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TopEngineer.com Job Of the Week!
Job – Systems Engineer (Communications) in Bristol
Location: Bristol, UK
Salary: TBD
Job type: Contract
Category: Defence Engineering
Job Reference: 1154271
Posted on: 1 Nov 2018
About the Role:
Communications Systems Engineer required for long term assignment based in Bristol
As a Systems Engineer, Communications, you will have a key role in the Systems Engineering Team responsible for the design, development and integration of secure communications and network technologies into the client’s Weapon Systems.
Responsibilities:
Essential
* Carry out a range of system engineering activities
o system requirements development and analysis,
o system architecture definition and assessment,
o technical analyses and investigations,
o evaluation and selection of technical options,
o development of technical specifications and interface control documentation
o technical reporting
* Architecture driven design using SysML/UML within Rhapsody, to define suitable candidate system architectures for assessment.
* Definition of data flows and information exchange requirements
* Develop designs in line with specifications and all quality and technical standards.
* Carry out technical investigations and analysis and develop and prepare solutions, individually or as a member of a project team.
* Define test plans, schedules and reports
Ideal
* Plan, control and deliver projects or work packages, ensuring requirements are delivered to plan.
* Carry out planning, risk management and quality activities in line with requirements and processes.
* Support customer in delivering solutions to meet the customer’s requirements and programme.
* Provide help and direction to less experienced team members to support both their effective working and their development.
* Manage and report against the team’s work programmes, including analysis of risk to ensure the team delivers it’s accountabilities.
Essential knowledge: * Degree or equivalent in relevant discipline * Significant, relevant experience * Analytical and problem solving skills * Practical knowledge of SysML, UML, Rhapsody, DOORS for system architecture definition * Sound understanding of the system design process * Good verbal and written communications * Experience in the use of Enterprise Architectures * Team Player with positive collaborative behaviours * Excellent ‘can do’ attitude and pro-active behaviours
Modis International Ltd acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. Modis International Ltd UK is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
LOCATIONS
LAND
06 Nov 18. Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia inaugurates new facility in presence of the Australian Minister of Defence. The Australian Minister for Defence, the Honourable Christopher Pyne, the CEO of Safran Electronics & Defense, Martin Sion, and the CEO and General delegate of Safran Pacific, Alexis de Pelleport, opened the new Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia (SEDA) facility in Botany on the 6th of November 2018. The opening marks an important milestone in the company’s history in the region and its commitment to developing Australian Defence Industry capability. As a result of its growth, the previous Bankstown site had become too small for Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia’s increasing industrial footprint and staffing. Safran has decided to relocate its subsidiary to a larger premises in Botany. Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia has already doubled its workforce in 2018 with even more growth expected in 2019. The new facility will house testing and maintenance equipment to support the Australian Armed Forces and will further serve to enhance the company’s ability to rapidly respond to upcoming national and regional programs. The new facility features a state-of-the-art clean room, a laser room, climate testing systems, as well as avionics, inertial navigation and optronic test benches capable of supporting Safran Electronics & Defense’s portfolio of sensors. Specifically, the suite of equipment is also capable of servicing submarine optronic masts. The facility can also be easily expanded to keep pace with the company’s current growth path and opportunities in the Land Air and Maritime domain. The new site is strategically positioned in close proximity to key Defence sites and Sydney Airport which will allow the company to support its customers in Australasia with greater efficiency and agility.
“In line with Safran’s strategy, the opening of this new site enables our local subsidiary Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia to expand and increase its service capabilities towards its Australian customers. The company has provided support to the French and Foreign Military Forces for more than 75 years in optical and navigation systems and we are today focused on providing the same level of support to the Australian Defence Force” said Safran Electronics & Defense Chief Executive Officer, Martin Sion.
Safran has supplied optronic and inertial navigation systems globally to more than 1,000 merchant marine and naval surface ships, as well as 70 nuclear and conventional submarines, A number of modern front-line units are equipped with Safran’s systems, including the new French Barracuda class nuclear attack submarines.
MARITIME
08 Nov 18. US Navy to Christen Expeditionary Fast Transport Puerto Rico. The US Navy christened its newest Expeditionary Fast Transport, the future USNS Puerto Rico (T-EPF 11), during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony Saturday, November 10, at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. The principal speaker was congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón, Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States will serve as the ship’s sponsor. In a time-honored Navy tradition, she will christen the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow.
“This ship honors the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the contributions Puerto Ricans have made to our nation and Navy and Marine Corps team,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “USNS Puerto Rico will provide our commanders high-speed sealift mobility and agility and I am thankful for this ship, her crew, and our industrial force teammates whose service makes this great ship possible.”
