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Job – Mechanical Engineer – CWEW in Plymouth
Location: Plymouth, UK
Salary: £13.48 – £19.03 Per hour
Job type: Contract
Category: Energy/Offshore/Mining & Marine
Job Reference: 146802SCR
Posted on: 14 Jul 2018
About the Role:
Mechanical Fitter required for work within the controlled weapons and engineering workshop (CWEW) onsite at Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth.
Job Requirements:
Undertake installation, repair and maintenance on Weapons Systems and Equipment.
Competent to work on mechanical equipment and systems in the marine defence and commercial industry.
Read drawings, interpret work instructions and perform the work to time, cost and quality.
To be able to carry out surveys and pre-refit examinations of equipment, machinery and structures / fittings.
Set to work by the use of test equipment.
Carry out functional testing.
Competent to use general workshop machinery and hand tools related to the role of mechanical fitter.
Cleaning up of own work arisings.
Slinging duties as required.
Any other task within the individual’s competence as directed by the Company.
LOCATIONS
LAND
18 Jul 18. GKN Aerospace is establishing a new wiring facility in India to support expansion in Asia.
- $10m investment in wholly owned wiring interconnection systems business
- New facility to create 800 jobs for highly skilled operators and engineers
GKN Fokker Elmo and the State of Maharashtra (India) have signed an MOU for investment in a second manufacturing facility for wiring interconnection systems in India at the Farnborough Air Show today. The new site, a fully owned GKN Aerospace business, is located in Pune in the state Maharashtra and is scheduled to come on line in the fourth quarter of 2018. Production will start in the first quarter of 2019, the work force is expected to grow to 800 in 2027. The site will focus on the assembly of wiring systems for commercial aircraft and will operate alongside the existing Joint Venture for wiring systems in Bangalore which is serving the defense market. The plans also include the installation of proprietary wiring design and manufacturing system, a unique tool that is rolled out globally throughout all manufacturing locations worldwide to ensure the same high quality everywhere in the world. GKN Aerospace, GKN Driveline and GKN Powder Metallurgy have made significant investment in India in recent years. The three businesses operate eight locations in India with 2000 employees. India is an important country in GKN Aerospace’s plan to expand the Asian footprint. GKN Aerospace recently also announced a new facility in Malaysia, another element of the Asian expansion plan. By the time both sites are fully up-and-running, around 15% of GKN Aerospace’s employees are expected to be based in Asia. Pune offers favourable conditions in the areas of business development, labour, education & training and infrastructure. It also has an excellent location relative to the company’s major customers in India.
John Pritchard, CEO Aerostructures and Systems Europe and Asia said: “This electrical wiring systems site will be the first aerospace facility fully owned by us in India. It strengthens our enduring partnership with this country. The growth of the aerospace industry in India is robust and we need to be close to our customers. The support of the regional government has been vital, we look forward to the opening of the site at the end of this year.”
17 Jul 18. BAE Systems Announces $45.5m Expansion in Huntsville, Alabama, to Accommodate Business Growth. BAE Systems, the third-largest defense contractor in the world, is expanding its operations in Huntsville, Alabama, with a $45.5m project that is expected to create hundreds of new jobs over the coming years.
“Our expansion in Huntsville provides us a great opportunity to establish a closer working relationship with our critical customers in the U.S. Army and the Redstone Arsenal community,” said Paul Markwardt, vice president and general manager of Survivability, Targeting, and Sensing Solutions at BAE Systems. “Huntsville is an ideal location to attract the key talent needed to develop and deliver important new capabilities to our customers.”
The company’s multi-phase growth plan includes the immediate expansion of its offices on Discovery Drive and the development of a new state-of-the-art manufacturing and office space facility in the Cummings Research Park. Work at the site will consist of new programs and existing business, including the design, development, and manufacturing of precision munitions and aircraft survivability technology. The increased capacity will enable the company to execute on its commitments to customers while positioning it to address surging demand for key products within its Electronic Systems business. BAE Systems is working with local Huntsville developer Samples Properties, Fuqua & Partners Architects, and Pearce Construction to build its new 83,000-square-foot facility, which will include engineering development space, manufacturing space, and laboratory space to support the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). A 20-acre lot for the building will also provide expansion room for phased growth in the future. Construction of the new building will begin this year and is expected to be complete in 2019. The company currently has more than 380 employees in Alabama primarily at two facilities at Anniston and Albertville. The Anniston facility produces the majority of the forged track components for the U.S. inventory of tracked combat vehicles. The Albertville facility is an aircraft modification and integration center for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, serving both DoD and civilian customers. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
16 Jul 18. Lockheed Martin to set up base in north Wales. Global aerospace giant Lockheed Martin is to open an operation in north Wales as part of a £38m investment plan. It will be set up at a new Advanced Manufacturing and Research Institute (AMRI) in Sealand, Flintshire. Speaking to BBC Wales, Economy Secretary Ken Skates said companies like this “only invest in areas with a strong skill base. Having the weight of Lockheed Martin behind the AMRI is important,” Mr Skates added.
