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LOCATIONS
LAND
05 Aug 21. RAF Odiham runway upgrades completed. RAF Odiham in Hampshire has seen upgrades to its runway and associated airfield lighting completed. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) awarded a £2.9m contract for the runway works and a £2.6m contract for the lighting works to Amey Highways in December 2020. Work started very quickly in early January and the runway resurfacing was finished ahead of schedule in February. The airfield lighting upgrades were completed in late July.
Royal Air Force Odiham is a front-line helicopter base and home of the UK Chinook Force working within Joint Helicopter Command. The Chinook is a capable and versatile support helicopter primarily used for transportation and can carry up to 10 tonnes of equipment or up to 55 personnel. RAF Odiham operates three Chinook squadrons which were able to operate uninterrupted for the duration of the project. Despite being used primarily by helicopters, RAF Odiham still has a runway. This is important to provide resilience for the RAF and because from time to time, fixed wing aircraft need to use the station.
The works, which were needed to increase the amount of friction on the surface to keep it safe, saw the top 40mm of the runway removed and replaced, to a total of 8,500 tonnes of asphalt. This important project will extend the life of the runway for another 15 years.
Alongside this, the lighting needed to be replaced and at the request of the aircrews, it was also relocated. The new airfield ground lighting is modern, energy efficient and should last for years.
Mark Stratford, DIO’s Project Manager, said, “It’s fantastic to see the upgraded runway and airfield lighting ready for aircrews. I’ve been really impressed with the team and how quickly this project has been completed, despite the challenges of keeping everyone safe during COVID. The newly-upgraded runway and improved lighting will be in use by aviators at RAF Odiham for years to come.”
Station Commander RAF Odiham, Group Captain Nicholas Knight OBE MA, said, “These essential works at RAF Odiham have upgraded our existing runway, and replaced the runway lighting with modern, more energy efficient lighting, extending the life in excess of 15 years. Many thanks to Amey Highways, Levertech and their subcontractors, on behalf of DIO, who have successfully carried out the works which saw Chinook Force operations continue unaffected throughout.”
Tim Redfern, Amey’s Managing Director Defence said, “I’m delighted that once again, the collaborative efforts of Amey’s Highways and Defence teams has resulted in successful handover of upgraded runway works at this important site. By combining the expertise of both teams we have delivered real benefit to the client, DIO, and have future proofed this vital asset for the Armed Forces.” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
02 Aug 21. Boris Johnson opens Airbus’ new £35m facility. Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Stevenage today to officially open Airbus’ new £35m UK space and defence headquarters.
The PM took a tour of the facilities including the Mars yard, where he tried his hand at the Rover’s controls – before opening the new environmentally friendly HQ, Orbit House. The new building will house 500 space engineers and experts as part of the company’s continued investment into British space capability.
The Prime Minister said: “I’ve been blown away by what I’ve seen here at Airbus in Stevenage. I think a lot of people realise that Airbus in Wales produces half the wings of all the passenger jets in the world, quite an amazing thing about the UK economy.
“I don’t think people realise that we produce, on this site, a quarter of all the telecoms satellites and there’s a massive future for the UK in satellites and satellite technology.
“I’ve just seen a satellite that will be helping to measure the biomass of the world’s rainforests which is absolutely crucial for our ability to understand the consequences of global warming and what we need to do to tackle it. So, we’re boosting our satellite technology. Great to see Airbus launching a new facility here today.
“I felt like I was on the surface of Mars playing with this incredible Rover they made here in Stevenage! Stevenage is the Cape Canaveral of the UK’s space industry.
“It’s one of the unsung success stories of UK science and technology and it’s massively important.”
Chairman of Airbus Defence and Space UK, Julian Whitehead said: “Stevenage is the jewel in our space crown and our headquarters for satellite design, manufacturing and operations.
“Our UK engineers are sending rovers to Mars, probes to the Sun, building satellites to fight climate change and underpinning secure military communications. It was a pleasure to welcome the Prime Minister today and talk him through our plans for the future.”
Airbus Defence and Space UK makes up 70 per cent of the UK’s space industry. Its space programmes in recent years include the Solar Orbiter, which is currently on a mission to the Sun, as well as the European Space Agency’s ExoMars rover which is due to launch in 2022.
The Prime Minister also discussed the current situation with the test and trace app, the upcoming travel review and unsafe cladding.
On the app and so-called “pingdemic”, he said he was “sorry for the inconvenience people have had”.
“I know how frustrating it has been for businesses,” he continued. “I was going over the numbers again this morning with my teams looking at the extent of the pinging – it is coming down as the pandemic starts to abate a bit.