The future USNS Puerto Rico, designated T-EPF 11, will be the first active ship in naval service to honor the island in the West Indies east of Hispaniola. An Alaska class cruiser named Puerto Rico (CB-5) was authorized July 19, 1940, but construction was cancelled June 24, 1943. With an all-aluminum shallow-draft hull, the EPF is a commercial-based catamaran capable of intra-theater personnel and cargo lift providing combatant commanders high-speed sealift mobility with inherent cargo handling capability and agility to achieve positional advantage over operational distances. EPF class ships are designed to transport 600 short tons of military cargo 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. The ship is capable of operating in shallow-draft ports and waterways, interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, and on/off-loading a combat-loaded Abrams main battle tank (M1A2). The EPF includes a flight deck for helicopter operations and an off-load ramp that will allow vehicles to quickly drive off the ship. EPF’s shallow draft (under 15 feet) further enhances littoral operations and port access. This makes the EPF an extremely flexible asset for support of a wide range of operations including maneuver and sustainment, relief operations in small or damaged ports, flexible logistics support, or as the key enabler for rapid transport. The EPF program delivered its ninth ship late last year, USNS City of Bismarck (T-EPF 9), with delivery of USNS Burlington (EPF 10) planned for mid-November. Puerto Rico (EPF 11) and Newport (EPF 12) are currently under construction at Austal’s shipyard. (Source: US DoD)
08 Nov 18. US Navy’s Freedom-variant LCS 11 to be commissioned next week. The US Navy’s Freedom-class littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Sioux City (LCS 11), is due to be commissioned into service. On 11 November, the vessel will arrive at Annapolis, Maryland, before being commissioned during a ceremony at the US Naval Academy. It is then scheduled to be commissioned into service on 17 November. Sioux City is the first ship named after the fourth-largest city in Iowa and the 14th littoral combat vessel that has been delivered to the US Navy and the sixth Freedom-variant ship to join the fleet. To date, the future USS Sioux City has carried out several regularly scheduled port visits. The US Navy’s LCS has been designed as a modular, reconfigurable vessel that is capable of meeting validated fleet requirements for surface and anti-submarine warfare, as well as mine countermeasures operations in the littoral region. Equipped with modular weapons, sensor systems and a wide range of manned and unmanned vehicles, the vessels feature an open architecture design that enables the ships to gain, sustain and exploit littoral maritime supremacy, in addition to providing the US joint force access to critical theatres. In May, the future USS Sioux City concluded its acceptance trials, which marked the completion of the final major milestone before its delivery to the navy. The vessel was delivered to the US Navy on 22 August along with the seventh Freedom-class ship, the future USS Wichita (LCS 13). The 378ft-long LCS 11 has a beam of 57.4ft and a full load displacement of 3,500mt and is capable of travelling at a speed of 45k. (Source: naval-technology.com)
08 Nov 18. Third MILGEM corvette delivered to Turkish navy. Burgazada, Turkey’s third corvette built as part of the MILGEM (National Vessel) project, was delivered to the Turkish Naval Forces Command on 4 November. Completion of Kinaliada, the fourth and last MILGEM Ada-class corvette launched on 3 July 2017, is planned to be completed no later than 2020. The corvettes are being built at the Istanbul Shipyard Command and are designed for search and rescue, patrols, and anti-submarine warfare. They each carry a Sea Hawk helicopter. Speaking during the delivery ceremony, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said MILGEM and new submarine projects are critical to the country’s security and deterrence. He also emphasised the importance of relying on local technologies. The MILGEM project has reached local industrial content of over 65%. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
08 Nov 18. The mid-life refit of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, a real industrial challenge, has been completed. The sole prime contractor for the entire mid-life refit of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, Naval Group has returned the vessel to the French Navy. The vessel will now start ramping up its systems before returning to its operational cycle. One sole prime contractor for the entire project. Designed and built by Naval Group and entering service in 2001, the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, further to its modernisation, has now entered the technological era of the 21st century. This mid-life refit included unprecedented renovations and a density of work that gave the project a level of complexity unseen until now. This veritable industrial challenge required exceptional organisation to achieve the real-time coordination of the entire project, Naval Group’s core business.
“We are proud to have completed this exceptional project at the service of the French Navy within the imposed deadlines. I would like to thank in particular our clients, the DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) and the SSF (Service du Soutien de la Flotte), who entrusted us with the responsibility of overall prime contractor. This success is the fruit of a collective effort made possible by the commitment of the aircraft carrier’s crew, Naval Group’s teams, those of the Defence sector’s major original equipment manufacturers such as Technicatome, Thales or Safran, the generalist companies and the SMEs originating mainly from the local and regional industrial fabric”, underlines Nathalie Smirnov, Senior Vice Président Services at Naval Group.
