LOCATIONS
LAND
23 Apr 19. Australia confirms Blackrock Camp MoU with Fiji. Australia and Fiji have formally signed a memorandum of understanding for the design of Blackrock Camp, which will serve as a regional hub for police and peacekeeping training in Nadi. The announcement was formalised by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in August 2018 as part of his ‘Pacific Step-up’ plan, which would see Australia take a larger and more visible presence in the Pacific region. Fiji and Australia have continued to work closely on the design of Blackrock Camp, situated in Nadi, to transform it into a regional hub for police and peacekeeping training and pre-deployment preparation. Fiji’s Ministry of Defence and National Security and the Department of Defence signed the MoU that will provide the framework to progress the redevelopment of the Blackrock facility. Blackrock Camp will increase the interoperability between the nations’ security forces, enabling greater training and people-to-people links. This announcement follows the recent signing of a similar MoU between Australia and Papua New Guinea for the development of a major naval base at Lombrum.
The ‘Pacific Step-up’ doctrine has two interconnected areas of Australian focus, namely:
- Enhanced regional economic collaboration and integration through investment in key infrastructure and economic drivers, like communications networks; and
- Regional strategic partnerships and alliances to promote transparent dialogue and amicable strategic relations.
Chief of Defence, General Angus Campbell, AO, DSC, reinforced the Prime Minister’s comments from August 2018, saying, “Australia is committed to taking our engagement with the region to a new level, working with our Pacific partners to build a region that is prosperous, secure and respectful of sovereignty.”
Australia will also provide training and infrastructure upgrades to support the domestic security and defence capabilities of regional partners like Fiji, PNG and Vanuatu, with the Prime Minister outlining an expansion of the island nation’s police force and the appointment of a new Australian defence adviser in Vanuatu.
The growing strategic, economic and political competition between China, the US, Japan and Australia also served as a central point of concern for the Prime Minister.
Australia’s growing economic and strategic pivot to the Pacific provides new opportunities for Australian businesses of all shapes and sizes as the nation continues to invest in both regional infrastructure and defence capability to ensure the enduring peace, prosperity and stability of “our patch”. (Source: Defence Connect)
16 Apr 19. Lagan Aviation begins work on RAF Northolt runway upgrade. British Royal Air Force (RAF) Northolt runway has been closed for six months to enable Irish firm Lagan Aviation & Infrastructure to commence resurfacing works. In October 2018, the company won a £23m contract from the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) for resurfacing work at RAF Northolt, the last remaining military airfield within the M25 area. Lagan Aviation will upgrade the existing runway, improve drainage and install arrestor beds to improve safety and extend the life of the runway by at least 15 years. Operations at RAF Northolt include transport for UK military and government leaders, medical evacuations, and support to global exercises and operations. RAF Northolt often receives aircraft from the Fleet Air Arm, Army Air Corps and Royal Air Force fleets, ranging from helicopters to the larger A400 and C17 transport aircraft.
Helicopter operations will continue at the airport, while fixed-wing operations will be suspended for the resurfacing period and will operate from other airfields. The resident flying squadron, 32 (The Royal) Squadron will operate aircraft from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire.
Operations and civil flights movement at the airport will resume after completion of the resurfacing works.
RAF Northolt, the RAF’s strategic site in London, is home to 33 other units from all three armed services and wider government, including the British Forces Post Office, two RAF bands, the MOD’s Aeronautical Information Documents Unit and ceremonial unit The Queen’s Colour Squadron.
The outputs of these other units will not be affected by the runway resurfacing work. Lagan Aviation & Infrastructure director James Aikman said: “The Lagan Aviation & Infrastructure team have been busy mobilising on-site this past few weeks preparing for project commencement.
