LOCATIONS
LAND
14 Aug 23. Babcock commences construction on $31m Adelaide facility. Babcock Australasia and South Australia’s leading developer, Commercial & General, have announced construction has commenced on a new $31m integrated, manufacturing, warehouse, and office facility in Adelaide. Construction was officially started at a groundbreaking event attended by South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, Deputy Premier and Minister for Defence and Space Industries Susan Close, Member for Cheltenham Joe Szakacs, Commercial & General executive chair Jamie McClurg, Babcock Australasia chief executive officer Andrew Cridland, and City of Charles Sturt mayor Angela Evans.
The Torrens Road site in Adelaide’s western suburbs will include a 4,000-square-metre purpose-built manufacturing and maintenance building which will underpin Babcock’s support contracts for capabilities across the land and naval domains, with programs including the in-service sustainment for the Collins Class submarine fleet.
The facility will also include development of a separate 2,000-square-metre administrative support building while the remainder of the one-hectare site is being kept in readiness for potential expansion to cater for future AUKUS support.
Around 200 construction jobs will be supported through the building process, which will be undertaken by Tandem Building Group and is due to complete in Q3 2024.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said, “South Australia is spearheading the largest, most complex naval shipbuilding and defence projects in our nation’s history. Preparing the infrastructure and skills to support this defence capability is critical, and it relies on strong partnerships such as this one between Commercial & General and Babcock Australasia.”
The increased size of the new facility will enable Babcock to grow the number of ongoing highly skilled jobs from 65 to more than 100 compared with its current Osborne premises, with roles across engineering, project management, HR, finance, and commercial.
Jamie McClurg echoed the sentiments of Premier Malinauskas, saying, “This partnership is an important part of our portfolio growth in a sector that is creating sovereign capabilities for Australia and is a vital contributor to South Australia’s economy. There are heightened responsibilities and technical complexities that come with working with tier one defence organisations such as Babcock.”
Andrew Cridland added, “We are in an exciting and sustained phase of growth, having secured three landmark contracts totalling more than $1bn over the past 12 months including a multi-million dollar 10-year contract to upgrade the ADF’s Defence High Frequency Communications System.”
“This new facility will be a critical enabler of our ability to not only service existing land and naval programs but to meet the once-in-a-generation opportunities that will be created in South Australia by the AUKUS trilateral partnership. It will be home to current and future generations of highly talented skilled individuals and teams, who will get to work on some of our country’s largest and most important defence projects right here in Adelaide,” Cridland added.
According to Babcock’s Plan Zero 40 roadmap, the facility has been designed to be operationally net zero from the outset through a range of technologies, including rainwater harvesting, large-scale rooftop solar, electric plant and equipment, and the use of electric fleet vehicles.
The Torrens Road development is being funded through Commercial & General’s latest investment fund, which will retain ownership of the property, and as part of the ongoing partnership, Babcock has committed to a long-term tenancy agreement. (Source: Defence Connect)
11 Aug 23. Saab Australia expansion plans move ahead in Melbourne. Saab Australia has opened its expanded office and plans for an additional 60 ongoing jobs over the next two years in Melbourne. The expanded facility will include a centre of excellence for the integration of uncrewed systems into the Saab Combat Management System, supported by the Victorian government. This growth will increase Saab’s Victorian workforce to around 120 employees, up from 10 in early 2020.
The major national expansion program includes a new office in Canberra, the Deployable Health Capability Support Centre in Brisbane, and the Sovereign Combat System Collaboration Centre and office expansion in Adelaide.
“Saab has ambitious growth plans and we’ve identified Melbourne as an attractive place to invest and recruit talented people,” said Saab Australia managing director Andy Keough.
“We’ve been delivering complex systems integration in Australia for over 30 years and we’re pleased to have the support of the Victorian government to continue creating jobs as we introduce new technology and further develop our sovereign combat management system capabilities.” (Source: Defence Connect)
MARITIME
16 Aug 23. Construction Begins of First Miecznik Frigate. On August 16 this year, in Gdynia, with the participation of the Minister of National Defense, Mr. Mariusz Błaszczak, the ceremonial sheet metal burning for the construction of the first of three multi-purpose frigates MIECZNIK for the Polish Navy took place.