An in-depth refit
The in-depth renovation of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier was performed to ensure the vessel’s operational performance levels for the next 25 years and ensure that it maintains its technological advance at the service of France’s interests. This refit focused on three major challenges. Firstly, the modernisation of the combat system in particular with the modernisation of the tactical system, the brain that manages the sensors and weapons, the installation of new digital networks, the complete replacement of the Control Room, the renovation of the telecommunications systems, the replacement of the air search and navigation radars. Secondly, the modernisation of the aviation installations covered all the necessary modifications to switch to an “all-Rafale” setup: modification and renovation of the aviation spaces, renovation or replacement of deck-landing systems… The third challenge of this refit relates to the renovation of the platform i.e., amongst other things, the modernisation of the vessel control PLCs, the renovation of the automatic stabilisation and steering control system, the replacement of two units of the vessel’s cooling system, but also the refit of the control simulator and of one galley.
Through-life support work
In addition to this renovation, the mid-life refit of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft also comprised through-life support work. This aspect of the project related essentially to the maintenance of major installations: the inspection of the two nuclear reactors and the replacement of their fuel elements, the maintenance of the electrical power plant, the maintenance of the propulsion system, the inspection of the catapults, shaft lines and stabilizing fins, and the painting of the underwater hull and topsides.
Key figures
- 18 months of work (as a comparison: 4 years for a US aircraft carrier)
- Over 200,000 tasks performed of which 50% by the crew
- Over 4 million hours of work
- On average, 2100 persons working each day: 1100 crew members, 1000 employees of Naval Group and its 160 subcontractors
- 2000 tests performed
- 5 years of preparation
- A budget of €1.3bn (as a comparison: €4.7bn for a US aircraft carrier)
“Team France” at work
This exceptional programme was conducted by “Team France” bringing together the DGA, the French Navy, the SSF, the aircraft carrier’s crew and actors from French industry. Naval Group worked with major Defence original equipment manufacturers such as Technicatome, Thales or Safran, generalist companies but also SMEs originating mainly from the local and regional industrial fabric.
The timeline
The aircraft carrier entered dry dock in February 2017; it was floated out in May 2018 and at the end of July 2018 it docked at its operational quay for harbour acceptance trials. It then performed sea outings for the trials that must be performed in operational conditions, with the support of other French Navy entities. The final date on which the vessel was made available was 16 October 2018, after the complete recertification of the systems was completed.
07 Nov 18. Indo Defence 2018: Indonesia prepares to launch first locally assembled submarine. Key Points:
- Indonesia has successfully completed the assembly of its third Nagapasa-class submarine
- On-time completion validates the state-owned shipbuilder’s recently built submarine building facilities in Surabaya
Assembly of the third Nagapasa-class diesel-electric submarine (SSK) on order for the Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Laut: TNI-AL) is complete and the boat is ready for launch at Surabaya, an official from state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL confirmed with Jane’s at the Indo Defence 2018 exhibition in Jakarta.
However, the launch has since been delayed twice due to the unavailability of key politicians who would like to be present at the ceremony, including the Indonesian president and the minister of defence, said the official. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
02 Nov 18. Concept design for Australia’s Future Submarine project nears completion. The concept design for Australia’s Future Submarine project, including its dimensions, should be finalised by the end of this year, according to Rear Admiral Greg Sammut, head of the AUD50bn (USD36bn) programme. The first of 12 4,700-tonne Shortfin Barracuda conventionally-powered submarines to replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) six-strong Collins-class fleet under Project Sea 1000 is scheduled to be delivered in the early 2030s. The preliminary systems requirement review earlier this year set the boundaries of the project, Rear Adm Sammut told Jane’s. “We’re in a position this quarter to finalise the concept design, including key sizing parameters that will ensure that we also meet key requirements to length,” he said. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
AIR
07 Nov 18. Equatorial Guinea receives two passenger-configured Mi-17 helos. Equatorial Guinea has received two new Mil Mi-17 ‘Hip’ transport helicopters from Russia, one of which has been delivered in a VIP configuration with the other being in a standard passenger configuration. The two Mi-172-variant helicopters were delivered directly to the government of Equatorial Guinea from the Kazan Helicopters production facility in Russia. The Mi-172 is a variant of the Mi-17 that has been certified specifically for the transportation of passengers. As noted by Russian Helicopters in its 7 November announcement, the VIP-equipped aircraft has been outfitted for the carriage of up to 12 persons with the standard aircraft outfitted for up to 26. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
07 Nov 18. India’s HAL to Double Annual Production Rate of Tejas Light Combat Aircraft From 8 to 16. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is opening a new production facility in 2020 to double the production of Tejas LCA per annum. India’s state-owned aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will set up a new production facility at Nashik in Maharashtra by 2020 to increase its annual output of Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the head of HAL told The Economic Times on November 2.
