LOCATIONS
17 Apr 07. The Princess Royal meets key female scientists and opens new centre on QinetiQ’s Malvern site. HRH The Princess Royal, in her capacity as Royal Patron of The WISE (Women into Science, Engineering and Construction) campaign, formally opened QinetiQ’s new Malvern ‘Tom Elliott’ Centre and was invited to learn more about QinetiQ’s research activities from a number of the company’s leading female scientists and engineers.
16 Apr 07. Rolls-Royce opened a new University Technology Centre (UTC) in Composites at the University of Bristol to further develop this technology for future products across its aerospace, marine and energy markets. The new UTC forms part of the University’s Advanced Composites Centre for Innovation and Science (ACCIS), which was formally launched today in Bristol by Malcolm Wicks MP, the UK Minister for Science and Innovation. (Source: ASD Network)
16 Apr 07. Boeing has opened an office in Bristol to spearhead its FRES bid. Sources suggest that Thales is Boeing’s preferred partner for FRES. Roger Krone of Boeing told BATTLESPACE that Boeing would use its expertise in systems and software in the U.K. to comply with the DIS rather than import actual products.
16 Apr 07. The U.S. Marine Corps announced April 13 that the first MV-22 Osprey deployment would be to Iraq for seven months starting September, where the aircraft’s main role will be carrying troops into combat. The first operational squadron for the Bell-Boeing tiltrotor will be the Marine Medium Tiltrotor 263 of Marine Aircraft Group 26. Although the Ospreys mainly will carry troops, according to Lt. Gen. John Castellaw, deputy commandant for aviation, the aircraft also can be used to carry other cargo such as injured personnel. (Source: Aviation Week)
Apr 07. Northrop Grumman opens office Near NAS Patuxent River to provide 24/7 service to Navy UV customers. Northrop Grumman Corporation opened a new office here to provide dedicated programmatic, engineering and logistics support for Northrop Grumman-produced unmanned air systems (UAS) currently under contract with the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Md. (Source: Shephard)
Apr 07. US military officials discuss executive agency for UAVs. Air Force officials invited Defense representatives to the Pentagon April 13 to discuss the Air Force’s proposal to assume executive agent responsibilities for medium- and high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles. The proposal was put forward March 5 in a memorandum to senior Defense officials from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. The memorandum stated the Air Force’s desire for executive agency of the UAVs, and also indicated its desire to discuss the proposal with other service and combatant command representatives, said Col. Charlie Bartlett, the Air Force deputy director for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, capabilities. (Source: Shephard)
10 Apr 07. India’s Bharati Shipyard eyes Swan Hunter’s Tyneside shipbuilding facilities. Swan Hunter’s Tyneside shipbuilding facilities are to be sold to Indian private-sector shipbuilder Bharati Shipyard Limited.On 10 April a spokesman for Bharati Shipyard, India’s second-largest private sector ship builder, told Jane’s that it intends to acquire the construction machinery and equipment, which Swan Hunter sold to Yorkshire-based tool and machinery auctioning company Fairfield Industries, part of the Middlesbrough-based John Livingston Group, in late 2006. (Source: Jane’s Defence Industry)
16 Mar 07. RAF Bases: Probable Closures. The Armed Forces’ Minister confirmed (16 Mar 07) that there was no further RAF requirement for the Innsworth site beyond 2008. The Junior Defence Minister said (28 Mar 07) that five RAF bases were scheduled for closure: Bentley Priory, Brampton, Innsworth, Lyneham and Uxbridge.
Comment: There is a strong possibility that the Innsworth site in Gloucestershire will house army person