UK Defence Procurement Minister Guto Bebb said: “As we look to our post-Brexit future, it is crucial that we create, develop and strengthen our relations with international partners across defence.” Lockheed Martin says it will work to strengthen supply chains and support the development of the advanced manufacturing and technology sectors.
Rick Edwards, Executive Vice President for Lockheed Martin International, claimed the firm’s expertise would be “invaluable in helping the UK to be a world leader in defence and aerospace”. Some initial objectives of the partnership include working with the UK Space Agency and a £13m investment to develop and launch small satellite capabilities. (Source: Google/BBC)
MARITIME
17 Jul 18. US Navy’s Arleigh Burke destroyer Frank E Petersen Jr launched. The US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) guided missile destroyer, the future USS Frank E Petersen Jr (DDG 121), has been launched at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. HII’s multi-day vessel-launching process involved the movement of the ship from the land-level facility to a floating dry dock using Ingalls Shipbuilding’s railcar system. The dry dock was then slowly flooded until the ship was afloat, enabling workers to carry out its final outfitting and production. HII Ingalls Shipbuilding president Brian Cuccias said: “This is the one of the most significant milestones in the life of any ship.
“Our shipbuilders implement such an organised launch plan and they have once again executed it in a quality manner. We are proud to have DDG 121 one step closer to completion and look forward to presenting this invaluable asset to the navy fleet in the future.”
DDG 121 has been named after the US Marine Corps’ (USMC) first African-American aviator and general officer, Frank Emmanuel Petersen Jr. It is equipped with the US Navy’s Aegis Combat System Baseline 9 and is able to deliver quick reaction times, high firepower and increased electronic countermeasure capabilities for anti-air warfare missions. The future USS Frank E Petersen Jr is being configured as a Flight IIA destroyer and will enable power projection, forward presence and escort operations at sea in support of low-intensity conflict / coastal and littoral offshore warfare, in addition to open ocean conflict operations. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are multi-mission vessels that are capable of carrying out a wide range of operations, ranging from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. The ships feature both offensive and defensive weapons and can conduct air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously. (Source: naval-technology.com)
13 Jul 18. Littoral Combat Ship 13 (Wichita) Completes Acceptance Trials Ship slated for delivery to U.S. Navy this year. Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 13, the future USS Wichita, completed Acceptance Trials in the waters of Lake Michigan. LCS 13 is the seventh Freedom-variant LCS designed and built by the Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)-led industry team, and is slated for delivery to the U.S. Navy later this summer.
“LCS 13’s completion of Acceptance Trials means this ship is one step closer to joining the fleet and conducting critical maritime operations for the Navy,” said Joe DePietro, vice president, Small Combatants and Ship Systems at Lockheed Martin. “This ship is agile, powerful and lethal, and the industry team and I are looking forward to her delivery, commissioning and deployment.”
The trials, conducted July 9-12, included a full-power run, maneuverability testing and air detect-to-engage demonstrations of the ship’s combat system. Major systems and features were demonstrated including aviation support, and small boat launch handling and recovery.
“I am extremely proud of our LCS team including our shipbuilders at Fincantieri Marinette Marine,” said Jan Allman, Fincantieri Marinette Marine President and CEO. “These are complex vessels, and it takes a strong team effort to design, build and test these American warships.”
The future USS Wichita is one of eight ships in various stages of production and test at Fincantieri Marinette Marine, with one more in long-lead production. The next Freedom-variant in the class is LCS 15, the future USS Billings. LCS 15 is scheduled to complete sea trials this year.