“The project team are looking forward to commencing works on site and continuing our collaborative relationship with the DIO to ensure the project is delivered safely, on time and within budget.” (Source: airforce-technology.com)
MARITIME
23 Apr 19. India commissions coastal interception craft. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned two more 28m coastal interception craft, the service announced via its official social media account on 24 April. The two vessels, which the service refers to as ICGS C-444 and ICGS C-446 respectively, were commissioned the day before in a ceremony at Kavaratti, in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, India. The vessels were built by Indian defence company Larsen & Toubro, and are part of an order for 18 craft of the type signed under a 2013 contract. The interception craft is equipped with water jet propulsion driven by two Caterpillar 3516C diesel engines, and can attain a maximum speed of 45kt with a standard range of 500n miles at 25kt. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
24 Apr 19. UK’s first Type 26 frigate HMS Glasgow begins to take shape. The Royal Navy has announced that the first Type 26 advanced anti-submarine warfare frigate HMS Glasgow is under construction in a facility on the Clyde in Scotland. Glasgow is the first of the Royal Navy’s next-generation frigates and the lead ship in the new City-class. In July 2017, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded a £3.7bn contract to BAE Systems to deliver the first batch of three Type 26 global combat ships.
The navy intends to acquire eight vessels of this type to replace its existing specialist submarine-hunting Type 23 frigates. Work on HMS Glasgow has been underway since mid-July 2017 at BAE Systems’ yard in Govan. The vessel is set to enter service with the navy in the mid-2020s.
The shed will first work on the forward part of the frigate before moving on to the stern. The two parts will then be joined on the slipway outside the shed and the main mast and bridge section will be lifted into place.
After this, the ‘mostly complete’ frigate will undergo outfitting at BAE’s yard on the north bank of the Clyde at Scotstoun, Glasgow.
Royal Navy vice-admiral Chris Gardner said: “You can now stand inside a Type 26 as the zones come together and get a real sense of HMS Glasgow as she takes shape.”
The second and third vessels in the first batch are named Cardiff and Belfast respectively. The remaining five vessels in the City-class are Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle, Edinburgh, and London. Type 26 frigates are 60ft longer and 2,000t heavier than their predecessors. Vessels will protect the UK’s nuclear deterrent and the navy’s new aircraft carriers. Ships feature bow and towed array sonar, Sea Ceptor air defence missiles, and a 5inch main gun. Furthermore, the frigates will be armed with the future offensive surface weapon, which is under development to replace the harpoon.
The MoD plans to negotiate the contract for the second batch of five ships in the early 2020s. (Source: naval-technology.com)
23 Apr 19. India launches third Project 15B destroyer. Key Points:
- India has launched its third Project 15B guided-missile destroyer
- The warship will improve the Indian Navy’s ability to conduct task-group-based operations once it is in service
India’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has launched the country’s third Project 15B guided-missile destroyer.
The warship, which will be in service as INS Imphal once commissioned, was launched on 20 April at MDL’s facilities in Mumbai. Imphal is part of a contract to build four Project 15B warships, which are also referred to in the country as the Visakhapatnam class, for the Indian Navy.
The first Project 15B ship, Visakhapatnam, was launched in April 2015, while the second ship of the type, Mormugao, took to the water in September 2016. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
18 Apr 19. Launching of the ninth FREMM frigate, the Alsace: The first frigate with reinforced air defense capacities. On the 18th April 2019, Naval Group launched the multi-missions FREMM frigate Alsace. First one of the two air defense frigates of the FREMM program (FREMM DA) destined to the French Navy and benefitting from the same antisubmarine warfare performances than the preceding units, the Alsace benefits from increased capacities in terms of air defense. Thirteen months after the keel laying of the first block, the FREMM DA Alsace is released from the construction form of the Naval Group site of Lorient. Ninth multi-missions FREMM frigate, it is also the seventh one for the French Navy, ordered by the OCCAr on behalf of the DGA.