“We are setting up a new facility at Nashik to double the production of Tejas fighters to 16 from 8 per year,” HAL Chairman and Managing Director, R. Madhavan, said.
Notably, HAL has so far failed to meet the eight aircraft per annum quota. The Indian Ministry of Defense (MOD) placed an initial order for 40 Tejas LCA Mark-I with HAL, of which 20 Tejas LCA in initial operational configuration — 16 fighters and four trainers — have been produced so far. The follow-on production of 20 more Tejas LCA is pending final operational clearance (FOC) of the fighter jet by the Indian Aeronautical Development Agency, expected to take occur in the coming months. In another step toward FOC, the Tejas for the first time conducted a hot refueling trial earlier this year. Tejas LCA also participated in the Indian Air Force’s Gaganshakti 2018 air combat exercise this summer, which involved 1,100 aircraft and 15,000 military personnel.
The Tejas LCA is a supersonic, single-seat, single-engine multirole light fighter aircraft that has been under development by the Aeronautical Development Agency in cooperation with HAL since the early 1980s. Given the drawn out development cycle, the IAF had to repeatedly revise its requirements for the fourth-generation fighter. As I noted previously, the IAF has repeatedly stated that the aircraft’s Mark-I variant does not meet the service’s specifications:
The IAF has listed several technical deficiencies found on the Tejas LCA Mark-I variant in 2017. These flaws will purportedly will be addressed in later variants of the aircraft, which will include 43 improvements over the existing version.
Upgrades will include an advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system, a new electronic warfare sensor suite, and a new externally refueling capability.
The IAF is also mulling placing an order for 83 additional Tejas LCA, including 73 single-engine Tejas LCA Mark-IA, and 10 tandem two-seat LCA trainer aircraft. The Indian defense minister stated in a recent interview that an order for additional aircraft has been placed. “[T]o ensure that [HAL’s] order books don’t dry out, we have given orders for 83 more,” Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in an interview in October. However, the order is reportedly pending and no contract has been signed as the aircraft still has to achieve FOC.
Another upgraded Tejas variant, designated Tejas Mark-II, of which the IAF could potentially order 200, will not be ready for its first test flight for at least another five years, according to reports. This may spell further trouble for HAL as it is unclear whether the service will still be interested in the latest version of the Tejas by then. Foreign competitors are aggressively pushing into the Indian military aircraft market and may offer cheaper and more effective alternatives.
For example, as I reported previously,”the Tejas LCA, when compared to Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen and Lockheed Martin’s F-16, has a reduced airborne endurance — 59 minutes versus three hours for the Gripen and nearly four hours for the F-16. The Tejas can also only carry a weapons payload of around three tons against nearly six tons by the Gripen and seven tons by the F-16.” (Source: Defense News Early Bird/thediplomat.com)
06 Nov 18. Iran begins new production line for locally built Kowsar fighter jets. Iran has reportedly inaugurated a new production line for the indigenously developed Kowsar fighter jet. The start of mass production of the fighter jet follows the US’ announcement of the complete reimposition of nuclear-related sanctions on Iran. Commenting on the beginning of the Kowsar production line, Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami was quoted by The Times of Israel as saying that it is ‘the very symbol of fighting the [global] arrogance and standing against the excessive demands of the imperial system, which is being led by the Great Satan, the US’.
Hatami was further quoted by Al Jazeera as saying in a televised interview: “Soon, the needed number of this plane will be produced and put at the service of the air force. “We have learned in the Iran-Iraq war that we cannot rely on anyone but ourselves. Our resources are limited and we are committed to establishing security at a minimum cost.”