The ceremony of the so-called sheet metal burning is a symbolic beginning of the construction of the ship, initiating the stage of hull prefabrication. The next important stage for the emerging ship will be the laying of the keel.
In accordance with the choice of a strategic partner previously made by the Polish Armed Forces, the offer of the contractor, i.e. the PGZ-MIECZNIK Consortium, based on cooperation with strategic partners from Great Britain, i.e. Babcock International Group, Arrowhead 140, and Thales UK, which will supply the TACTICOS Integrated Combat System (ZSW).
Based on this decision, the contractor developed the Preliminary Design of the ship for the selected solution and updated the Industrial Feasibility Study along with the Technical and Economic Analysis.
In accordance with the above output documents and in order to ensure the uniformity of the equipment used and accelerate the construction of the second and third units, the contractor proposed the construction of the MIECZNIK frigates in the “cascade” variant, i.e. by obtaining ready-made elements that will not be subject to further modifications during the project implementation, which translated into a combination of the design and development phase of the first unit and the delivery phase of the next two serial units.
It was also agreed that the first ship in the series, which will be equipped with sensors and weapons, will undergo qualification tests, and the other two ships in the series will be successively retrofitted, after successful completion of the tests.
It should be noted that the order includes a wide range of equipment for the first unit, the functionalities of which, as a fully integrated system, will be verified in detail as part of tests, including qualification tests.
The Miecznik-class ships will be equipped with an Integrated Mission System, including a bridge and communication system, a platform management system and a combat system, sensors and effectors including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, water-to-water and water-to-surface destruction systems, and anti-submarine torpedoes.
In terms of anti-aircraft systems, the ships will be equipped with VLS Mk-41 vertical missile launchers and CAMM missiles. RBS-15 missile launchers will be used to combat surface and land targets.
The artillery armament will include a 76mm OTO Melara Super Rapid Strales cannon, two 35mm OSU-35K cannons, remotely controlled weapon modules equipped with large caliber machine guns. The torpedo armament will include two twin torpedo tubes.
The ships will be equipped with medium- and long-range multifunctional radars, as well as fire control radar and image reconnaissance sensors, as well as hull and towed sonars. They will also be equipped with means of electronic warfare and defense.
The Miecznik frigates will increase the capabilities of the Polish Navy in the field of observation and control of sea waters, protection of naval bases, combating surface, underwater and land targets located in the coastal zone, as well as conducting maritime air defense, as part of the implementation of national and allied undertakings under the Pact North Atlantic.
Basic unit parameters:
— Total length: approx. 138 m,
— Maximum width: approx. 20 m,
— Height: approx. 10 m (1 deck),
— Max displacement (including additional equipment and sheathing): approx. 7,000 t.
— Range – approx. 8,000 nautical miles,
— Max speed – 28 knots,
— Drive – 4 diesel piston engines in the CODAD system, 2 adjustable screws,
— Crew – 120 people + approx. 60 people of additional staff.
(Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com)
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Polish Armament Agency)
16 Aug 23. Navantia Lays Keel of First F110 Frigate at Ferrol Shipyard.
The Navantia shipyard in Ferrol (La Coruña) has hosted this Wednesday the keel laying ceremony for the F111 frigate, whose construction began in April 2022 and which is the first of the series of five new-generation frigates for the Navy .
This milestone of the program has taken place in the presence of the Admiral Chief of Staff of the Navy, Antonio Piñeiro, accompanied by the president of Navantia, Ricardo Domínguez and the director of the business of Frigates and Intervention Ships, Eduardo Dobarro.
The act consisted of placing block 311 in Tier 2 of the Ferrol facilities, on which the rest of the ship will grow. With this important event, Navantia continues to advance in the construction of the five frigates in this series.
It is expected that this ship will be launched in 2025, with its delivery to the Navy proceeding in 2028. The delivery of the rest of the ships will have a cadence of 12 months, until 2032, the date on which the Navy will receive the fifth unit.