In order to answer the operational requirements, the Alsace FREMM integrates the last evolutions ordered by the OCCAr, according to an unchanged delivery planning. “The essential of the architecture of the first FREMM designed by Naval Group is conserved but its polyvalence will be increased by enhanced capacities in terms of anti-aerial warfare. These modifications particularly concern the combat system.” says Pierre-Jean Cuisinier, director of the FREMM DA program.
The technical adaptations brought by Naval Group are notably translated into a more powerful multifunction radar, reinforced communication tools, three additional consoles for the Combat Management System SETIS® in the combat information center (CIC), with enhanced air defense capacities using the Aster 15 and 30 missiles. In a few days, the FREMM Alsace will also receive its new mast, opitmised in order to increase the detection performances.
“This ninth launching is scoring the collaboration between Naval Group, the DGA, the OCCAr and the French Navy in order to produce ships benefitting from the continuous enhancement of the already produced FREMM. Thanks to the good master of the technological risks but also to the determination and the know-how of the group’s teams, it is a new successful challenge.” explains Nicolas Gaspard, director of the FREMM programs. In addition to the ensuring the same anti-submarine warfare missions than the previous FREMM, the FREMM DA Alsace will have the role of ensuring the air defense of major units: the Charles de Gaulle aircraft-carrier or an amphibious helicopter-carrier, within an aero-naval or amphibious group. The Naval Group teams and its numerous partners are mobilized in order to deliver the two anti-air defense frigates Alsace and Lorraine, respectively on the first semester 2021 and on the second semester 2022.
Seven FREMM have been delivered between 2012 and 2018. The Aquitaine in 2012, the Provence in 2015, the Languedoc in 2016, the Auvergne in April 2017 and the Bretagne in July 2018.
On the international side, Morocco received the Mohammed VI in 2014 and Egypt the Tahya Misr in 2015. The Normandie will be delivered in summer 2019 in conformity with the contractual planning.
Technical caracteristics of the air defense FREMM
Strongly armed, the FREMM DA Alsace use the most performant weapon systems and equipment so as: the multifunction Herakles radar, the Aster 15 and 30 and Excocet MM 40 missiles or even the MU 90 torpedo. The performances of its combat system are reinforced with increased radar and communication capacities, a new radar and electro-optical fire-lead, and a Combat Management System SETIS® equipped with specific anti-air defense functions.
- Overall length: 142m
- Bearn: 20m
- Displacement: 6,000 tonnes
- Max. speed: 27 knots
- Complement: 119 (+ 14 for the helicopter crew)
- Accommodation: 165 men and women
- Range: 6,000 at 15 knots
24 Apr 19. Chinese navy puts newest platforms on display. Nanchang, the first of the PLAN’s Type 055-class destroyers, took part in a fleet review held on 23 April off the northern port city of Qingdao to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the service. China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has displayed some of its newest platforms in a fleet review held on 23 April in the waters off the northern port city of Qingdao to mark the 70th anniversary of its founding. More than 30 Chinese naval vessels and 18 foreign warships participated in the event, which was overseen by President Xi Jinping who was embarked in Type 052D destroyer Xining (117). Xi was escorted by PLAN Commander Vice Admiral Shen Jinlong.
The most notable ship in the formation was Nanchang (pennant number 101), the lead ship of the Type 055 (Renhai) class, which was launched in June 2017. PLAN watchers had anticipated that the ship would be formally commissioned prior to the fleet review. Although this has not been officially confirmed, its participation in the event while displaying its pennant number indicates that the platform has entered service.
Information that appears to have been provided during the event puts the standard displacement of the Type 055 at more than 11,000 tonnes: an increase over the frequently quoted tonnage of 10,000 tonnes.
Equipped with a comprehensive suite of modern sensors, the Type 055 can engage air, surface, submarine, or land targets with weapons fired from its 112 universal vertical launch missile cells. While formally designated by the PLAN as a guided missile destroyer, its displacement and scale of armament makes comparison with the US Navy’s Ticonderoga-class cruisers more appropriate than with the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
Reports in Chinese news media highlighted that one of the two Type 094- (Jin-)class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) shown at the event is a new variant. The boat has the smoothly blended contours at the top and base of the fin to improve hydrodynamic flow.