AIR
18 Jul 18. Pakistan Navy receives first of two ATR-72 MPAs. The Pakistan Navy (PN) received the first of two ATR-72 twin-engine turboprops converted into maritime patrol aircraft (MPAs) in the second quarter of 2018, Aerodata, a company involved in the process, announced in a 2 July statement. The delivery “represents a major milestone for Rheinland Air Service as prime contractor and Aerodata as the key project partner”, said the Germany-based company without revealing the expected delivery date for the second platform. Rheinland Air Service had signed a contract in 2015 to convert two ATR-72 aircraft already owned by the Pakistan Navy into MPAs. The company performed the overall project management, acquisition of key components, all physical aircraft modification work, and pilot training, according to the statement. Aerodata’s scope of work included the delivery of its AeroMission mission management system, all system integration activities, engineering tasks to convert the ATR-72 from the transport into a maritime patrol configuration, delivery of parts for the aircraft modification, as well as customer training and support. Work on the project commenced in January 2016 after export approvals were received from the German government. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
18 Jul 18. Longsword in ‘holding pattern’ while L3 waits on launch customer. The L3 Aerospace Systems–Air Tractor AT-802L Longsword light attack aircraft is waiting on a launch customer to be signed up before the weapons certification process can proceed, Jane’s was told on 18 July. Speaking at the Farnborough Airshow, L3’s senior project manager for the Longsword, David Delzell, said that a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customer must first be signed up before the US Air Force (USAF) will agree to put the light attack turboprop through its Seek Eagle process, whereby the service certifies that weapons can be carried and separate safely from an aircraft, and that they can hit the target.
“Weapons certification is the next step [for the Longsword], but without an FMS customer we are currently in a holding pattern,” Delzell told Jane’s, adding that the company has done everything needed for weapons certification short of going through the Seek Eagle process itself.
While Delzell said that L3 has “a number” of active export campaigns ongoing for its Longsword, the FMS deal that it is understood to be waiting on to kick-start the weapons certification process is for 12 aircraft to Kenya. The proposed USD418m deal (which also includes two AT-504 trainer turboprops) was first disclosed in January 2017, but has been subject to a number of investigations from bodies such as the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the US Congressional Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (the principal oversight committee of the House of Representatives), as well as from congressman Ted Budd, who represents the North Carolina-based IOMAX, which offers a similarly configured Archangel Border Patrol Aircraft (BPA). The GAO reported in September 2017 that it has no concerns with the proposed sale, though a contract has yet to be signed. Delzell declined to comment on the current status of this proposed sale. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
18 Jul 18. Laos receives four repaired Mi-17 helicopters. Russian Helicopters, part of state corporation Rostec, has delivered a batch of four repaired Mi-17 helicopters to the Lao People’s Liberation Army Air Force (LPLAAF), the company announced in a 12 July statement. The transfer of the platforms, which took place during a ceremony held at an air base in Vientiane, completed the first service contract between the Russian holding company and the Lao Ministry of Defence, said the statement, adding that the Mi-17s were repaired by a “mobile group of specialists of JSC 356 ARP”, which is part of the company. Russian Helicopters also said that it has prepared a proposal for the repair of another batch of “Mi-17-type helicopters”.(Source: IHS Jane’s)
17 Jul 18. USAF completes all flight testing on Boeing’s KC-46A Pegasus tanker. The US Air Force (USAF) has completed all flight testing on the KC-46A Pegasus military aerial refuelling aircraft, reaching a major milestone for the tanker’s delivery in October. The Boeing-built tanker has concluded its military type and receiver certification testing with the USAF’s KC-135, F-16 and C-17 aircraft.
Boeing KC-46A Tanker vice-president and programme manager Mike Gibbons said: “This is a significant achievement for the Boeing airforce team and continues us on our path to first delivery in October.”
Having commenced in April, receiver certification testing was carried out from Boeing Field in Seattle, US, and Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) in California, US. During the trial, the KC-46A Pegasus and the receiver jet travelled at different airspeeds, altitudes and configurations to demonstrate compatibility and performance throughout each receiver’s refuelling process. In April, the Pegasus test team completed supplemental type certificate flight testing on the tanker. Once deployed into service with the USAF, the KC-46 aircraft will be capable of refuelling military aircraft using its hose and drogue, and boom systems. The boom enables the aircraft to transfer up to 1,200 gallons of fuel every minute, while the hose and drogue systems allow the tanker to refuel smaller aircraft with up to 400 gallons of fuel a minute. In addition, the tanker needs to be able to take on fuel in order to extend its operational range. Currently, Boeing is on contract for the delivery of the first 34 of the 179 KC-46A Pegasus tankers to the USAF. The KC-46s are being developed at the company’s manufacturing facility in Everett, Washington, US. The KC-46A multirole tanker has been designed to refuel all allied and coalition military aircraft compatible with international aerial refuelling procedures, along with being capable of carrying passengers, cargo, and patients. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
16 Jul 18. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today at Farnborough International Airshow (FIAS) introduced the LM-100J “FireHerc,” a civil-certified firefighting airtanker variant of the proven C-130J Super Hercules that is the airlifter of choice for 18 nations around the world. The LM-100J is the commercial freighter production model of the C-130J Super Hercules and an updated version of the legacy L-100 commercial Hercules freighter. The LM-100J is flying at and on static display at this year’s FIAS. C-130s — legacy Hercules, Super Hercules and L-100s — have flown millions of hours in support of missions for military and civilian operators around the world for more than 60 years, which includes supporting firefighting missions for more than 40 years. The LM-100J FireHerc builds on this proven experience and offers advanced capabilities to support aerial firefighting requirements for decades to come.