“Don’t forget, August 16 is nailed on – we will move to the testing system rather than the isolation system, which should give some relief, but the key thing to stress is that although we’re seeing success in fighting the pandemic, it remains a dangerous disease and it’s important to keep those numbers coming down.”
When asked about the cladding situation for Stevenage leaseholders – who MP Stephen McPartland has been campaigning to protect against fire safety costs in Parliament – Mr Johnson added: “The cladding business has been really painful and difficult for people up and down the country.
“We had to respond to the Grenfell conflagration and the suffering and loss of life we saw there. Definitely the ACM cladding played a part in that inferno, there’s no question about it. It’s been the right thing to do to get that type of cladding off the over 18 metre buildings which is what we’ve done, and it’s cost a lot but we’ve done it.
“You have to consider when it comes to buildings under 18 metres, what the balance of risks is. I think a lot of experts believe that overall – although we must make sure buildings are safe, we will remove dangerous cladding where we can – it’s worth stressing to leaseholders, to the mortgage market, to surveyors, that the buildings are not fundamentally unsafe – not overall. And we will need to bare that in mind.
“Of course the government will support remediation where that is necessary but it’s also necessary to strike a balance to protect leaseholders as well.” (Source: News Now/https://www.thecomet.net/)
MARITIME
05 Aug 21. Vietnamese navy takes delivery of new submarine rescue ship. The Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) has received its first submarine rescue vessel in a ceremony held on 30 July at the state-owned Z189 Shipyard in the northeastern city of Hai Phong.
The 93 m-long vessel is named Yet Kieu (pennant number 927) and was built by Z189 Shipyard – which is run by the Ministry of National Defence (MND) – under the MSSARS 9316 project in co-operation with Dutch shipbuilder Damen.
Yet Kieu is derived from Damen’s Rescue Gear Ship 9316 design, which has a full-load displacement of 3,950 tonnes, a beam of 16m, and a draft of 4.05m. The vessel offers a stated maximum speed of around 16kt with an endurance of 30 days and a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles.
The multipurpose submarine rescue ship was launched in December 2019 and had been undergoing equipment fit-out and testing since. The vessel is equipped with a bow-mounted helicopter deck and a rear-mounted A-frame that launches and recovers the submarine rescue vehicle (SRV).
Yet Kieu is equipped with the 10 m-long and 3.2 m-wide LR11 SRV built by UK company Forum Energy Technologies. The SRV is operated by two personnel and is designed to dive to depths of up to 600 metres and extract up to 17 people at a time.
According to the company, the LR11 SRV also provides increased power and an advanced auxiliary thruster control system that enables it to attain underwater speeds of up to four knots, making it suitable for operation even in high currents. The SRV is fitted with a range of advanced sensors including a doppler velocity log, a fibre-optic gyroscope, a sonar, and other depth sensing equipment which enhances its navigational and positioning ability.
The VPN operationalised its first submarine unit, Brigade 189, with six Russian-made Project 636.1 (Kilo)-class diesel-electric submarines that were delivered between January 2014 and February 2017.
Besides Vietnam, other regional operators of submarine rescue ships include Australia, China, Malaysia, India, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. (Source: AMR)
05 Aug 21. India’s indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant begins sea trials. The vessel completed basin trials in November last year.
CSL completed the basin trials of INS Vikrant in November last year. Basin trials were carried out to test the propulsion, transmission and shafting systems. The 40,000t IAC Vikrant is capable of accommodating MiG 29K fighter jets and helicopters.
The 260m-long and 60m-wide carrier is claimed to be the largest ship to be built at the Cochin Shipyard.
Commencement of the ship’s sea trials is a major milestone towards India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Atmanirbhar Bharat aims to make India self-reliant and increase domestic defence manufacturing in the country.
The MoD stated: “Reaching this milestone is significant as they have been achieved barring the current pandemic challenges and imponderables.
“During the maiden sailing, ship’s performance, including hull, main propulsion, PGD and auxiliary equipment would be closely watched.”
In June, the Indian Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared a major project to build six new conventional submarines for the Indian Navy at a cost of approximately $5.88bn (Rs430bn).
Separately, the Indian MOD announced the commencement of joint military exercise INDRA-21 alongside Russia.
The exercise is aimed at enhancing cooperation between India and Russia. The countries began this joint training exercise at the Prudboy Ranges in Volgograd. The exercise will witness the joint training of troops in counter-terrorism operations under the United Nations mandate. (Source: naval-technology.com)
05 Aug 21. Harland & Wolff Publish Economic Contribution Report in Partnership with Oxford Economics. Harland & Wolff, the iconic shipyard with over 160 years of maritime and offshore engineering pedigree is to publish its 2019- 2020 Economic Contribution report in partnership with Oxford Economics.