The F110 program is fully in its construction phase, with production proceeding ahead of schedule. To date, 18 of the 33 blocks that will make up the new F111 are in the manufacturing process, with a degree of maturity of the 3D model of detailed engineering of around 80% and 99% of the platform equipment having been purchased. for all ships in the series.
Navantia has activated an acceleration plan for the construction program, which was launched by fine-tuning the production systems with a pilot block and which has materialized in the advancement of this keel laying. Before the end of the year, the manufacture of the F112 will begin.
“The F-110 program is a vital project for the Navy, which will result in the necessary replacement of the “Santa María” class frigates, while complementing the capacity of our F-100 as basic elements for the development of the rest. of the Fleet’s capabilities”, assures Admiral Piñeiro. “This transition has been possible thanks to the excellent collaborative relationship between the Navy and Navantia, which has endured through decades of working together in a common interest in the search for excellence in shipbuilding.”
“The F110 is a transformative lever for our entire industrial and technological ecosystem. If this Ferrol shipyard is already a world reference in the construction of frigates, this program will place it at the technological and industrial vanguard, with the upcoming construction of the digital block factory and the Digital Twin Center of Excellence”, highlighted. the president of Navantia, Ricardo Domínguez.
The F110 program will support around 9,000 jobs over a 10-year period, taking into account both direct and indirect employment and employment induced by economic activity. Around 500 companies from all over Spain participate in it.
Five ships plus a digital twin
The F110 frigate program, whose execution order was signed in 2019, contemplates the construction of five units for a value of 4,325m euros. These are multi-purpose escort ships, with anti-aircraft, anti-surface and anti-submarine capabilities and can operate in combination with other units. They are versatile ships that can also perform functions related to maritime security and support to civil authorities.
The F110 is a qualitative leap from the point of view of the capabilities of the Navy and the industrial and technological potential of Navantia and all its collaborating industry. Thus, it contributes to the strategic autonomy of Spain and to having a cutting-edge industrial and technological base, while opening up new export opportunities.
The program incorporates the Digital Twin, an innovative concept that will make the Ferrol shipyard an international reference in terms of frigates. The Digital Twin, designed in close collaboration with the Navy and the General Directorate of Armament and Materiel (DGAM) of the Ministry of Defence, is a virtual replica of the ship that is fed back in useful time with information on the ship, the data supplied permanently by a network of sensors distributed throughout the ship, constituting a cyber-physical system that through the use of behavior models and technologies such as Cloud Computing, Machine Learning or the Internet of Things (IoT) allows to support its maintenance and operation even thousands of miles away. distance through the Digital Twin deployed on the ground. (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/Navantia)
16 Aug 23. France welcomes arrival of second Suffren-class submarine.
The Directorate General of Armament celebrates the reception of the Duguay-Trouin submarine under the Barracuda programme.
France’s naval capabilities leap forward as the Directorate General of Armament (DGA) officially welcomes the Duguay-Trouin, the second of six Suffren-class nuclear attack submarines (SSNs) developed in the Barracuda programme.
With the delivery of this submarine, France continues to enhance its maritime capabilities and solidify its position as a major global naval force.
Russia, France, and the UK are the only three countries in Europe that are acquiring nuclear-powered attack submarines as replacements for existing SSNs now in service, according to GlobalData’s “The Global Submarine Market 2023-2033” report.
In a press release dated July 28, 2023, the DGA confirmed the successful reception of the Duguay-Trouin, marking a significant moment in France’s naval modernisation efforts. This achievement comes after rigorous sea trials and testing conducted over several months, ensuring the functioning of the submarine’s systems and equipment.
These sea trials were executed under the oversight of the DGA, in close collaboration with the Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission, and partnership with entities like the French Navy, Naval Group, and TechnicAtome.
According to GlobalData’s “France Defense Market 2023-2028” report, the French government ordered six new Barracuda-class (or Suffren-class) SSN vessels from Naval Group for a total cost of €10.4bn ($12.4bn), or €1.3bn ($1.6bn) per submarine.