“With the presence of wildfires increasing on a global scale, there is a real-time need to provide more advanced assets to protect our people, communities and environment,” said George Shultz, vice president and general manager, Air Mobility & Maritime Missions at Lockheed Martin. “As a variant of the C-130J Super Hercules, the FireHerc delivers a powerful combination of established performance advantages and innovative technology that will truly change the way we fight and defeat wildfires.”
The Hercules plays a vital role in firefighting by dispersing retardant to contain and control fires in locations with complex terrain and compromised operating conditions. The FireHerc’s straight-wing design and turboprop power plant allows it to excel in supporting this challenging low-level, low-speed firefighting mission profile like no other large airtanker in operation. Additional FireHerc advantages include:
- Advanced flight deck avionics that provide outstanding situational awareness and modern safety features to protect and guide flight crews through challenging conditions.
- The ability to support two different retardant dispersion solutions: the gravity-drop based Coulson Aviation RADS Product Line or the pressure-type dispersal Modular Aerial Firefighting System II (MAFFS II). Both have been certified by the U.S. Forest Service on the Hercules platform to meet strict ground coverage standards.
- A path to support night firefighting with advanced integrated technology, allowing responders to combat fires on an unprecedented 24/7 cycle — providing an unmatched advantage against nature.
13 Jul 18. Boeing [NYSE: BA] and U.S Air Force teams recently achieved a major KC-46 tanker program milestone, completing all flight testing required for first delivery. This past week, the KC-46 team concluded both its Military Type Certification testing and receiver certification testing with KC-135, F-16 and C-17 aircraft.
“This is a significant achievement for the Boeing-Air Force team and continues us on our path to first delivery in October,” said Mike Gibbons, Boeing KC-46A tanker vice president and program manager. “Great teamwork all around!”
Receiver certification, which began in April, was conducted from Boeing Field in Seattle and Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. As part of the testing, KC-46 and receiver aircraft flew at different airspeeds, altitudes and configurations to ensure compatibility and performance throughout the refueling envelope of each receiver. Receiver certification testing of A-10 and KC-46 has also begun, with final certification of A-10, F/A-18, KC-46, F-15 and B-52 to be completed prior to the start of Initial Operational Test & Evaluation testing.
“Our main focus now is obtaining the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the Federal Aviation Administration as well formal Military Type Certification (MTC) from the U.S. Air Force,” Gibbons said.
The KC-46 test team completed STC flight testing in April and is now working through associated paperwork prior to STC award. The program has six aircraft that have supported various segments of STC and MTC testing. Overall they have completed 3,300 flight hours and offloaded two million pounds of fuel during refueling flights with F-16, F/A-18, AV-8B, C-17, A-10, KC-10 and KC-46 aircraft. The KC-46, derived from Boeing’s commercial 767 airframe, is built in the company’s Everett, Wash., facility. Boeing is currently on contract for the first 34 of an expected 179 tankers for the U.S. Air Force. When in service, the KC-46 will refuel U.S., allied and coalition military aircraft using its boom and hose and drogue systems, but also must be able to take on fuel to extend its operational range. The boom allows the tanker to transfer up to 1,200 gallons of fuel per minute, while the hose and drogue systems, located on both the plane’s wing and centerline, enables the KC-46 to refuel smaller aircraft with up to 400 gallons of fuel per minute. The KC-46A is a multirole tanker that is designed to refuel all allied and coalition military aircraft compatible with international aerial refueling procedures and can carry passengers, cargo and patients.
PLANT CLOSURES, JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
17 Jul 18. The UK procurement minister is out after six months. Britain lost its defense procurement minister Monday evening when Guto Bebb became the latest victim of the Conservative government’s handling of Brexit. Bebb resigned barely six months after his appointment to oversee the Ministry of Defence’s £14bn annual procurement and support budget. The procurement minister attended the opening day of the Farnborough Airshow July 16 and was scheduled to be at the event for the bulk of the week helping support Britain’s defense effort. Bebb quit to vote in Parliament against government concessions to Brexit supporters in a customs bill laying out British proposals for exiting the European Union. One industry executive, who asked not to be named, said that while Bebb had only been in office a brief time he had generally left a good impression.
