93 million deal to modernise the British Army and Royal Marines’ very short-range 3 Editor: Tom Morris - 9352 37888 or 0117 9137888 [email protected] Contributors: Laura Martin Plaza, Amy Marsh, Tom Knight, Emma Lancaster, Hannah Wood and Louise Allford Photography and Design: Andrew Linnett, Charlie Perham, Jack Eckersley, Beth Squire, Mark Hawke and Katherine Williams 08 Distribution Manager: Dick Naughton - 9352 34342 or 0117 9134342 [email protected] Advertising Manager: Edwin Rodrigues edwin.rodrigues@ noahsarkmedia.com +44 (0) 748 257 1535 Printing desider is distributed free to DE&S employees 13 and the equipment capability organisations. Copies may be sent to readers outside MOD, including in the defence industries and is published on the world wide web via GOV. UK. While the editor takes care to ensure all material produced is accurate, no liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. Views expressed in desider, and products and services advertised, are not necessarily endorsed by DE&S or the MOD. All editorial submissions must be cleared by the relevant MOD authorities. © Crown Copyright This magazine is produced on Cocoon Silk 100gsm which contains 50 per cent recycled and de-inked pulp from post consumer waste and Forest Stewardship Council certified material from well-managed 20 forests. 4 desider November 2018 Feature Contents 06 Senior Leader On the cover Comment – Director DE&S People RFA Fort Victoria during a counter- Combat Air, Air Vice- 16 First Person – Project piracy operation in 2010 Marshal Keith Bethell Director for the Warrior Capability Sustainment Photo by LA(Phot) AJ MacLeod Programme Marcus News Bruton 08 Apache Capability 24 Poppy Appeal’s a Sustainment family affair Programme milestone 26 DE&S graduates and DE&S oversees 12 apprentices conquer spectacular Mk8 Welsh Three Peaks naval gun firing trials Challenge 13 Huge ships support contract boosts 28 60 Second Spotlight industry and jobs – Training manager at Defence Munitions 18 Multi-million deal to Crombie John Leitch enhance very short- range air defence 29 James Gregory wins capability World’s Strongest Man title in Finland 20 Employees inspire secondary school 30 DE&S People – Edward pupils about DE&S Smart awarded Lord- Lieutenant’s Certificate 21 Team pride as A400M for Meritorious Service Atlas delivers aid to Indonesia 32 Jobs – Desider’s latest recruitment pages and 22 Type 26 will be housed benefits in Devonport Feature 14 Behind the scenes at the F-35 landing trials on HMS Queen Elizabeth www.gov.uk/government/publications/desider-2018 Twitter: @DefenceES Facebook: @DefenceES LinkedIn: Defence Equipment & Support YouTube: DE&S 5 desider November 2018 Senior Leader Comment Air Vice-Marshal Keith Bethell, Director Combat Air, talks to Desider about pride in Project Centurion, his plans for upgrading military flying training and RAF 100 n my role, I’m lucky to be at Marham in June when the first need to increase our offering for the heart of developing and four aircraft landed. International Defence Training to implementing some of the Another success I hope to be My aim is meet our international obligations Imost exciting and cutting-edge celebrating is Project Centurion, to be able linked to our equipment capability and programmes in the upgrade to introduce three exports and, more broadly, our DE&S. This includes fast jets, new weapon types onto Typhoon, to empower relationship with Partner Nations. Unmanned Air Systems and as well as a major upgrade to the people to But despite my focus on military flying training. aircraft Mission Systems. We’re equipment and capability, DE&S Thinking back on this year, the currently on track to deliver that do their job is a people organisation. The only highlight that leaps out at me is the in December too. It’s been a huge without undue asset we have is our people and the RAF 100 celebrations, particularly accomplishment for my team intellectual property they bring, the event held in London on July and is probably my proudest hindrance, and we need to look after them. 10. My wife and I were lucky achievement to date – the reason restriction or My aim is to be able to empower enough to attend the Westminster I say that is because I was Head people to do their job without Abbey service and watched the of the Fast Air Support Team constraint undue hindrance, restriction or Buckingham Palace parade and when we came up with Project constraint. There’s a whole raft flypast on a big screen in Horse Centurion as a concept. of talent here – why wouldn’t we Guards Parade. It’s a huge improvement in the want to ensure they can operate to Knowing most of the aircraft in capability of Typhoon. Despite the best effect? the flypast came from the Combat all the obstacles we’ve had to We’ve been through a massive Air portfolio was a source of great overcome, it’s a fantastic example change programme over the pride. Almost every aircraft was of the whole force in action last two years and we now need represented, including the three (DE&S, RAF and industry) and a to focus on how we ensure our new F-35s. This was the first time remarkable effort from the team. culture is aligned to the new ways these aircraft had been seen in I’ve been there from start to finish of working we have introduced. public in the UK and something and we’ll hopefully get it over the Cultural change is hard and I’ll never forget. line this year. doesn’t happen overnight. We need In December 2018, we hope Moving into 2019, my main to constantly streamline how we to have achieved the F-35 initial priority is upscaling our flying do business to make life simpler operating capability.