July 2013 Issue 62 desthe magazine for defenceider equipment and support DVD signals new direction New Defence Finance and Military Capability wallchart See inside Terrier Merlin’s New kit Materiel Field of gets to work job done takes to the air Strategy update dreams FEATURES 10 18 An international tour de force Defence and Security Equipment International takes place again this year, the largest integrated defence and security exhibition in the world. This year is set to break previous records. desider looks at UK export potential Picture: Andrew Linnett Andrew Picture: 24 Olympic-sized capability The Lightweight Multiple Launchers of StarStreak were deployed on high-rise rooftops overlooking the Olympic Stadium last summer offering early detection and warning 34 Aircrew fly ahead of the game Pilots and aircrew have been quick to praise a host of new equipment – body armour, glasses and boots – introduced by DE&S to make life easier and safer for them in UK military aircraft 36 Ships and subs stay on the lookout Maintaining the eyes and ears of the Royal Navy's ships cover image and submarines will continue to be done by a joint DE&S/ 2013 industry team after a new multi-million pound contract for A line-up of Husky vehicles joins others as DE&S’ maintenance of 17 different systems across the Fleet annual stakeholder event, DVD, celebrates ten years at Millbrook in Bedfordshire. The event has signalled a JULY new future direction for the Army as DE&S continues the process of redeployment from Afghanistan desider NEWS Assistant Head, Public Relations: Ralph Dunn - 9352 30257 or 0117 9130257 5 Terrier delivered to the Army [email protected] The British Army has taken delivery of Terrier, its newest and most advanced armoured engineering Deputy Editor: vehicle Steve Moore - 9352 30537 or 0117 9130537 [email protected] 6 Changes in procurement business The Government's White Paper on the future of Distribution Manager: DE&S and equipment procurement has now been Dick Naughton - 9352 34342 or 0117 9134342 published [email protected] 8 Typhoon takes on Meteor Advertising: RAF Typhoons will be armed with Meteor missiles Richard Stillman – Ten Alps Media, 40 Bowling Green from later this decade after an agreement between Lane, London EC1R 0NE industry and the four Eurofighter nations Tel: +44 (0)20 7657 1837 Fax: +44 (0)20 7379 7155 12 Stingray gets a new warhead [email protected] A DE&S team has achieved the in-service date of a complex torpedo warhead programme well ahead of schedule Printing: 13 Complexity made simpler A series of complex information technology systems have been brought into one new building for around 700 Defence Intelligence staff desider is distributed free of charge to DE&S employees and the equipment capability sponsor. Copies can also Combat systems sucessfully tested be made available to readers outside the MOD, including 14 those in the defence industries. While the editor takes More than 130 requirements have been care to ensure all material produced is accurate, no demonstrated during testing of major elements of liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. Views aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth's combat systems expressed in desider, and the products and services advertised, are not necessarily endorsed by DE&S or the 16 Navy can scan the skies MOD. All content for advertorials must be cleared by the Royal Navy warships are to benefit from a new relevant MOD project team before publication. surveillance capability – ScanEagle – as part of a £30 million contract © Crown Copyright 41 Transferring vital ship-to-ship supplies This magazine is produced on Cocoon Trials have begun on a new bespoke facility to be Silk 90gsm which contains 50 per used by Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary sailors cent recycled and de-inked pulp from to learn how to transfer vital supplies from ship to post consumer waste and Forest ship while at sea Stewardship Council certified material from well-managed forests. Insider Bernard Gray DE&S ‘will meet Chief of Defence Materiel the Mat Strat challenge’ ‘Work on both potential models is now pushing ahead THE MATERIEL Strategy is arguably one of the biggest and most complex strongly following the launch change programmes anywhere in of the assessment phase’ Government. Delivering it will be a huge challenge – but one that will be met, the programme director told DE&S staff at an open forum update at Abbey I was privileged to be able to costs of past inefficiencies in Wood. sit in the House of Commons to defence procurement – which Barry Burton, who was appointed watch the Defence Secretary, he put at between £1.3 billion DE&S Director Materiel Strategy a Philip Hammond, setting out to and £2.2 billion every year. year ago, said the