Focusing on Harland & Wolff (Belfast) and Harland & Wolff (Appledore), the 46-page report details the company’s current and future economic footprint as well as its overall and future contribution to local, national, and regional communities, employment, and supply chains.
Highlights of the report include:
- Harland & Wolff’s total economic footprint in the UK equated to a contribution to GVA of £12.9m in 2020 (in 2018 prices).
- From 2019 – 2020, Harland & Wolff supported 390 jobs across the UK and generated £4.1m in tax revenues.
- Data provided to Oxford Economics indicates a pipeline of £6.6bn (£6.48bn in 2018 prices) of new work has been identified across a range of activities and sectors, of which Harland & Wolff expect that £1.5bn (£1.42bn in 2018 prices) will come forward.
- Cumulatively, it is estimated that Harland & Wolff will contribute £2.1bn to UK GVA by 2025 (in 2018 prices). At its peak, in 2023, Harland & Wolff’s activity will generate £533m of GVA, supporting 9,000 jobs and generating £168m in tax revenues.
John Wood, Group CEO commented: ‘We’re incredibly proud to be publishing this report especially at a time in which the economy has not only suffered prior to COVID-19 but more so after. Leading the way and excited for our continued growth, this report showcases the wider economic benefit throughout Harland & Wolff (Appledore) and Harland & Wolff (Belfast) whilst significantly contributing to the Government’s levelling up agenda. Now across all four Harland & Wolff sites, we’re looking forward to a future full of lasting economic prosperity and high quality UK employment.”
Oxford Economics was founded in 1981 as a commercial venture with Oxford University’s business college to provide economic forecasting and modelling to UK companies and financial institutions expanding abroad. Since then, it has become one of the world’s foremost independent global advisory firms, providing reports, forecasts and analytical tools on more than 200 countries, 250 industrial sectors, and 7,000 cities and regions.
Harland & Wolff is a multisite fabrication company, operating in the maritime and offshore industry through five sectors: commercial, cruise and ferry, defence, oil & gas and renewables and six services: technical services, fabrication and construction, decommissioning, repair and maintenance, in-service support and conversion.
Its Belfast yard is one of Europe’s largest heavy engineering facilities, with deep water access, two of Europe’s largest drydocks, ample quayside and vast fabrication halls. As a result of the acquisition of Harland & Wolff (Appledore) in August 2020, the company has been able to capitalise on opportunities at both ends of the ship-repair and shipbuilding markets where this will be significant demand.
In February 2021, the company acquired the assets of two Scottish based yards along the east and west coasts. Now known as Harland & Wolff (Methil) and Harland & Wolff (Arnish), these facilities will focus on fabrication work within the renewable, oil and gas and defence sectors.
Harland & Wolff is a wholly-owned subsidiary of InfraStrata plc (AIM: INFA), a London Stock Exchange-listed firm focused on strategic infrastructure projects and physical asset life-cycle management.
In addition to Harland & Wolff, it owns the Islandmagee gas storage project, which is expected to provide 25% of the UK’s natural gas storage capacity and to benefit the Northern Irish economy as a whole when completed.
03 Aug 21. Egypt receives fourth German S-44 submarine at Alexandria base. Egypt received the fourth German-made S-44 submarine at its Alexandria naval base on Monday, the Egyptian Navy announced. The model 209/1400 mod 4 sub was shipped from the German port city of Kiel.
“This latest addition to Egyptian naval forces represents a huge reinforcement for the capabilities of the Egyptian army, which will contribute to the protection of the country’s economic resources in the Mediterranean and Red seas, as well as the Suez Canal,” Egyptian Armed Forces spokesperson Gharib Abdel Hafez said in a statement.
The four diesel-electric submarines received between December 2016 and August 2021 are the result of a 2011 contract between the Egyptian Navy and German company ThyssenKrupp for two subns, and an additional two added in 2015.
Egypt procured the four subnmarines for €1.4bn (U.S. $1.7bn), as the contract for the first two was worth abnout €900m, while the second contract is estimated to exceed €500m, according to German news agency Deutsche-Presse Agentur. Other than the S-44 boats, Cairo has only four outdated Chinese Type 033 Romeo-class submarines.
In April 2016, German Vice-Chancellor and Economic Minister Sigmar Gabriel met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo, offering Germany’s help in boosting Egypt’s border security.