The Kowsar domestic aircraft was first launched for use by the Iranian Air Force in August. Completely built by local manufacturers, the Kowsar is said to be a fourth-generation combat aircraft equipped with advanced avionics and a multipurpose radar. As claimed by certain military experts, the Kowsar fighters are copied from the design of an F-5 aircraft first manufactured in the US in the 1960s, reported Reuters. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
02 Nov 18. South Korean Air Force set to receive first Airbus A330 MRTT. The South Korean Air Force is reportedly ready to take delivery of its first Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT). A military official was quoted by South Korean news agency Yonhap as saying that the tanker is expected to arrive on 12 November. With the completion of the delivery, the air-to-air refuelling and transport aircraft is expected to undergo a series of acceptance tests over a period of nearly one month, reported the news agency. During the acceptance test, the South Korean Air Force intends to deploy the A330 MRTT tanker to refuel the service’s F-15K and KF-16 combat jets, the official said. Built by Airbus Defence and Space, the 59m-long aerial refuelling aircraft has been designed to enhance the operational capability of the airforce’s fighter aircraft fleet. With a width of 60m, the Rolls-Royce powered A330 MRTT is capable of carrying up to 240,000lb of fuel, which will be provided to the fighter fleets at predetermined aerial locations. The tanker pilots, mechanics and refuelling controllers have already completed their pre-training programme. South Korea intends to include three more A330 tankers to its existing fleet next year. In June 2015, the country selected the Airbus A330 MRTT as its future aerial refuelling platform. Under the deal, the country agreed to acquire four tankers for a total cost of $1.3bn. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
07 Nov 18. Winners of Women in Defence UK Awards 2018 announced. In the year marking the centenary of suffrage, the winners of the Women in Defence UK Awards, in association with innovation and transformation consultancy PA Consulting, were announced on Tuesday, 6 November. The Secretary of State for Defence, The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP, presented the awards at a ceremony at The Imperial War Museum, London, to the winners of each of the 10 categories and an overall award for Woman of the Year. This year, in the awards’ third year, there were 300 nominations received from across the defence community including the Armed Forces, MOD Civil Service, GCHQ, MI5 and SIS, defence industry, the defence third sector and the Houses of Parliament Security. Women in Defence UK exists for a community of people who wish to promote the value of women in defence. The organisation aims to inspire women to succeed, share experience, build networks and encourage talent at all levels to join the defence sector.
The 2018 winners
Woman of the Year 2018 Award – Sponsored by PA Consulting
Michelle Partington Former Royal Air Force
Inspirational Award – Sponsored by Thales
Major Nics Wetherill, Army
Major Nics Wetherill is nominated for devising, organising and leading Expedition ICE MAIDEN, the first all-female crossing of Antarctica, using muscle power alone. She led a team of 5 other women, battling temperatures of -40 degrees and wind speeds of over 60mph to complete the 1700km in just 61 days. The expedition set the following records: the first all-female team to cross Antarctica, the largest all female team ever to make the crossing and the first team of novices ever to make the crossing.
Outstanding Contribution Award – Sponsored by BAE Systems
Corporal Karen Jones, RAF
Corporal Karen Jones is nominated for exceeding expectations in her role as an imagery analyst where her work has tangibly increased Defence Intelligence’s ability to defend the nation. Her work, which she initiated herself, was a very significant piece of multi-national collaboration which will endure for years to come.
Most Collaborative Award – Sponsored by Aspire Defence
Sarah Padley, Defence Intelligence
Sarah is nominated for her work establishing international collaboration in the intelligence community that has had a significant impact. Sarah has nurtured a high performing team that has consistently delivered an output that is respected at the highest levels of partner agencies and government department and has done much to safe guard British interests.
Special Award – Sponsored by DXC Technology
Michelle Partington Former Royal Air Force
Michelle is nominated for her extensive work since retiring from the RAF which she joined as an Aircraftwoman, commissioning from the rank of Sergeant as a Medical Support Officer paramedic. After being diagnosed with PTSD, Michelle created a foundation called Behind The Mask, providing free online support to help other individuals in a similar position to her. She also undertakes public speaking engagements talking about her operational experience and subsequent journey with PTSD. With no competitive sporting background, she competed as part of TeamGB at the 2017 Invictus Games.
Emerging Talent Award – Sponsored by The Army
Lucy Finch, DE&S
Lucy is nominated for her work as the Lead Integration Engineer delivering an Initial Operating Capability for Paveway IV Mk2 on F35-B (a GPS and laser guided bomb and a future candidate for integration onto UK F-35 aircraft). Aged 24, she manages and engages with stakeholders such as the US Government and industry partners and is happy to challenge the status quo or the general consensus if she believes that an approach can be improved.
Innovation Award – Sponsored by QinetiQ
Professor Petra Oyston
Petra is nominated for developing synthetic biology techniques for the generation of novel materials for protection. Her work has included using genetically modified E. Coli to provide a toughening mechanism for ceramic armour, and has enhanced materials for opaque and transparent armour, protective textiles and for adhesives and surface modification – in other words; camouflage. Truly innovative work. Thanks to Petra, there is now a vibrant, thriving and growing community working in this field.
Unsung Heroines Award – Sponsored by Dell EMC
Maggie O’Connell-Western, Northrop Grumman
In the eyes of her Northrop colleagues, Maggie is the epitome of an unsung heroine. She is nominated for her work as the receptionist at Northrop Grumman, a role which Maggie has turned into so much more. She is the receptionist-cum-party planner, travel arranger, customer visits liaison and the list goes on for quite some time.
Promotion of Gender Balance Award – Sponsored by ATOS
Victoria, MI5
Victoria is nominated for her work transforming MI5’s policies, making them fit for a modern employer and improving the lives of both men and women in the organisation. A founding member of the women’s network, she introduced ‘baby-days’, allowing staff members on maternity leave or away from the office to continue to feel connected and was instrumental in beginning discussions with MI5’s board about gender diversity. Victoria tackled difficult issues with real barriers, proposing practical solutions that will have an enduring impact.
