LOCATIONS
LAND
05 Aug 10. Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc. has completed the relocation of its Embedded Computing business group headquarters to an expanded facility near Washington, D.C. At its new location in Ashburn, VA, Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing (CWCEC) will occupy 30,900 square feet on two floors, housing the business group’s executive offices. The new facility provides approximately 50% more space than the company occupied in its previous location in Leesburg, VA, and can accommodate up to 100 employees.
“We are very excited about the relocation and expansion of CWCEC’s headquarters,” said David Adams, Co-Chief Operating Officer of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. “The new facility is strategically located closer to a number of our key customers, and the expanded engineering and test resources will significantly enhance the growth of our digital signal processing (DSP) and high-density multicomputing product offerings.”
AIR BASES
09 Aug 10. The Colombian Army plans to build a new aviation division to accommodate more airplanes in its military operations. Colombian Army commander General Oscar Gonzalez said the need for a new aviation division was due to increased military control over the territory.
The commander said the new division would also fulfil the need to provide transport for troops. He said the US and Brazil were the only countries in the hemisphere to have an army aviation division, according to the Colombia Reports. (Source: airforcetechnology.com)
MARITIME
03 Aug 10. While appearing at Portsmouth Navy Days the first of the Royal Navy’s new Type 45 Class destroyers, HMS Daring, was declared formally available for tasking on Saturday 31 July 2010. HMS Daring was commissioned into the Royal Navy fleet in July 2009. Since then the ship has been undertaking a series of MOD-managed trials and acceptance
activities to test and confirm the ship’s technical capability and ensure that it is ready to join the Royal Navy as a front line warship. This period has included Daring’s crew undertaking rigorous basic operational sea training and the Type 45 making its first overseas visit, to Ireland. Now, the 7,500-tonne ship can officially begin to play a key role in various operations around the world. HMS Daring’s ability to operate a range of helicopters from its flight deck and embark up to 60 troops, in addition to the ship’s own company, make the warship a versatile Royal Naval asset, able to support land forces and carry out humanitarian missions. (Source: ASD Network)
26 Jul 10. Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers: Six Yards Involved. Construction of the First of Class started at the Cammell Laird yard in Birkenhead on 26 Jul 10. The yard is to build two of the sections making up the ship’s flight deck and the work is worth £44m to Cammell Laird. Five other yards are involved in construction: Appledore, Govan, Portsmouth, Rosyth and Tyne. 80,000 tonnes of steel have been ordered for the two vessels (QUEEN ELIZABETH and PRINCE OF WALES).
Comment: On 19 Jul 10 the Defence Equipment Minister confirmed that the current estimate for the manufacture of the two carriers is £5,200m. Construction in the six yards is supporting some 10,000 jobs, with additional thousands contributing through the supply chain. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/31, 09 Aug 10)
06 Aug 10. MV Hurst Point: Rough Passage. Penguin News (6 Aug 10) reports that MV Hurst Point encountered bad weather 400 miles North
of the Falkland Islands. An unusually large wave, in a 54 knot wind, resulted in “significant damage” to deck cargo and vehicles.
Comment: MV Hurst Point is one of six Ro-Ro vessels operated for the MoD by Foreland Shipping (formerly AWSR) under a private finance contract which runs until 31 Dec 24. The ships are mainly employed in transporting stores in support of OP HERRICK, but they also make regular voyages to the Falkland Islands and to Canada and Norway in support of Exercises.