programme had MPs the reasoning behind the He said he expected a change moved into the assessment phase after detailed and testing scrutiny from the Materiel Strategy programme to a potential GOCO solution Investment Approvals Committee, the as he launched the White Paper to benefit MOD to the tune of Major Projects Review Group and other “Better Defence Acquisition: several hundred million pounds Government departments. improving how we procure and a year, which would help the The “Better Defence Acquisition” support defence equipment”. taxpayer through lower public White Paper, published on 10th June, Most people who work spending and the Armed paved the way for the introduction of in DE&S will probably be Forces through the purchase of legislation to prepare for a Government very familiar with many of increased capability. Owned Contractor Operated (GOCO) the examples used by the solution for DE&S – should that be the He also set out the need decision of Ministers next year. Secretary of State to illustrate for the GOCO to be able to The next step in the commercial the manifest need for change, recruit and reward its staff competition is an Invitation to Negotiate points that I have set out before at market rates and said this this month, followed by discussion with you and discussed with you was a critical freedom for potential bidders, alongside further many times during the past two an organisation that would development of the alternative DE&S+ years. have to deal with the private potential solution. Mr Burton said: “I think potential He explained that while commercial sector on a daily the Government believed a bidders will be faced with a significant basis. challenge and we need to help them get Government Owned Contractor These are issues that Operated management model through it so that we have a credible concern us all and which I alternative to put against DE&S+. for DE&S was the solution most know have featured in our “We now have to move DE&S+ likely to embed and sustain the discussions. forward. We’ve started discussions significant change required to The White Paper covered with the MOD and the Cabinet Office reform defence acquisition, another important area that about ways in which we might better a final decision would follow run DE&S and better deliver the affects work right across DE&S an objective value for money programme. Our colleagues in the – single source procurement. comparison with the DE&S+ Treasury and the Cabinet Office are public sector model. Reform of this area is central engaged and are up for the debate.” I can tell you that work on to the overall improvement Key game changers for DE&S+ of defence acquisition and is included sustaining a professional both these potential models is workforce and being a match for DE&S now pushing ahead strongly something that I welcome. Finally, alongside the suppliers. following the launch of the Enablers defined for ED &S+ included assessment phase on 25th continued effective support a distinct culture, behaviours and April. that DE&S provides to processes to drive results, and a smaller, Following announcement operations in Afghanistan more compact structure. of the elements that would and elsewhere, I was very In answer to questions from staff, make up a Common Resource pleased to see that the Terrier Mr Burton said there was recognition Platform and the selection of armoured engineer vehicle had in the Armed Forces of the challenges they would face when working with a Chief of Materiel domain that entered service, the Stingray Mod 1 torpedo insensitive a remodelled DE&S. He said: “They would together go into a GOCO recognise that this is a challenge they from day one – should that be munition warhead had entered have to resolve. the decision of Ministers next service a commendable three “The Customer Design programme, year – the next step will be months early and that the DVD led by Maj Gen Peter Fox, is charged the dispatch of an Invitation to land equipment stakeholder with ensuring that the Front Line Negotiate to potential bidders, event, which was attended Commands have the skills, tools and which we currently anticipate by Minister for Defence structures required to interface with a will take place this month. Equipment, Support and new DE&S.” The Secretary of State was Technology Philip Dunne, was a n White Paper: pages 6 and 7 very clear with MPs on the high success. NEWS 5 Pictures: Andrew Linnett Terrier makes debut with the Army Terrier makes its mark in the Dorset countryside, above, with General Sir Peter Wall, inset THE BRITISH Army has taken delivery “Having a team which has been with Terrier’s capabilities to senior officers of Terrier, its newest and most advanced the project through the good and the bad which also took place on 4th June.