While these changes had been noted on at least one previous Type 094, the new variant also has only one row of flood and drain holes in the casing around the raised ‘hump’ that accommodates the ballistic missile tubes. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
16 Apr 19. Keel laid for US Navy amphibious transport dock LPD 29. The keel for the US Navy’s San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, the future USS Richard M McCool Jr (LPD 29), has been laid during a ceremony at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ shipbuilding division. The ceremony was attended by Shana McCool and Kate Oja, the ship’s sponsors and granddaughters of the person the vessel will be named after.
Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships LPD 17 class programme manager captain Brian Metcalf said: “The San Antonio-class has proven essential to expeditionary warfighters, and we are excited to bring the 13th and final ship of the Flight I configuration to the fleet.”
LPD 29 is named after US Navy veteran and Medal of Honor recipient captain Richard McCool Jr. It is the US Navy’s 13th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock vessel. Fabrication on the ship began in July last year. The vessel will be delivered in 2023.
Ingalls division has so far delivered 11 San Antonio-class ships to the US Navy. LPD 28 and 29 will serve as transition ships between the current design and future San Antonio-class Flight II vessels. Last month, HII received a $1.47bn US Navy contract to perform the detail design and construction of LPD 30, the first ship of the Flight II type. Fabrication on this vessel will begin next year. San Antonio-class ships measure 684ft in length and 105ft in width and have a displacement of around 24,900 long tonnes. The US Navy will use these vessels to embark and land Marines, their equipment and supplies onshore via air cushion or conventional landing craft and amphibious assault vehicles. Operations performed by the ships will be supported by helicopters or vertical take-off and landing aircraft such as the MV-22 Osprey. (Source: naval-technology.com)
AIR
23 Apr 19. Boeing again resumes KC-46A deliveries. Boeing recently resumed deliveries of its KC-46A Pegasus aerial refuelling tanker to the US Air Force (USAF) after a second pause for foreign object debris (FOD) concerns. Boeing spokesperson Chick Ramey said the company delivered the eighth aircraft on 20 April, which was also the fifth tanker to be delivered to McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. Boeing is working with the air force on its schedule for upcoming deliveries. USAF spokesperson Captain Cara Bousie said on 23 April that the service decided to resume aircraft deliveries after determining Boeing sufficiently met the conditions of additional USAF-directed FOD inspections. Boeing, she said, continues completing inspections of sealed areas to demonstrate the aircraft are in the proper configuration and sufficiently clear of FOD. Delivered aircraft can continue to fly as there is no immediate safety of flight issue. Boeing continues to conduct additional company and customer inspections, additional training, and more rigorous clean-as-you-go practices, Ramey said on 23 April. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
23 Apr 19. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) hosted a ceremony to celebrate its new F-16 production line in Greenville, South Carolina. F-16 tooling and equipment previously in Fort Worth, Texas, has since been installed in a newly-refurbished hangar in Greenville, where the company will begin manufacturing F-16 Block 70 aircraft later this year.
“This is an exciting time as we celebrate another important milestone for the F-16 ‒ the world’s most successful, combat-proven 4th generation fighter,” said Michele Evans, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “The future is bright, and it begins right here in Greenville, South Carolina ‒ the new home of F-16 production.”
Demand continues to soar for new production F-16s and F-16V upgrades. Bahrain became the first F-16 Block 70 customer in June 2018, Slovakia signed Letter of Agreement in Dec. 2018 for 14 Block 70 aircraft, and Bulgaria and the U.S. Government are currently negotiating Bulgaria’s planned acquisition of new F-16 Block 70 aircraft. The U.S. State Department also recently approved the proposed sale of 25 new production F-16 Block 72 aircraft and F-16V upgrades for Morocco.