“The Egyptian government did not ask Germany for a weapons deal during this visit, but there was discussion about supplying two naval submarines. We are ready to fully cooperate with Egypt to secure its borders with Libya,” Gabriel said at the news conference.
Mohamed al-Kenany, who leads the military studies unit at the Cairo-based Arab Forum for Analyzing Iranian Policies, said Egypt is developing its submarine fleet to maintain its place in the region’s naval power balance. But there’s more to come, he told Defense News.
“As many countries in the region are boosting submarine capabilities … Egypt will not be satisfied with four submarines from Germany,” he said. “Egypt needs to boost this capability since it has two fleets: the Northern Fleet in the Mediterranean and the Southern Fleet in the Red Sea, with the growing challenges and threats to secure navigation [as well as] combat terrorism and arms and terrorists smuggling.”
The S-44 submarine is a 62-meter-long vessel. It comes in at 6.2 meters in diameter, with a surface displacement of 1450 tons. It has eight weapon tubes and can carry 30 crew members. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
02 Aug 21. RAN’s third and final Hobart-class destroyer is ready for operational duty. The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) third and final Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) returned to Garden Island in Sydney on 30 July following a four-and-a-half month-long deployment to the United States and Canada in which it qualified for operational duty.
The Department of Defence (DoD) in Canberra said in a news release that, while away, HMAS Sydney (pennant number 42) and its 174-strong crew conducted combat system sea qualification trials, including weapons firings off the western coast of the United States and integrated sonar suite trials, sailing from Nanoose Bay in Canada.
“ Sydney passed the tests and now joins her sister ships Hobart and Brisbane as being ready for operational deployment,” said the DoD.
The ship’s commanding officer, Commander Andrew Hough, was quoted as saying the deployment marked “the culmination of more than a decade of work by the navy in partnership with the Australian shipbuilding industry”, adding, “It was an honour to lead such a dedicated crew and to return to our home port, knowing we have been part of the final check off for such a critical capability.”
HMAS Sydney, which was launched in May 2018, formally entered RAN service two years later. Home-ported at Fleet Base East on Garden Island, the vessel had left Australia around mid-March to carry out ‘combat system ship qualification trials’ (CSSQTs). (Source: Jane’s)
30 Jul 21. US Navy Christens Submarine Rickover. The U.S. Navy christened one of its newest Virginia-class attack submarines, the future USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795), during a 9 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, July 31, 2021, at General Dynamics/Electric Boat, in Groton, Connecticut.
The principal speaker was Adm. James Caldwell, director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, Department of the Navy/ Department of Energy. Mr. James Geurts, performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Navy, will also deliver remarks. In a time-honored Navy tradition, the submarine’s sponsor, Mrs. Darleen Greenert, will christen the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow.
“The future USS Hyman G. Rickover will play an important role in defending our nation during this time of strategic competition,” said Caldwell. “It stands as proof of what teamwork – from civilian to contractor to military – can accomplish. I am confident USS Hyman G. Rickover and its crew will proudly serve our country’s interest for decades to come, ensuring America remains strong.”
The future USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795) is the second nuclear-powered fast attack submarine in recognition of Adm. Rickover. The first Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709) was commissioned at Submarine Base, New London, in Groton, on July 21, 1984. SSN 709 and its crew deployed 12 times until its decommissioning in December 2007. Over the years, its decorations included the Atlantic Fleet Golden Anchor Award, Submarine Squadron Eight’s anti-submarine warfare white “A” and engineering red “E” awards and the prestigious Sixth Fleet “Hook ‘Em” award for anti-submarine warfare excellence.
Rickover, known as the “Father of the Nuclear Navy,” served in the Navy for 63 years on active duty. His views touched matters of design, propulsion, education, personnel and professional standards. His team of engineers designed and constructed the first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus (SSN 571). This accomplishment led to the world’s preeminent fleet of nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.
Virginia-class submarines are built to operate in the world’s littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations forces support; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions. Their inherent stealth, endurance, mobility, and firepower directly enable them to support five of the six maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence. They are replacing Los Angeles-class submarines as they retire. (Source: US DoD)
02 Aug 21. Australian DoD delivers Guardian-class patrol boat to Vanuatu. RVS Takuare is the 12th vessel delivered under the Australian DoD’s Pacific Maritime Security Programme. Australia has handed over the RVS Takuare Guardian-class patrol boat (GCPB) to the Republic of Vanuatu at a ceremony in Henderson, Western Australia, on 30 July. This was the 12th GCPB delivered by Austal Australia to the Australian Department of Defence (DoD). Australia handed over the vessel on Vanuatu’s Independence Day. RVS Takuare has been delivered as part of the DoD’s Pacific Maritime Security Programme. The programme is aimed at delivering 21 Guardian-class patrol boats to equip 12 Pacific Island nations and Timor Leste with new maritime patrol capability.