“He challenged, he was engaged and got involved in the process of how procurement works at the MoD,” the executive said.
It’s not the first time the government has lost a defense minister during Farnborough. In 2014, then Defence Secretary Philip Hammond was moved to oreign secretary the day after the show started. Michael Fallon replaced him at the MoD. A replacement for Bebb is expected to be named in the next day or so. (Source: Defense News)
18 Jul 18. Texas Instruments announced the resignation of its chief executive, Brian Crutcher, after fewer than seven weeks in the job, owing to “violations” of the company’s code of conduct, relating to personal behaviour. Rich Templeton, who Mr Crutcher replaced on June 1, will reassume his role as CEO on an “ongoing, indefinite basis”. (Source: FT.com)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
19 Jul 18. Afghan army’s 205th Corps sets up quick-response company. The Afghan National Army’s (ANA’s) 205th Corps has increased its combat capabilities with the establishment of a new quick-response unit called the Eagle Strike Company, according to an 18 July statement by the US Department of Defense (DoD). The company, which was formed by selecting soldiers from across the four brigades of the 205th Corps, “is designed to be used to take back overrun checkpoints and district centres that are under attack”, US Army Major Danny Zimmer, 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade advisor, was quoted by the DoD as saying. “[These soldiers] can be inserted in these locations via aircraft or by ground with minimal planning,” he added. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
18 Jul 18. Indian Army shelves plans for new fighting corps. The Indian Army (IA) has shelved plans to raise a new 90,270-strong Mountain Strike Corps (MSC) that was set to be deployed along India’s disputed border with China. Senior IA officers told Jane’s on 18 July that the establishment of the proposed ‘17 Mountain Strike Corps’, the creation of which had been approved by the Ministry of Defence in July 2013 for an estimated INR600bn (USD875m), has been put on hold due to an enduring financial resource crunch.
“The MSC project has been indefinitely postponed, given the army’s continuing paucity of funds,” said military analyst Major General Sheru Thapliyal (retd), adding that “it is difficult to predict if and when this could be revived”. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
18 Jul 18. UK to recruit more Gurkha soldiers. New units containing more than 800 Nepalese Gurkha soldiers are to be formed by the British Army in 2019 as part of a drive to compensate for continuing poor recruitment and retention among its home-recruited units. The largest unit to be formed is a 270-strong specialist infantry battalion, which will be assigned missions to advise and train allied and partner forces, a British Army spokesman confirmed to Jane’s on 16 July. Company-sized units of engineers and communications and transport specialists are also to be formed as part of the uplift of the Brigade of Gurkhas, and will be based in the United Kingdom. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
17 Jul 18. Taiwan commissions first Apache attack helicopter brigade. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) commissioned its first air brigade equipped with Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters on 17 July. The 29 Apache helicopters will be operated by Republic of China Army’s (RoCA’s) 601st Air Cavalry Brigade, which operates under the Army Aviation and Special Forces Command (AASFC) based in Taoyuan’s Longtan District in northern Taiwan. The 601st Air Cavalry Brigade is made up of two Apache squadrons, the first of which was commissioned in July 2017. The second one passed operational readiness evaluations earlier this year. The AH-64Es operated by the RoCA are armed with a 30 mm M230 chain gun and can carry, among other things, AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, Hydra-70 2.75-inch rocket pods and AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles, with the exact loadout depending on the operational requirements. The platforms are also equipped with the AN/APG-78 Longbow fire-control target acquisition radar, which gives the helicopter day/night, all-weather, 360° search capabilities for both air and ground targets up to a range of 8km. Taiwan purchased 30 Boeing Apache helicopters from the United States in 2008 for USD1.94bn and took delivery of the final batch in October 2014. One of the helicopters was badly damaged in a training accident in April 2014. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said the two Apache squadrons will “play a pivotal role in boosting Taiwan’s combat capabilities and its defensive needs”. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