“This is a great day for Greenville and South Carolina,” said U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. “We have the best workforce in the country and now we are going to build the most advanced F-16 ever right here in the Palmetto State.”
“South Carolina’s workforce is second to none, and the fact that Lockheed Martin continues to invest and put its faith in South Carolinians to build the newest F-16s in Greenville speaks volumes about our state and the company,” said South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. “Every person who calls South Carolina home should be proud that the F-16 is made right here in the Palmetto state.”
More than 400 new jobs will be created to support the F-16 production line in Greenville. F-16 production also supports hundreds of U.S.-based Lockheed Martin engineering, procurement, sustainment and customer support jobs and thousands of U.S. supplier jobs. A significant portion of F-16 production occurs in the supply chain, which currently includes more than 400 U.S. suppliers in 41 states. To date, 4,588 F-16s have been produced, and there are approximately 3,000 operational F-16s are in service today in 25 countries.
18 Apr 19. RAAF gets first Dassault Falcon 7X aircraft for VIP missions. The first of the Dassault Falcon 7X aircraft being leased by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has touched down in Canberra. RAAF is leasing three Falcon 7X aircraft to replace the Bombardier CL604 Challengers. Introduced in 2002, the Challengers are part of RAAF’s special purpose aircraft (SPA) fleet operated by Number 34 Squadron.
The new aircraft is designed to provide a larger passenger load, modern communication, as well as increased range and endurance.
Designed and manufactured by Dassault Aviation, the Falcon 7X is an advanced business jet that has a standard crew of three and can accommodate up to 14 passengers. 34 Squadron commanding officer wing commander Jason Pont noted that the Falcon complements the service’s existing larger Boeing 737 business jets.
Pont said: “With a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.9 and a range of up to 11,000km, the aircraft can fly from Canberra to anywhere in the world with only one stop. Its ability to land at almost any airfield provides notable regional and remote airfield accessibility.”
The Falcon is powered by three P&W PW307A engines and features a high-tech wing and an advanced ‘glass cockpit’ with a heads-up display.
The aircraft is equipped with an infrared enhanced vision system and has satellite communications to support government business while airborne.
Number 34 Squadron will operate the Falcon aircraft as part of the SPA fleet, based at Defence Establishment Fairbairn in the Australian Capital Territory. The Department of Defence also stated that Northrop Grumman will continue to maintain the fleet. Northrop Grumman Integrated Defence Services is under a contract to deliver through-life support to 34 Squadron at Defence Establishment Fairbairn. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
16 Apr 19. Russia completes deliveries of SU-35 fighter aircraft to China. Russia has completed the delivery of 24 Sukhoi Su-35 ‘Flanker-E’ multirole fighter aircraft to China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), an official from Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS) told Jane’s on 16 March.
“The delivery of those platforms to the PRC has been completed,” said the official, without revealing when exactly the final batch of aircraft was delivered. Russian defence conglomerate Rostec had previously been quoted as saying that China had received the first 4 Su-35 platforms in 2016 and a further 10 in 2017 as part of a contract for 24 aircraft estimated to be worth about USD2.5bn. In November 2015, Rostec announced that Beijing had signed the contract to purchase the Su-35s, making China the first foreign customer of the Russian-built aircraft, which is claimed to be an upgraded and highly manoeuvrable ‘4++ generation’ fighter with characteristics and performance close to those of upcoming ‘fifth-generation combat aircraft’.
The Russian-Sino agreement reportedly includes not only the sale of the aircraft but also the delivery of, among other things, ground support equipment and spare engines, with a military-diplomatic source telling Jane’s on 16 April that the contract is expected to be fully implemented by 2020.
“Some additional subsystems, including ground-support hardware, have yet to be delivered. The customer will have received all the pieces of equipment by the end of the next year,” said the source.