The 12 nations include Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Timor Leste.
RVS Takuare is the 12th vessel delivered under the Pacific Maritime Security Program.
During the handover ceremony, Australia Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said that the new patrol boat demonstrates the strong security relationship between Vanuatu and Australia.
Price said: “The new Guardian-class Patrol Boat will provide a boost to Vanuatu’s sovereign maritime capabilities and is another tangible demonstration of our security partnership.
“Australia is proud to deliver this high-quality vessel, supported by wharf infrastructure upgrades in Port Vila and through-life training and maintenance, a hallmark of our Pacific Maritime Security Programme.”
According to Austal, the vessel is the first GCPB to be delivered to Vanuatu under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project (SEA3036-1).
Each vessel of the GCPB fleet will have an overall length of 39.5m, an overall beam of 8m, a loaded draught of 2.5m, and a cargo deck area of 16m². It can accommodate up to 23 personnel. (Source: naval-technology.com)
04 Aug 21. China launches third Type-054 frigate for Pakistan Navy. This vessel is the third of four Type-054 frigates expected to strengthen Pakistan’s defence capabilities. In 2017, Pakistan signed an initial contract for the delivery two Type 054 A/P frigates. Credit: US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Shannon Renfroe. China has launched a technologically advanced frigate, developed for the Pakistan Navy (PN), in a ceremony at the Hudong Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai. This vessel is the third of four Type-054 frigates that will help strengthen the Pakistan Navy’s maritime defence and deterrence capabilities. It is equipped with the latest surface, subsurface, and anti-air weapons, as well as a combat management system and sensors. The ships are also expected to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region. In 2017, Pakistan signed an initial contract for the delivery of two Type 054 A/P frigates. An additional contract for another two ships was signed in 2018. China introduced the first-in-class frigate in August last year. This frigate started sea trials in late May, while the second Type-054 frigate was floated in January this year. Keel laying for the third ship took place on 1 May. All four ships are built in China and the first two are expected to be delivered by the end of this year. Type 054A missile frigates are being built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard and Huangpu Shipyard for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). They have a length of 134m and a beam of 16m. The standard displacement is 3,600t, while the full displacement is around 4,000t. Each vessel has a crew complement of 165. Pakistan and China have deepened their military and defence ties with the ‘Sea Guardians 2020’ joint naval drill in the Arabian Sea and the development of JF-17 multirole combat aircraft. (Source: naval-technology.com)
PLANT CLOSURES, JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
05 Aug 21. Two Sandown-class minehunters retire as UK starts manned MCM rundown. Two Sandown-class minehunters have been retired from the UK Royal Navy (RN) ahead of transfer to the Ukrainian Navy. HMS Blyth and HMS Ramsey were formally decommissioned at Rosyth on 4 August. Their withdrawal – which reduces the number of Sandown-class vessels in RN service to four – marks the start of the phased rundown of the RN’s manned mine-countermeasures (MCM) fleet through to 2030. Under plans set out in the Defence Command Paper ‘Defence in a competitive age’, released in March, the RN will transition to a new Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) based on maritime autonomous systems. A first MHC increment, known as Project Wilton, is already operational on the Clyde. Built by Vosper Thornycroft at Woolston, Southampton, Ramsey and Blyth were commissioned in September 2000 and February 2001 respectively. The two vessels will now undergo refits at Babcock’s Rosyth facility before transfer to Ukraine. Blyth and Ramsey are the latest ships to retire as a result of force-level reductions outlined in the UK’s Defence Command Paper. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary solid stores ships RFA Fort Austin and RFA Fort Rosalie, laid up at Birkenhead, were officially withdrawn on 31 March, while the Type 23 frigate HMS Monmouth , already laid up at Devonport, was formally decommissioned on 30 June. (Source: Jane’s)
31 Jul 21. US Navy decommissions littoral combat ship Independence. The littoral combat ship Independence was decommissioned Thursday in San Diego — leaving the fleet with 22 littoral combat ships.
The Independence, which was commissioned in 2010, was one of the test and training vessels for the littoral combat ship program, along with the Freedom, Fort Worth and Coronado.
But then-Rear Adm. Randy Crites, the deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for budget at the time, said in February 2020 that the early versions of the littoral combat ship needed major, expensive upgrades, and it was better for them to be mothballed.