Inclusive Teamwork Award Sponsored by the Royal Air Force
Joint Operational Team, GCHQ
The Joint Operational team from GCHQ are nominated for their work establishing a collaborative and inclusive team environment to expand their operational effectiveness. Mainly consisting of Junior Non-Commissioned Officers, the team has worked together across national boundaries to advance the skills, confidence and expertise required to fulfil their specialist role, whilst simultaneously developing a productive and enjoyable working environment with a strong focus on inclusivity. In doing so, they have ‘lived’ inclusivity rather than just talking about it.
STEM in Defence Award – Sponsored by Northrop Grumman
Lieutenant Colonel Deborah Taylor, Army Reserve
Deborah is nominated for masterminding the first STEM Careers Showcase for secondary school aged girls hosted at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The showcase was attended by 900 secondary school girls from 80 schools from across the country, quite a significant proportion of a key target area at school age. The event presented them with the opportunity to meet with inspirational female STEM speakers, 70 military female role models and 50 interactive and inspiring stands from across industry and the technical Corps.
Angela Owen, founder of Women in Defence UK and a defence expert at PA Consulting, says: “We’re delighted to have seen such an inspiring and diverse list of finalists during this special year marketing the centenary of suffrage. Each finalist – ranging in rank from Lance Corporal to Captain Royal Navy and comprising women and teams from all three of the Armed Forces, the MOD Civil Service, GCHQ and MI5, defence industry and the Houses of Parliament Security – should feel rightly proud of their exceptional achievements and recognition within the defence community.
“At PA, our main focus is on exploring ingenious ways to bring real transformation to organisations and the Women in Defence UK Awards demonstrate what can be achieved when there is a commitment to change.”
The judges who selected the shortlist, finalists and winners were:
- Sqn Ldr Alison McLean, Personnel Officer, The Royal Air Force
- Alison Stevenson, Director Head Office, Ministry of Defence
- Fiona Lewinton, Group Director Transformation, QinetiQ
- WO1 Glenn Haughton OBE, Army Sergeant Major, The Army
- Flt Lt Iphie Modu, Legal Officer, Royal Air Force
- Joanna Cavan OBE, Deputy Director GCHQ, Head of the National Assistance Technical Centre
- Kim McCutcheon OBE. HR Management Consultant
- Lois Nicholson, Counsellor Defence Acquisition and Technology, British Embassy, Washington DC, USA
- Col Lucy Giles, President The Army Officers Selection Board
- Martin Fausset, CEO of Elbit UK
- Paul Livingston, Vice President and Group Managing Director, Lockheed Martin UK – Rotary & Mission Systems
- WO1 Sarah Cox, WO1 Leadership, Centre for Army Leadership, Sandhurst
- Siobhán Sheridan, Civilian HR Director, Ministry of Defence
- Vix Anderton, Independent Inclusive Leadership and Gender Consultant
- Lieutenant General Richard Nugee CVO CBE – Chief of Defence People
- Kevin Craven – Chief Executive Officer Serco UK Central Government
- Peter Smart – Chair of the Judging Panel – Chairman of Affinity
- Ann Francke – Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Management Institute
- Her Excellency Janice Charette, High Commissioner for Canada to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Claire Logan – Global Head of People and Talent – PA Consulting
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
07 Nov 18. The Air Force’s longtime deputy undersecretary of international affairs is set to take on a new role as the director of the Defense Technology Security Administration, Defense News has learned. Heidi Grant will assume her new job as DTSA head after leaving the Air Force in December, Air Force sources confirmed to Defense News. She takes the reins from DTSA acting director Michael Laychak, who has been running the agency since the departure of former director Beth McCormack’s departure several months ago. Grant’s tenure as the Air Force’s top international affairs official was unprecedented in a number of ways. A career civil servant, she is the only Air Force official to hold a deputy undersecretary position who was not appointed by a given White House. As such, Grant’s term has extended from 2010, during Barack Obama’s presidency, to the current days in the Trump administration. (Source: Defense News)
INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY TEAMINGS
08 Nov 18. ASC and Saab partner to support Swedish Navy’s A26 submarines. Australian shipbuilding company ASC has entered an agreement with Saab for the Royal Swedish Navy’s A26 submarine programme. The collaboration will support the provision of a range of services that includes engineering for the two new Swedish submarines currently under development with Saab. Under the agreement, the two companies will launch a pilot programme that would encourage ASC’s experienced submarine designers to provide specialist detailed design services in Adelaide to support the A26 programme.