The arrival of the Duguay-Trouin follows the previous delivery of the Suffren submarine to the French Navy in November 2020. As part of the larger Barracuda program, which aims to revitalise the country’s naval fleet, the remaining submarines (Tourville, de Grasse, Rubis, and Casabianca) are currently undergoing construction, with planned deliveries stretching into 2030.
This comprehensive effort aligns with the strategic goals outlined in the Military Programming Law 2024-2030, showcasing France’s steadfast commitment to maintaining its naval prowess.
The Suffren-class SSNs, including the recently received Duguay-Trouin, represent advanced naval capabilities. These submarines are designed to fulfil diverse missions, such as supporting deterrence, safeguarding the naval air group, gathering intelligence, engaging in anti-submarine warfare, and executing anti-ship combat operations.
Notably, they outperform their Rubis-class predecessors in speed, endurance, and versatility, owing to their systems and enhanced capabilities. Including the Naval Cruise Missile allows these submarines to engage land-based targets located hundreds of kilometres away, further enhancing their strategic utility.
The successful sea trials of the Duguay-Trouin, which included stability, performance, and combat systems tests, validated the submarine’s readiness to navigate safely and effectively. Technical experts from the DGA’s Naval Expertise Centers analysed data collected from these trials, attesting to the submarine’s technical capabilities. With the Duguay-Trouin’s arrival, France stands poised to assert its influence and strategic presence on the world’s oceans. (Source: naval-technology.com)
16 Aug 23. USN launches DDG 128 under its multi-year deal for ten destroyers. HII Ingalls Shipbuilding has launched DDG 128 as the latest Arleigh Burke destroyer to be inducted under the navy’s multi-year programme. HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding has announced the launch of USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128), a flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer (DDG 51) is a multi-mission, guided missile warship, originally commissioned in 1991. The ship conducts anti-air warfare with an Aegis combat system and surface-to-air missiles; tactical land strikes with its Tomahawk missiles; and anti-submarine warfare with Harpoon missiles.
DDG 128 is the latest destroyer inducted into the US Navy as part of its multi-year delivery of nine other Arleigh Burke ships being constructed by HII and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW), announced at the beginning of August.
Ted Stevens is the 76th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and its name honours former US senator Ted Stevens, who served as a World War II pilot and later as a senator representing Alaska. The vessel will be christened in 19 August, while Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), George M. Neal (DDG 131) and Sam Nunn (DDG 133) are also under construction at Ingalls.
Prior to launch, DDG 128 was translated from land to the dry dock using translation railcars to support the ship. Once in the dry dock the ship is prepared to launch.
Destroyer delivery programme for the next decade
There are currently six destroyers in production at BIW: John Basilone (DDG 122), Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) and Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127), as well as the Flight III ships Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), William Charette (DDG 130) and Quentin Walsh (DDG 132).
The US Department of Defense (DoD) gave the other contract to HII for the supply of six vessels – one in 2023, one in 2024, two in 2025, one in 2026 and another in 2027.
Likewise, the navy is pursuing the modernisation and sustainment of four existing flight IA DDG 51s. The approval to extend the life of the navy’s destroyers comes down to maintaining a greater force structure.
“It’s right to say that the US is contemplating force size – and maintaining a larger fleet of Arleigh Burke ships is part of the answer,” affirmed GlobalData Aerospace and Defence Analyst, James Marques.
(Source: naval-technology.com)
14 Aug 23. New SAN hydrographic vessel “on track.” The Project Hotel hydrographic survey vessel under construction. SAS Nelson Mandela (A187), the new SA Navy (SAN) hydrographic survey vessel (HSV), is “on track” with hull construction complete.
She is the major component of Project Hotel and is being assembled, constructed and fitted at Sandock Austral’s Durban shipyard.
Armscor is project manager and its Senior Manager: Corporate Communication Liziwe Nkonyana reports in addition to the new HSV, other components of Project Hotel are going well.