12 Jul 18. New SCO head will be in place by end of July. And DIUx is next. The Pentagon’s Strategic Capabilities Office has a new leader. We just don’t know their name yet. Michael Griffin, the Pentagon’s undersecretary for research and engineering, told reporters Thursday that he has made an offer, and it has been accepted, for a new director of the SCO. In addition, Griffin said he is in the midst of interviewing candidates to lead the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, the Pentagon’s Silicon Valley outpost. The expectation is that the new SCO head will be announced by the “end of July,” Griffin said. The office, which focuses on taking existing technologies and finding new capabilities for them, has been empty since Will Roper left to become the head of acquisitions for theU.S. Air Force. Roper was the founder of the office and led it since its creation. The leadership for DIUx is less clear. The office has been working under interim director Sean Heritage since Raj Shah, who had led the team for two years, left in February. The technology hub has since created a new chair for a Washington-focused partner, Michael Madsen, to coalesce support for the office inside the Capital Beltway. For his part, Griffin was effusive talking about DIUx, saying he had interviewed “several people” so far for a group that provides engagement with “the highest tech, fastest moving, most innovative portions of our industrial base.” Although he hopes to have a new person in place for DIUx by the “end of summer,” Griffin said he feels the need to go slow and find the right leader as opposed to rushing to fill that spot. “I’d rather take my time and interview a number of people because I do see it as, it’s not the largest budget item we have by any means. but it is a really important niche to me,” Griffin said. “It’s really important to me to find ways that we can engage with [companies that are] maybe the least able to cope with the DoD contracting machinery, but which can add real value. “I really mean that. So, I want to get the right person.” (Source: Defense News)
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
17 Jul 18. USAF has new acting CIO. Bill Marion is now the Air Force’s acting chief information officer, according to the service’s CIO website. Marion takes over for Lt. Gen. Bradford Shwedo, who was recently named to director for command, control, communications and computers/cyber and chief information officer of the Joint Staff. Marion will oversee a variety of initiatives for the Air Force in the technology and communications space, such as data center consolidation, cloud computing, mobility and unified capabilities. He has worked as the service’s deputy chief for information dominance and deputy chief information officer at the Pentagon since May 2016. In the deputy role, Marion helps support an IT portfolio valued at $17bn. His portfolio includes IT investment strategy, networks and network-centric policies, communications, information resources management, and information assurance for the Air Force. Marion has a master’s degree from St. Mary’s University in Texas and a bachelor’s from Incarnate Word College, according to his Air Force biography. The service has not publicly named a replacement for Shwedo yet. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
INDUSTRY
19 Jul 18. Lockheed Martin’s (NYSE: LMT) Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Marillyn A. Hewson pledged that the company will create 8,000 new apprenticeship opportunities and invest $5m in vocational and trade programs over the next five years as President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order establishing the President’s National Council for the American Worker. The $5m investment in vocational and trade programs is part of Lockheed Martin’s previously announced tax reform savings plan, which includes a $50m investment in support of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) scholarships and a $100m investment to expand employee training and educational opportunities over the next five years.
“The U.S. aerospace and defense industry relies predominantly on an American workforce and is disproportionally impacted by the shortage of skilled manufacturing workers to fill critical jobs,” said Marillyn A. Hewson, Lockheed Martin chairman, president and chief executive officer. “The president has raised this issue to a level of national urgency and we are ready to do our part. Lockheed Martin’s pledge demonstrates our commitment to enacting workforce solutions that keep pace with technological innovation, preparing workers for the challenges of the 21st Century and helping to secure American prosperity and national security.”
The president’s newly formed council will develop and implement a national workforce strategy to address the growing skills gap in vocational workers’ readiness for current jobs and careers of the future. Consistent with the administration’s goals and Lockheed Martin’s workforce development priorities, the 8,000 new opportunities to upskill current and future employees will include:
* Internships available to high-school students for non-full-time aerospace and defense positions to learn and develop job-specific knowledge
* Rotation Programs available to newly hired employees that provide opportunities for rotational job experiences and leadership training
* Mid-Career Development Programs that offer continuous learning for mid-career employees to ensure their skills remain current with evolving job requirements and emerging technologies
* Technical Apprentice Programs that focus on a specific trade or skill and offer credentials along with the opportunity for employment post program completion
These initiatives will impact not only college-bound students, but also individuals interested in entering vocational trades, unemployed or displaced workers, and veterans, which make up 25 percent of Lockheed Martin’s workforce.