ASC chief executive Stuart Whiley said: “Today ASC is the ‘in service designer’ for the Collins-class fleet and home to Australia’s elite submarine platform experts. We are delighted to again be engaged with Saab, this time supporting the Swedish A26 project.”
With successful completion of the programme, ASC will be responsible for delivering ongoing services to Saab across a wide number of projects.
The Swedish Navy’s A26 submarine programme will provide additional opportunities and professional rewards for engineers and designers of the shipbuilder. It will also support the company’s core responsibility of the platform sustainment of the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins-class fleet.
Saab Australia managing director Andy Keough said: “This agreement with ASC is another example of Saab’s commitment to the Australian Submarine enterprise and will facilitate engineering knowledge and experience transfer between Australia and Sweden. We are pleased to engage ASC in the Saab supply chain.”
Designed to replace the Swedish Navy’s Gotland-class submarines, the Type A26 vessels will be built to perform a wide range of missions, which include maritime security, covert mine countermeasure, and anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. (Source: naval-technology.com)
08 Nov 18. Radiall, a specialist in Optical Interconnect Solutions for harsh environments, is now distributing WildcatFMC boards from TECHWAY. In order to improve signal-processing performance, FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) became a key component during the last few years. Embedded on complex but well-defined motherboard architecture, FPGA is the Swiss army knife for processing many different signals in video systems, radars or mission computers. The new paradigm for modern FPGA is extreme high-speed I/O, which requires optical links. WildcatFMC enhances the modularity of the FPGA board equipped with mezzanine VITA 57 site by providing a plug-in and turn-key multichannel optical interface. This advantage allows the FPGA board to achieve high-speed I/O for applications requesting massive data-transfer without requiring an expensive redesign. The core of the WildcatFMC board is made of Radiall 10+ G range D-Lightsys® optical transceivers, running up to 12 Gbps. The ultra-compact package of these components fits the FMC standard form factor, even for boards handling 24 optical channels. WildcatFMC is designed to meet the military and aerospace environmental constraints and is qualified to meet or exceed the MIL standard specifications.
08 Nov 18. ASC announce partnership with Jeumont Electric. In a move that will open the pathway for future development of Australia’s submarine fleet, ASC has entered a long-term collaboration agreement with French sub motor manufacturer Jeumont Electric. The two companies have a long-standing relationship, and the new agreement will see the pair “exploit synergies in the delivery of services supporting the ongoing sustainment and upgrade of the Collins Class as well as in preparation to support the design, build and test of the main motors for the Future Submarine Program”. The Royal Australian Navy’s Collins Class submarines are undergoing significant upgrades, including a $230m upgrade of the sonar technology of the fleet.
Jeumont Electric is the supplier of the main motors of the Collins Class submarines, and is also the preferred supplier of the new generation of motors for the Future Submarine Program. Permanent magnet motors will act as the primary drive source for Australia’s next generation of submarine motors. Which promise to be quieter, with greater reliability and longer-lasting parts.
ASC chief executive Stuart Whiley said his company’s workforce is ready to support future submarine programs.
“ASC has the finest submarine platform workforce ever assembled in this country. Our expanded offering will provide our workforce with a rich range of opportunities and professional rewards in the coming years, along with our core responsibility of platform sustainment of Australia’s potent Collins Class fleet,” Whiley said.
ASC have also recently inked a number of collaboration agreements with Endel Engie and Groupe FIVA (Naval Group suppliers) as well as a submarine design and engineering services supply agreement to Saab Group.
ASC serves Australia’s naval defence capabilities, with more than 2,500 employees across three facilities in South Australia and Western Australia. Initially established in 1985, ASC was subsequently chosen in 1987 as the prime contractor for the design, manufacture and delivery of the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of Collins Class submarines. In 2005, ASC was awarded the role of shipbuilder for the Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyer project. These are the most advanced and complex warships ever built in Australia and are being constructed at ASC’s state-of-the art shipbuilding facility, ASC South, located at Osborne, SA. Jeumont Electric is a frontline player in the field of on-board electrical equipment for the naval, cruise and merchant marine applications. The range of services offered by Jeumont Electric includes technical assistance (integrated logistics support) for the mechanical, electrical and power electronics parts and long-term support throughout the life time of the machines (over 30 years). (Source: Defence Connect)
PERSONNEL
05 Nov 18. British Army lifts restriction on Commonwealth recruits. Citizens of Commonwealth countries will be able to join the British Armed Forces even if they do not live in Britain, the Government said on 5 November as it struggles to fill vacancies. Britain’s Junior Defence Minister Mark Lancaster said in a statement to Parliament that the previous five-year residency requirement for Commonwealth army recruits has been removed.
‘Applications will be accepted from all Commonwealth countries,’ Lancaster said in his statement, adding that the reform had been introduced ‘in light of changes to the size of our armed forces’.