As such, the Navy said in a news release that decommissioning the Independence “supports department-wide business process reform initiatives to free up time, resources, and manpower in support of increased lethality.”
Even so, Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener, commander of Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, praised the ship and its crew for its contributions during the ship’s 11 years in service during the decommissioning ceremony on July 29.
“The Independence crew shouldered a heavy responsibility. Since the ship’s introduction into the fleet we asked her to serve for a specific purpose; to test emerging equipment and concepts,” Kitchener said.
“The crew accomplished that and so much more,” Kitchener said. “Without their efforts and experiences, the ship class would not be where it is today with six ships deployed throughout the world. Those improvements, made largely in part due to this crew’s experience and input, will continue to carry the LCS class into the future.”
The decommissioning ceremony was a small private event, consisting of ship plank owners and former crew members, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Navy said.
The Independence was the sixth ship to bear the name — the first being a 10-gun sloop from the American Revolution. Others include a small aircraft carrier that served during World War II and earned eight battle stars, and another aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 1959.
The Navy announced in May that the Independence would be decommissioned in July, along with the littoral combat ship Freedom in September.
The Freedom, which was commissioned in 2008, completed its final deployment April 1. The ship was deployed to U.S. 4th Fleet, where it supported Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission to battle illicit drug trafficking in both the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific.
(Source: Defense News Early Bird/Navy Times)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
05 Aug 21. Be part of the science inside UK defence and security. Dstl is launching its biggest recruitment drive in recent years, with over 300 roles for physicists, scientists, engineers, technologists and leaders. The recruitment drive comes as the government pushes its priority on science and technology (S&T) for defence and security. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is investing £6bn in research and development over the next 4 years, and includes an additional £1.1bn specifically for science and technology and pull through activities. It’s part of the government’s announcement ‘to sustain strategic advantage through S&T’ in the recent Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy. This is a significant uplift not just for Dstl, but for industry and academia too.
Minister for Defence Procurement Jeremy Quin said, “Our over £6bn investment into research and development is central to the evolution of defence and security. This will ensure MOD science and technology programmes upgrade and adapt our forces to meet a range of future threats.”
The Dstl recruitment campaign paves the way for the next generation of highly-skilled scientists to work on sophisticated projects designing and engineering pioneering military equipment.
Around 300 new positions are to be advertised at Dstl throughout June, July and August, with further positions expected in 2022.
Explore and apply for current opportunities at Dstl including exciting roles for physicists (now closed), analysts, engineers, scientists, technologists and leaders.
MOD Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Dame Angela McLean FRS, stated, “Through this investment, the government has demonstrated its commitment to UK science and technology. This not only benefits recruitment at our Dstl sites but 80% of the investment will be going out to industry and academia to help us deliver key capabilities for UK defence and security.”
There is a wide range of opportunities available, from Space to Sensing, Cyber and Electronics, C4 (Command and Control, Communications and Computers), Data and AI. Dstl is looking for people who are inquisitive and have technical expertise, particularly those who have previously worked in the S&T field who might never have considered working in defence and security before. Roles include project leaders, engineers, scientists, analysts, physicists and technologists.
Dstl’s Interim Chief Executive Doug Umbers, said, “This is great news, not just for science and innovation, but for those wishing to start a career in Defence and Security. The work we do here is like no other and in some cases cannot be done anywhere outside of Defence. Those who join us at Dstl will be a vital part of providing national security at home and abroad.” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
04 Aug 21. Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Libya: Caroline Hurndall MBE. Ms Caroline Hurndall MBE has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Libya in succession to Mr Nicholas Hopton. Ms Hurndall will take up her appointment during September 2021. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
04 Aug 21. The Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Wales is announced the appointment of Colonel Dominic Morgan OBE as its new Chief Executive. Colonel Morgan is due to take up the post on 1 July 2021, when he will replace Colonel Nick Beard TD DL who retires at the end of June after almost 19 years at Maindy Barracks, Cardiff. Joining the Association after a career in the British Army, Colonel Morgan’s service has included various staff roles within Brigade, Divisional, Army and Defence Headquarters with his most recent role having been the British Defence Attaché in Warsaw. He has served on operations in Afghanistan, the Former Yugoslavia and in the UK. Dominic, who began his time in uniform as an army cadet, is looking forward to taking up his new role in Wales and is proud of his Welsh military heritage. His great grandfather lived in Welshpool and served in the Rifle Brigade during WW1. His grandfather was a miner at Maerdy Colliery before enlisting into the Army. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
03 Aug 21. Acquisition and Sustainment Leadership Transition. The Department of Defense announced today the following leadership transitions:
Mr. Gregory M. Kausner, Executive Director for International Cooperation, assumed the duties of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)).