16 Jul 18. US Manufacturing oversight shifts with new Pentagon reorg plan. U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan has signed off on the reorganization plan for the Pentagon’s Acquisition and Sustainment Office, which will include notable changes to the industrial base office. Speaking at the Farnborough Airshow on Monday, two top A&S officials — Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Kevin Fahey and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy Eric Chewning — previewed a few of the big changes to come out of the reorganization effort. The Pentagon’s legacy acquisition, technology and logistics office split into two new offices on Feb. 1 (the undersecretaries of Research and Engineering; and Acquisition and Sustainment, the latter a title held by former Textron executive Ellen Lord. However, both offices had to submit their plans for a redesign of the various assistants and deputies to Shanahan for approval. Big changes are coming to the Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy office headed by Chewning. The manufacturing aspect, including the Department of Defense Manufacturing Technologies (ManTech) program, is being split off and heading to the R&E side, while the Office of Small Business Policy is being folded into the newly rechristened MIBP team.
“Given where we are right now in the world there’s a real need to get back to what I’ll call a real industrial policy capability within the Pentagon, to address the sorts of problems that we know we’re going to face going forward,” Chewning said.
He called it a “back to the future” moment to focus on “core competencies” at a time when the defense-industrial base is under constant attack from abroad, as well as the need to innovate at home. “In the past our industrial policy essentially was our acquisition policy. It was what we bought and how we bought it,” Chewning said. “What I’d like to be able to do is get out in front of that and think about how do we help inform acquisition policy with an industrial policy in support of our modernization objectives.”
Chewning will also keep oversight on the CFIUS foreign investment rules and manage merger and acquisition attempts, among other existing authorities. Under the reorganization, Fahey’s main focus will be on what he calls “portfolio management” of major weapon systems and ongoing programs. However, he will have far fewer systems to focus on than in previous years; as part of the split of AT&L, oversight of all but 11 major defense programs have been delegated down to the armed services. He will also have a new deputy-assistant-secretary-of-defense-level office, focused on “acquisition enablers.” In essence, it will be focused on getting things done — defining commercial items to help companies come into the Pentagon, sort out intellectual property issues and keep track of what contracting methods, such as Other Transaction Authority, are successful. In addition, the Defense Acquisition University will report up to Fahey, with a greater emphasis on real-world education and less on compliance.
“As you can imagine, reform is our focus is how do we change to be able to deliver capabilities at the pace of innovation,” he said. (Source: Defense News)
INDUSTRY TEAMINGS
19 Jul 18. Kellstrom Defense Aerospace, Inc. have been selected by PTI Technologies, an ESCO Technologies company, to distribute their high technology filter elements, modules, filtration, and fluid flow equipment used on fixed wing and rotary military aircraft platforms. Under the recently signed distribution agreement, KDA’s territory will cover all international military operators and global engine repair centers, excluding the U.S. and Japan.
“We are extremely pleased to partner with PTI Technologies to connect their filtration products to the international military market” said Melissa Orr, KDA’s Director of OEM Relationships. “As PTI’s military distributor, Kellstrom Defense will focus on strategic inventory management to expand PTI’s defense customer base.”
Rowland Ellis, Vice President & General Manger of PTI, commented, “We are very pleased to partner with Kellstrom Defense to provide an even greater level of support for international military customers who use PTI products and technology on their aircraft. This partnership represents a significant enhancement of our strong commitment to world class customer support.”
17 Jul 18. Lockheed Martin and Arconic Collaborate on 3D Printing and Advanced Aerospace Materials: Companies Announce Two-Year Joint Development Agreement. As part of an initiative to develop next-generation advanced materials and manufacturing processes, Lockheed Martin and Arconic, a global technology, engineering and advanced manufacturing leader, today announced a two-year Joint Development Agreement (JDA). Together, the companies will develop customized lightweight material systems and advanced manufacturing processes, such as metal 3D printing, to advance current and next-generation aerospace and defense solutions—including new structures and systems not currently in existence. This agreement expands the longstanding relationship between Arconic and Lockheed Martin. The companies currently collaborate on advanced materials and manufacturing projects such as the development of process modeling, simulation tools and lightweight, corrosion resistant alloys. Arconic also supplies Lockheed Martin with a broad portfolio of innovative, multi-material products for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft program—from engine to airframe structures—as well as 3D printed metal parts for service on NASA’s Orion spacecraft.
“At Lockheed Martin, we are relentlessly finding ways to develop materials that create state-of-the-art advanced capabilities, reduce waste and generate efficiencies in manufacturing practices,” said Rod Makoske, Lockheed Martin SVP of Corporate Engineering, Technology and Operations. “Collaborating with Arconic will help us uncover new ideas for materials development where traditional practices aren’t suitable, investigate more sustainable material compositions and find ways to produce materials more effectively.”