These include three survey motorboats (SMBs) with the first completed and with the SAN for operational testing and evaluation (OTE). SMBs two and three and the sea boat are complete and “currently in preservation”. They will, Nkonyana, told defenceWeb, be delivered at the same time as the HSV.
She chose not to answer defenceWeb’s questions on commencement of sea trials and handover of A187. An indication came from SAN Deputy Chief, Rear Admiral Bubele Mhlana, when he updated Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD) in May. He told parliamentarians the envisaged handover date is March 2025, with an accelerated handover date of October next year targeted. The vessel is due to be launched in March next year and will be taken into the fleet post OTE.
Hull construction of A187 is complete with the ship’s funnels still to be positioned and fitted. The funnel points are presently used for equipment access and will be placed when this access route is no longer needed.
As far as fitting is concerned, Nkonyana said most ancillary equipment including piping, flooring, electrical equipment, bracketing, cable tray laying, equipment placement as well as pre-installation activities are currently being installed or underway.
The final Project Hotel component – an upgrade of the SAN hydrographic office – has been handed to the maritime service and is operational.
In total the hydrographic upgrade will cost R2.7bn with the bulk – R1.9bn – disbursed by May.
Nelson Mandela, built to the Vard Marine 9 105 design, will be equipped with state-of-the-art survey equipment including multi- and single-beam echo sounders as well as side-scan sonar and a seabed sampler to recover seafloor and underlying sub-strata material for detailed analytical and testing purposes. The 95m long vessel has a strengthened bow to allow for operations in the Southern Ocean in the vicinity of Antarctica. With a 10 000 nautical mile range and rated top speed of 18 knots, long voyages present no problem. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
PLANT CLOSURES, JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
16 Aug 23. USS Sioux City (LCS 11) Decommissions. Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Sioux City (LCS 11) was decommissioned in Mayport, Fla., August 14. As an operational unit, Sioux City and its crew played an important role in the defense of our nation and maritime freedom. Sioux City and its Sailors were key to determine the operational success and deployment capabilities of today’s LCS platform.
During the ceremony guest speaker, Capt. Daniel Reiher, Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Training Facility Atlantic, wished the crew of Sioux City fair winds and following seas as they bid farewell to their ship.
“Though our ship’s service ends today, her legacy does not. For years to come the Sailors who served onboard will carry forth lessons learned and career experiences gained,” said Capt. Daniel Reiher, Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Training Facility Atlantic. “As those lessons and experiences are used to forge those that follow us, the legacy of SIOUX CITY will strengthen our Navy for generations to come.”
Sioux City and its Sailors contributed a tremendous amount of work and time to ensure success of the LCS program during the ship’s time in naval service. Sioux City completed four successful deployments in December 2020, July 2021, December 2021 and October 2022. The ship deployed to U.S. Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Fleet, integrated with a carrier strike group, performed exercises with partner navies and conducted joint maneuvers with other U.S. Navy warships. While deployed in 2022, Sioux City provided maritime security presence enabling the free flow of commerce in key corridors of trade. Sioux City was also the first LCS to operate in U.S. Fifth and Sixth fleets across the Atlantic where they participated in counter drug trafficking operations with the U.S. Coast Guard to seize over 10,000 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $500m.
“First off, it’s impressive and humbling to see the shipmates, past and present, and all the well-wishers gathered in attendance today. It’s easy to get locked into the day-to-day grind of running a ship and forget about those who came before you and those who hope and pray for your success,” said Cmdr. Michael Gossett, Sioux City’s commanding officer. “It’s tempting to engross oneself with the finality of the process. Let us not lose sight of the memories we have made, the culture we have built, successes we have had and will endure forever.”
Built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin, Sioux City was commissioned November 17, 2018, at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Mary Winnefeld, a longtime resident of Sioux City, served as the ship’s sponsor.
USS Sioux City (LCS 11) is the first United States Navy Warship named after the city of Sioux City, Iowa. The ship represents the proud people of the Sioux Nation, a combination of the Dakota and Lakota Native American Tribes. Upon decommissioning, Sioux City will be placed into a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) disposition status, and its Sailors will receive follow-on orders to new assignments.
