May 09. Platform Technology for Military Vehicles, 2 day Seminar
Wednesday 2 December 2009 – Thursday 3 December 2009
Bristol Marriott – City Centre
2 Lower Castle Street
Bristol
BS1 3AD United Kingdom
21st Century platform technology must balance survivability, mobility, ease of transportation and the latest applications of technology. Procurers demand an ever-increasing standard of military platform in order to meet the challenges of modern-day threats and warfare. This two-day seminar will provide an update of the challenges facing engineers as they seek to meet procurer’s requirements for future military platforms, and also provide some of the latest engineering solutions to these challenges. With key presentations by military platform manufacturers, and military technology companies, this event will provide a comprehensive guide to the engineering challenges and solutions of modern-day and future military platforms.
20 May 09. Let children learn about guns, says Countryside Alliance. New research* published by the Countryside Alliance at the start of National Shooting Week has revealed wide scale misunderstanding amongst the general public about the use of guns. Nine out of 10 people thought that training of young people in the use of legal firearms would not stop misuse despite research in the UK and worldwide showing the opposite to be true. The poll carried out by Opinion Research Business showed that 51% said that training young people would result in an increase in the misuse of firearms whilst 39% said that it would make no difference. Only 9% thought that there would be a reduction in the misuse of firearms. National Shooting Week director Rob Gray said: “These findings illustrate just why initiatives like National Shooting Week are so important. Shooting teaches control, discipline, responsibility and courtesy – qualities to make every parent or head teacher proud. One million people enjoy shooting sports in the UK and we want to encourage both young and old to learn about this accessible, inclusive and safe sport by taking part in National Shooting Week.” National Shooting Week runs from the 23rd-31st May 2009 and gives everyone an opportunity to learn more about shooting and have a go at one of the 200 public open days taking place around the country.
May 09. On 16 June 2009, the Whither Warfare Conference at the Land Warfare Centre in Warminster will investigate how computer-aided visualisation, and the interface between battlespace information systems and the minds of their users, can be improved to derive the full benefits of Network Enabled Capability (NEC). This latest event in the prestigious Whither Warfare series, organised by General Dynamics UK’s Research Foundation in partnership with the Army’s Command & Control Development Centre, will involve an open review of the user’s aspirations and their experiences so far. Industry will then be invited to present to senior UK military commanders what is potentially available to meet the challenges exposed. Guest speakers will include key decision-makers in the UK’s armed forces and defence industry:
* Brig Rob Weighill – Commander Royal Artillery 1 (UK) Armoured Division
* Prof Karen Carr – UK Defence Academy
* Col Crispian Beattie – Command & Control Development Centre
The day’s discussions will be lead by Sir Keith O’Nions (former Chief Scientific Adviser to the MoD) and Major General (retired) Bill Robins, with sessions chaired by Professor Christopher Elliot and General Dynamics UK’s Chief Scientist, Jim Ironside. Professor Christopher Elliott, Director of the Whither Warfare series, said: “Excellent progress has been made in the area of Network Enabled Capability but most attention is still currently focussed on the continuing use of paper maps and bird tables in command posts. The issue of visualisation is central to deriving the benefit of NEC, so continuing the debate is vital.”
19 May 09. Twelve limbless ex service men are emb