Mr. Paul D. Cramer, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment (Installations), assumed the duties of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (DUSD(A&S)).
In performing the duties of USD(A&S), Kausner is responsible for all matters pertaining to acquisition; contract administration; logistics and materiel readiness; installations and environment; operational energy; chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons; the acquisition workforce; and the defense industrial base.
A career member of the Senior Executive Service, Kausner had performed the duties of DUSD(A&S) since January 2021. Prior to that, he served as Deputy Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency; Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security; and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Regional Security and Security Assistance.
As an officer in the U.S. Navy, Kausner piloted F-14A Tomcat and F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft in support of theater operations in the Asia-Pacific region, served two combat tours in Iraq, and was Deputy Director of the Naval and Amphibious Liaison Element in Qatar during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Cramer, a member of the Senior Executive Service since June 2013, had performed the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment since January 2021. In this role, he was responsible for all policies and programs pertaining to installations, environment, installation and operational energy, infrastructure resilience, maintenance, supply, distribution, international logistics, weapon system product support, and logistics workforce development.
Cramer previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Housing, and Partnerships; Chief of Public Works, U.S. Army Installation Management Command Korea Region; Deputy Garrison Commander, U.S. Army Garrison, Yongsan, South Korea; Director of Public Works, Fort Irwin, CA; and Director of Public Works, Fort Polk, LA. (Source: US DoD)
30 Jul 21. Confirmation of Margaret Vo Schaus as NASA CFO. The following are statements from Margaret Vo Schaus, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy on Friday’s U.S. Senate confirmation of Vo Schaus as NASA’s chief financial officer. As a first-generation Vietnamese American, she serves as an inspiration for women of color, immigrant communities, and the next generation of students pursuing their dreams. Margaret has shown exceptional skill and management through her already impressive resume and will undoubtedly ensure the success of NASA’s long-term missions and the agency as a whole. (Source: PR Newswire)
30 Jul 21. President Joe Biden on Thursday plans to announce Aerospace Industries Association executive Alex Wagner, as his nominee to be assistant Air Force secretary for manpower and reserve affairs, a White House source tells Air Force Times. Wagner currently serves as AIA’s vice president for strategic initiatives, “leading efforts on talent and workforce policy as well as developing strategic partnerships to tell the story of technological innovation and the people who drive it,” according to a White House biography. If confirmed by the Senate, Wagner would become responsible for managing military and civilian personnel issues, Reserve component affairs and readiness support for nearly 700,000 employees in the Department of the Air Force. The nominee would take over for John Fedrigo, who has filled in as acting assistant secretary since January, as the Air Force and Space Force look to tackle issues ranging from recruitment and promotion policies to racial and gender equity and quashing ideological extremism. (Source: Defense News)
05 Aug 21. USAF MG David J. Julazadeh for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general, and assignment as deputy chief of staff for capability development, Supreme Allied Command Transformation, Norfolk, Virginia. Julazadeh is currently serving as chief of staff, Headquarters, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany.
05 Aug 21. USMC LG Karsten S. Heckl for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general, and assignment as the deputy commandant for combat development and integration, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; and commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. Heckl is currently serving as commanding general, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.
02 Aug 21. USMC MG James W. Bierman Jr. for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general, and assignment as commanding general, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. Bierman is currently serving as commanding general, 3d Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan.
02 Aug 21. USAF MG Russell L. Mack for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general, and assignment as deputy commander, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Mack is currently serving as assistant deputy chief of staff, Operations, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
02 Aug 21. USAF MG Ricky N. Rupp for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general, and assignment as commander, U.S. Forces Japan; and commander, Fifth Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Yokota Air Base, Japan. Rupp is currently serving as commander, Air Force District of Washington, Joint-Base Andrews, Maryland.
02 Aug 21. USAF BG Douglas A. Schiess has been nominated to the grade of major general. Schiess is currently serving as director, Space and Cyber Operations, Headquarters Space Operations Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.
02 Aug 21. USN Rear Adm. Carl P. Chebi for appointment to the rank of vice admiral, and assignment as commander, Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland. Chebi is currently serving as deputy director, Joint Strike Fighter Program, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Arlington, Virginia.