“We have a long history of innovative collaboration with Lockheed Martin across multiple platforms—from single-piece forged bulkheads for the F-35 to 3D printed parts for the Orion spacecraft—and we are pleased to expand on that relationship with this new agreement,” said Ray Kilmer, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Arconic. “Lockheed is always innovating, and it is a privilege to apply our materials and manufacturing expertise to help them deliver their next generation of cutting-edge products.”
Arconic provides a range of high performance multi-materials and products for virtually every aero engine and airframe platform. The company’s solutions range from the world’s largest fuselage panels and wing skins, to 1/16-inch-diameter fasteners that hold an aircraft together. Arconic is a leader in additive manufacturing technologies for aerospace. Lockheed Martin’s newly released 2017 Corporate Sustainability Report details how innovative manufacturing techniques – like industrial 3D printing – can allow for greater resource efficiency, less materials used and potentially lower greenhouse gas emissions over the full life cycle of a part. In 2017, Lockheed Martin made progress toward its goal of creating greater manufacturing efficiencies, including completing life-cycle assessments on three products, identifying total cost of ownership reductions of $574m from decreased resource consumption and impacts on human health and the environment. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
PERSONNEL
17 Jul 18. L3 Technologies (NYSE:LLL) announced today that Richard A. Cody, Senior Vice President, Washington Operations, has announced his retirement from the company. Cody joined L3 in 2008 and led the company’s corporate office in Washington, D.C., and served as the chairman of its Political Action Committee. “Dick has contributed significantly to our success over the past 10 years,” said Christopher E. Kubasik, L3’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. “He has been instrumental in analyzing defense policy and the geopolitical environment, as well as maintaining our relationships with military customers and legislative leaders. On behalf of the entire company, I thank him for his leadership and his dedicated service both to L3 and our country. We wish him and his family well in his retirement.”
Cody’s retirement marks the conclusion of a notable career in the U.S. military and aerospace and defense industry. Prior to joining L3, he served as the 31st Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, a position he held from 2004 until his retirement from the U.S. Army in August 2008. He is widely recognized as a military strategist with more than 36 years of service in command and staff positions throughout the Army in the U.S. and overseas. He has also received major military awards and decorations, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star, and was inducted into the Army Aviation Hall of Fame. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
13 Jul 18. Satellite communications innovator and space gateway, Goonhilly Earth Station, today announced the appointment of Bob Gough as Head of Business Development, Australia and Asia-Pacific. Based in Australia, Gough’s role is to spearhead commercial expansion for Goonhilly across the region, develop new business opportunities and grow Goonhilly’s customer base. Gough’s appointment comes just days after the July 1st establishment of the Australian Space Agency, signalling a major step forward in developing space-based opportunities to enhance businesses and communities in the region. Goonhilly offers unmatched connectivity to businesses seeking international expansion. It provides access to all global satellite constellations, interconnected with bundles of subsea cables delivering worldwide high-capacity terrestrial reach, and local ultrafast fibre broadband. As a result, Goonhilly can serve as the gateway to the world and to space for regional satellite operators, broadcasters and enterprises based in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific markets.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
15 Jul 18. L3 Technologies Inc (LLL.N) said on Sunday it hired former senior Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) executive Steve O’Bryan as its global chief of business development, the latest in a series of appointments aimed at expanding the company’s reach. O’Bryan’s departure from Lockheed this past spring had come as a surprise to many in the industry, given his long years of work drumming up business for the company’s F-35 fighter jet and in more recent years, helicopters, warships and other weapons. (Source: Reuters)
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
16 Jul 18. Airbus Helicopters appoints new India head. Airbus has appointed a new head of helicopter operations in India. The group said on 17 July that Ashish Saraf will lead the helicopter division of Airbus India across civil, defence, and paramilitary domains. The appointment of Saraf, who has been vice-president at Airbus India since 2015, is effective 1 July when he takes over from Xavier Hay, current president of Airbus India’s helicopter business. Airbus said Hay will take over new responsibilities outside India. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/IHS Jane’s)
19 Jul 18. Queensland-based Gilmour Space Technologies has announced the appointment of two space veterans to its advisory board as it prepares to enter the global small launch market in 2020. “We are very proud to welcome Professor Dava Newman and Colonel Pamela Melroy as senior advisers to the board,” said Gilmour Space Technologies chief executive and founder Adam Gilmour. Colonel (Ret’d) Pamela Melroy is a retired officer in the US Air Force, a test pilot and ex-NASA astronaut and Space Shuttle commander. She has held senior roles in the US Federal Aviation Administration, Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency, and in various defence companies in the US and Australia. (Source: Defence Connect)
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