A PLAAF source told Jane’s that the service would receive a large armament suite for the aircraft. “The Su-35 will be complemented by air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, as well as unguided rockets, guided bomb units and unguided bombs. The fighters will carry R-27 (AA-10 ‘Alamo’), R-73 (AA-11 ‘Archer’), and RVV-family [air-to-air] missiles and Kh-35E (AS-20 ‘Kayak’) anti-ship missiles,” he said.
China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) confirmed in April 2018 that the Su-35 had officially entered service with the PLAAF. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
25 Apr 19. Inaugural DOD Public-Private Talent Exchange Participants Meet With Under Secretary of Defense. Recently, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen M. Lord met with the five Department of Defense and five private sector participants of the inaugural DOD Public-Private Talent Exchange. The Public-Private Talent Exchange program arranges for the temporary assignment of high-performing, mid-career DOD civilian employees to a comparable private-sector organization, or an employee of a private-sector organization to the DOD. Participants of this acquisition-focused will gain a better understanding of each other’s business operations, and share innovative best practices. The participants, currently midway through their six-month exchange assignments, shared highlights of their experience as well as ideas for improving the program for those who follow. The key highlights participants shared included being quickly engaged as part of their new teams, gaining exposure to a new business culture, operations and challenges, and the DOD and industry’s approaches to decision making. Participants will take these valuable insights back to their home organization when they complete the program. Ms. Lord emphasized the importance of leveraging this unique exchange experience to improve DOD-Industry partnering and communication.
“This department is driven by our people, and by their ingenuity, innovation and integrity,” said Lord. “This program presents an incredible opportunity for development and growth, I strongly recommend those interested step up and take advantage.”
The next cohort of exchange participants will begin in January 2020. For more information on this program, please visit http://www.hci.mil/PPTE.html. (Source: US DoD)
INDUSTRY
PERSONNEL
23 Apr 19. Airbus management shake-up spreads to space unit. A management shake-up at Europe’s Airbus accelerated on Tuesday as Nicolas Chamussy was replaced as the head of Space Systems. Airbus said the 51-year-old space engineer would have an unspecified future role, while his job as head of space activities including the company’s 50 percent share of the ArianeGroup rocket venture will be taken by Jean-Marc Nasr.
The move comes less than four months after Nasr, 57, was named head of Asia-Pacific, responsible for group strategy and industrial issues and regional sales for Airbus Defence & Space.
Chamussy is a former chief of staff to Tom Enders, who stepped down earlier this month to make way for planemaking chief Guillaume Faury, and has been facing mounting competition from a new breed of private U.S. and other space contractors.
Companies such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX, LeoSat Enterprises, and Canada’s Telesat are working to enable data networks with hundreds or even thousands of tiny satellites that orbit closer to Earth than traditional communications satellites, a radical shift made possible by leaps in laser technology and computer chips.
Faury, 51, has implemented a tighter structure designed to simplify Europe’s largest aerospace group, while sidelining a number of executives previously close to Enders or former planemaking boss Fabrice Bregier, according to company watchers.
La Tribune, which first reported the changeover at space systems, said the reorganization could lead to other departures, accelerating a sweeping management overhaul already driven partly by an ongoing corruption probe and scheduled retirements.
An Airbus spokesman said Chamussy would stay inside Airbus and declined further comment on management changes.
The Space Systems division makes up 27 percent of Airbus Defence & Space revenues, which grew 4.4 percent last year to 11.1bn euros ($12.5bn). Space spending is rising but established players face increase competition within the United States, China, Japan and India.