Lancaster said that Commonwealth applicants would have to be aged over 18 – two years more than the minimum for Britons – so as ‘to mitigate the risks associated with unaccompanied minors travelling to the UK without the guarantee of a job’.
A limited waiver to the residency requirement had already been introduced in 2016 to allow up to 200 Commonwealth personnel per year to fill skill shortage posts. This cap has now been increased to 1,350 across navy, army and air force personnel. The Commonwealth is an association of 53 states, most of them former British colonies, including Australia, Canada and India.
Lancaster also said that a 15% limit on Commonwealth nationals in strategic positions in the British Army would be maintained ‘to sustain operational effectiveness’.
A report by the National Audit Office, an independent Government watchdog, earlier this year found that the full-time military was running a 5.7% shortfall in its ranks. An extra 10,600 recruits were required to fill the ‘largest gap in a decade,’ the report said. (Source: Shephard)
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
08 Nov 18. Leonardo DRS, Inc. Chief Executive Officer William J. Lynn III announced the appointment today of John Baylouny as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the company. Baylouny replaces Terry Murphy who is retiring at the end of the year. Baylouny, who was previously the Chief Technology Officer for Leonardo DRS, is an experienced defense industry executive with a strong engineering and executive management background. As COO, Baylouny will be responsible for program operations and execution across all of the eight Leonardo DRS businesses. He will lead and manage the business unit leaders as well as the corporate operational functions, including Supply Chain, Technology, and Information Technology. Baylouny will report directly to the CEO and will be based in the corporate offices in Arlington, Virginia. Baylouny also served as Vice President and General Manager of Leonardo DRS’s Land Systems and Advanced ISR businesses, as well as Chief Technology Officer, prior to his appointment as COO. Baylouny has a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
01 Nov 18. Kymeta’s CEO Steps Down, Dr. Nathan Kundtz Leaves Current Role. Marc Stolzman, Kymeta’s President and CFO will guide the company’s day-to-day operations in the interim while the Kymeta Board of Directors conducts a global search for the next Kymeta chief executive officer. Kymeta recently closed a sizeable financing round while also significantly growing its network of global partners. The company continues to be well supported by its investors and has a strong foundation for continued growth and long-term success. (Source: Satnews)
30 Oct 18. Space Foundation’s Changes to the Board of Directors. The Space Foundation announced some changes to its Board of Directors that resulted after a meeting conducted on October 25. The changes were made effective on that same day, October 25. So who and what are the changes?
The announcement reads as follows:
The Board of Directors of the Space Foundation met on October 25 and approved the following changes to its Board, effective October 25.
Jeffrey D. Grant, Former Sector Vice President and General Manager, Space Systems, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (Ret.), was elected to the Executive Committee as Member-at-Large.
Lon C. Levin, former Member-at-Large will now serve as Director.
Continuing on the Executive Committee are:
- Chairman – Gen. William L. Shelton, USAF (Ret.), former Commander, Air Force Space Command
- Vice Chairman – Kathryn C. Thornton, Ph.D., Professor, University of Virginia and former NASA astronaut
- Secretary – P.J. O’Rourke, author and political satirist
- Treasurer – Hoyt Davidson, Managing Partner, Near Earth LLC
Space Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Thomas E. Zelibor also serves on the Executive Committee.
Directors elected to a second three-year term:
- Alice Bunn, Ph.D., Director of Policy, UK Space Agency
- Jeffrey D. Grant, former Sector Vice President and General Manager, Space Systems, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (Ret.)
- Blake E. Larson, Corporate Vice President and President Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems
Continuing their service on the Board:
- Christopher U. Browne, Deputy Director, National Air and Space Museum
- Lisa Callahan, Vice President and General Manager, Commercial Civil Space, Lockheed Martin Space Systems
- James H. Chilton, Senior Vice President, Space and Missile Systems, Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS)
- The Honorable Thomas C. Feeney, III, President and Chief Executive Officer, Associated Industries of Florida
- Michael C. Gass, former President and Chief Executive Officer, United Launch Alliance (Ret.)
- William Gattle, President, Harris Corporation Space and Intelligence Systems
- Phil Larson, Space Foundation New Generation Space Leader; Assistant Dean and Chief of Staff, University of Colorado Boulder, College of Engineering & Applied Science
- Fritz Merkle, Ph.D., Senior Representative of the Executive Board, OHB
- Peter B. Trainer, Vice President and General Manager, Air Force Solutions, BAE Systems
Ronald M. Sega, Ph.D., Director, Systems Engineering Programs, Colorado State University and former NASA astronaut, completed his Board service and was elected to Life Director.
Completing his first term and discontinuing service on the Board was Richard R. Yuse, Vice President, Raytheon Company, President, Space and Airborne Systems. (Source: Satnews)
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