LOCATIONS
LAND
13 Jun 14. General Dynamics UK inaugurated its latest pioneering defence innovation centre in Oakdale. The opening ceremony was conducted by Chris Evans, Member of Parliament for Islwyn, and Andy Nicholson, Head of the UK Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE), in the presence of guests representing the British Army, Welsh Government, academia and small business. The new EDGE UK® facility in Oakdale brings General Dynamics UK, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and academia together to develop innovative solutions to meet customer requirements in the defence market. The Oakdale facility builds upon the successes of the original EDGE UK that opened in 2008 at the company’s Newbridge site. The facility provides SMEs and academia with access to a wealth of expertise and equipment to progress their projects, in the UK and worldwide as part of the EDGE Innovation network, and provides a business focus that enables collaborative projects to deliver innovative solutions to meet current UK Armed Forces requirements in rapid time. The support from the Welsh Government, as part of its Open Innovation pilot project that was launched in July 2013, has allowed the EDGE UK to undertake an increased number of projects with high-tech small businesses and academia over the last year, whilst hosting regular visits from senior UK Army representatives, politicians and industry bodies, including CBI Wales and the ESTnet, the electronic and software technologies network for Wales.
10 Jun 14. Skanska has signed a design and construction contract to build the new Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration at Worthy Down in Hampshire, UK, along with supporting infrastructure and accommodation. Skanska will also act as development manager for the redevelopment of the Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut site in Surrey where approximately 1,200 homes, a school and other facilities will be built. The total contract value is approximately GBP 250m, about SEK 2.7bn, which will be included in order bookings for Skanska UK for the second quarter of 2014. Work is due to start in June 2014 and to conclude at Worthy Down in the summer of 2018.
MARITIME
10 Jun 14. Plan to get first homegrown carrier by 2017, claims local media. The first homegrown Chinese aircraft carrier is under construction at Dalian and will enter service by 2017, according to the June 2014 issue of Shipborne Weapons, a Chinese-language magazine detailing various naval weapon developments. In an article titled ‘Prospects for Chinese Carrier Strike Groups’, the magazine claims it has official data regarding the follow-on vessels to the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN’s) first carrier, Liaoning (CV16). Dr Martin Andrew, a specialist in Chinese military affairs, translated the article for his GI Zhou Newsletter and told IHS Jane’s he thought it was a credible source. The article claims that China plans to field three additional aircraft carriers by 2019. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
09 Jun 14. China reveals possible new variant of Qing-class submarine. A model said to be of the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN’s) new Qing (Type 032)-class diesel-electric test submarine was displayed at a shipping expedition held in the southern China province of Guangdong from 6-8 June. Reports carried by Chinese state media described the submarine as a 3,797 tonne vessel that can carry a crew of 200 sailors and researchers. It is said to be 92.6 m long with a height of 17.2 m. Images of the model displayed indicated that the Type 032 vessel is equipped with what appears to be two vertical launching systems and two torpedo tubes. Also visible are two forward hydroplanes not seen on earlier images of the Type 032, although much of the vessel’s superstructure does not seem to have deviated from earlier images of the Qing-class submarine. The vessels is said to be built with a double hull and has a maximum dive depth of 200m. A report by IHS Jane’s in July 201