Airbus is seeking to shore up its position by prioritizing a fledgling market for constellations of tiny satellites designed to broaden internet access and support new services. It launched six mini-satellites in February, the first of at least 600 to be launched in the next two to three years together with partner OneWeb. (Source: glstrade.com/Reuters)
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
23 Apr 19. The Board of Trustees of the Air League has confirmed that it has appointed Nick West MA FRAeS, to be the new Chief Executive of the organisation, effective 23 April 2019. Nick West has worked in corporate communications, public affairs and marketing in the aviation, aerospace, defence and security industries with Racal Electronics/Thales, Boeing and Raytheon UK, since 1996 when he left the Royal Marines, after 9 years’ service. His early military service included Troop level command in South Armagh and also representing the Royal Marines on the Royal Navy Presentation Team. He trained as a helicopter pilot with the Army Air Corps and then flew Gazelle and Lynx helicopters with 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron for four years, including a five-month period as the detachment commander in Belize and also on the relief operation, Safe
Haven in Kurdistan in 1991. In 1994 after passing the Junior Command Staff Course at Sandhurst, he served as a second in command and company Commander, as well as intelligence officer on the 45 Commando Northern Ireland tour in Fermanagh. Nick West is a past Chairman of the Aviation Club of the United Kingdom, a former Trustee of the Air League for
seven years and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. In 2018 he completed a Master’s Degree in Intelligence and Security with the University of Leicester.
24 Apr 19. Marshall strengthens key account management team.
- Lee Doherty joins after 14 years at Rolls Royce and 20 years in the RAF
- Wide international business development, programmes and supply chain management experience
- Role to develop strong relationships with key customers and partners
Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group has strengthened its key account management team with the appointment of Lee Doherty MBE MA as Key Account Executive. He will be responsible for developing relationships with the company’s leading customers.
Lee joins after 14 years at Rolls Royce in a range of international business development and supply chain management roles. These included work in the Asia Pacific Region as Senior Vice President, Programme Executive for the A400M’s first flight, Middle East industrialisation working in the UK and Saudi Arabia, and Head of Supply Chain Transformation. Prior to joining the commercial sector Lee spent over 20 years in the Royal Air Force as a Supply and Movements officer in UK-based and international roles. These included Germany, the US and Hong Kong. In the latter, he co-ordinated the logistics recovery on the handover of the region to China in 1997; in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm; and led air transport relief and humanitarian convoy operations in Sarajevo for the United Nations, following which he was awarded an MBE. His final appointment was in the UK MOD’s Defence Logistic Operation in Bath, England. Lee was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in October 1983 and subsequently gained an MA at King’s College, London, in Defence and Politics.
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
23 Apr 19. Lockheed Martin Australia chief executive retires. Vince Di Pietro has retired from his role as chief executive of Lockheed Martin Australia after nearly two and a half years in the position. Di Pietro joined Lockheed Martin Australia in August 2016, and had been chief executive of the company since December of that year.
He’s overseen the delivery of the first of Australia’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) fleet and, according to his company profile, has been “leading LMA to achieve its vision to be Australia’s partner of choice for defence, aerospace, sustainment and technology solutions”.
Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Di Pietro served in the Royal Australian Navy for 40 years, accumulating over 5,000 hours flying in helicopters and aeroplanes. In 2013, Di Pietro was Commander Fleet Air Arm, which featured the delivery of the majority of 24 Seahawk Romeo helicopters, as well as the operational transition and acceptance for shipborne operations of the Maritime Support helicopter. (Source: Defence Connect)
23 Apr 19. The University of Tasmania has announced the appointment of retired Australian Rear Admiral and former Deputy Chief of Navy, Michael van Balen, as the new principal of the Australian Maritime College. Van Balen will commence his role as AMC principal on 13 May 2019, and comes following a career spanning nearly four decades in the Royal Australian Navy. After joining RAN as a cadet in the 1970s, van Balen progressed to hold several key positions including Principal Warfare Officer, Commanding Officer of HMAS Sydney, Chief of Defence Force Liaison Officer to United States Central Command, Deputy Chief of Navy and Head Navy Personnel, Training and Resources. Van Balen received a Commendation for Distinguished Service in the 2005 Australia Day Honours List and was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in January 2015. (Source: Defence Connect)