05 Aug 21. USMC MGS Andrew D. McCurry, most recently assigned as the command senior enlisted leader, Special Operations Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, has been selected to replace Army Command Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Weimer as the command senior enlisted leader for Special Operations Command – Central, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY TEAMINGS
03 Aug 21. iXblue announces strategic partnership with RDML Tim Gallaudet to strengthen its growing presence in the U.S.. iXblue, Inc. and iXblue Defense Systems announced today that they have formed a strategic partnership with Rear Admiral (RDML) Timothy Gallaudet through his marine technology consulting agency, Ocean STL Consulting. With this partnership, iXblue and RDML Tim Gallaudet will be advancing iXblue’s growing market presence in the U.S. in the fields of maritime autonomy, navigation and positioning for both defense and the private sectors.
“Tim is a great addition to our teams. He brings a nationally recognized reputation and record of success at the highest levels of government, academia, and the private sector,” states Marine Slingue VP at iXblue, Inc. “His comprehensive technical knowledge of oceanography and navigation, as well as extensive experience in the field in the US Navy and with NOAA will be of great value to iXblue.”
RDML Tim Gallaudet recently retired from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where he served as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy Administrator, advancing the American Blue Economy activities that pushed forward marine transportation, sustainable seafood, ocean exploration and mapping, marine tourism and recreation, as well as coastal resilience.
Before joining NOAA, he served for 32 years in the U.S. Navy, completing his service in 2017 as the Oceanographer of the Navy. His lifelong commitment to education, science, service, and stewardship has brought him a wealth and knowledge and a stellar reputation. RDML Gallaudet holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master’s and Doctorate Degree from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, all in oceanography.
“RDML Tim Gallaudet has been at the forefront leading the efforts to advance science and technology strategies for Artificial Intelligence and Unmanned Systems,” states Ted Curley, President and General Manager at iXblue Defense Systems. “His knowledge of the maritime industry and his familiarity with iXblue makes him a perfect partner in our goal to strengthen and grow our presence in the U.S. defense market.”
“Marine mapping is critical to advancing our understanding, the health, and the sustainable use of our oceans, and iXblue brings a capability to do this like none I have ever seen,” said RDML Gallaudet. “As a lifelong champion of ocean science and technology, I could not be more thrilled to partner with iXblue.”
About iXblue
iXblue is a global high-tech company specializing in the design and manufacturing of advanced marine, photonics and autonomy technologies. The group in-house expertise includes innovative systems and solutions devoted to inertial navigation, subsea positioning, underwater imaging, as well as shipbuilding and test & simulation. iXblue technologies support Civil and Defense customers in carrying out their sea, land and space operations with maximum safety, efficiency and reliability. Employing a workforce of 650 people worldwide, iXblue conducts its business in over 60 countries. www.ixblue.com
About Ocean STL Consulting
Ocean STL is a marine technology and management consulting agency. We bring a nationally recognized reputation and record of success at the highest levels of government, academia, and the private sector. Our professional network provides direct access to top executives in the environmental, defense, and technology sectors. https://www.oceanstl.com (Source: PR Newswire)
PERSONNEL
03 Aug 21. Lockheed Martin begins search for new CFO after Possenriede’s exit. Security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) said on Tuesday it is searching for a new chief financial officer after Kenneth Possenriede resigned from the post due to personal reasons. The company said it has appointed Vice President And Treasurer John Mollard as the acting CFO, effective immediately. Mollard has held several positions within the finance and business operations during his almost four-decade stint at Lockheed Martin, the company said in its statement. The surprise departure of Possenriede, who joined the company in February 2019, comes ahead of Lockheed Martin’s virtual investor event scheduled on Aug. 5. (Source: Reuters)
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
03 Aug 21. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced today that Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Kenneth R. Possenriede has decided to retire immediately due to personal reasons. John W. Mollard, vice president and treasurer, has been appointed acting CFO, effective immediately. In his almost four decades at Lockheed Martin, Mollard has held several positions of increasing responsibility within the Finance and Business Operations team, including the past five years as the corporate treasurer. (Source: PR Newswire)
02 Aug 21. Nanoracks, a Voyager Space Holdings Company, has appointed Marshall Smith, the former Deputy Associate Administrator (DAA) for NASA’s Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I), Human Exploration and Operations (HEO), as Senior Vice President of Commercial Space Stations. Nanoracks is the world’s leading provider of commercial space services and continues to expand its presence nationally, most recently announcing a new office in Huntsville, Alabama, which Smith will lead. He will also coordinate and direct the Nanoracks Outpost Program, which is focused on the continued use of upper stages past their primary mission, as well as the Nanoracks crewed free flyer efforts, both within the US Government and with international partners. (Source: PR Newswire)
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