(https://www.defense-aerospace.comm EDITOR’S NOTE: Contrary to what is wrongly claimed above, the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program produced, at a cost of $15bn dollars (2003 prices), badly-designed ships which have proved so embarassingly useless that the US Navy first reduced the number of ships from 50 to 35, and then began to retire them as they often break down, are too lightly armored and armed to be effective, and their mission modules failed to work properly so often that the modularity principle was abandoned. The Freedom-class variant to which Sioux City belongs was contracted to Lockheed Martin. In fact, the LCS has been widely ridiculed as “the warship that can’t go to war,” and exemplifies the same failed shipbuilding strategy that also led to the construction of the DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers, whose construction was stopped after the first three ships.) (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/USN)
15 Aug 23. Germany to retire two govt planes after minister stranded in Abu Dhabi. Germany will decommission two ageing Airbus 340 government planes as soon as possible after Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was stranded with one in Abu Dhabi due to safety issues, an air force spokesperson said on Tuesday.
As a result of the incident, the planes will be taken out of service in the coming weeks, bringing forward their planned decommissioning from September 2023 and the end of 2024, respectively, the spokesperson added.
Baerbock cancelled her planned week-long trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji on Tuesday after being forced to return to Abu Dhabi twice due to a technical malfunction with the wing flaps following a refuelling stop there.
Her A340 was still parked in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday morning.
The incident was the latest of several that have caused Berlin to overhaul and modernise its government fleet.
In 2018, former Chancellor Angela Merkel missed the opening of the G20 summit in Argentina over a “serious malfunction” that forced her A340 government plane to make an unscheduled landing.
Going forward, the air force will rely on its “robust and modern” fleet of A350 long-haul aircraft to replace the retired A340, the spokesperson said.
He was referring to two A350s already in the service of the Luftwaffe’s VIP squadron, while a third one is being retrofitted for government use by the industry. A spokesperson of the defence ministry did not respond on Monday to questions regarding the age of the retired planes. (Source: Google/Reuters)
11 Aug 23. US Navy decommissions USS Mobile Bay cruiser as ship count decreases. The US Navy decommissions its cruiser after 36 years of naval service, while in the middle of a race to outmatch China’s swelling ship count. The US Navy cruiser, USS Mobile Bay (CG 53),has decommissioned at Naval Base San Diego on 10 August 2023 after more than three decades of naval service.
Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi built the Mobile Bay from 1982, and the US Navy commissioned the vessel on 21 February 1987, at Alabama State Docks in Mobile. The vessel was the first named after the American Civil War battle at Mobile Bay, honouring the Union naval victory in August 1864.
The cruiser’s history includes the 1989 evacuation of the US Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon; launching 22 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) during Operation Desert Storm; US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment seizure of 10.5 metric tons of cocaine approximately 800 miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico; and launching TLAMs in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
Maintaining a superior force structure on the world stage
At the ceremony Vice Admiral Roy Kitchener, Commander of the Naval Surface Forces, acted as the ceremony guest speaker. “The Sailors of USS Mobile Bay demonstrated time and time again the resolve and readiness the Surface Force provides around the clock in support of our nation’s interests,” Kitchener stated.
However, the cruiser’s operational history comes to an end at a time when the US Navy is losing the advantage as the service struggles to outmatch the swelling force structure of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
The Surface Fleet Force’s recent decision, on 4 August, to extend the life of four existing Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (DDG 51) indicates the navy’s strained attempt to maintain its ‘around the clock readiness’; particularly in the Indo-Pacific where the PLAN infringes in sovereign territory.
While Rear Admiral Fred Pyle, Director of Surface Warfare, said that the move to extend the life of these ships strengthens America’s force size, it is rather a move to buy time before nine new DDG 51s, among other ships, are inducted into the navy during the first half of the next decade.
The navy will be inactivate the ship and tow it to the Inactive Ship’s facility in Bremerton, Washington where it will be in a Logistic Support Asset status.
This means that “inactive vessels designated as retention assets form a reserve of sea power available for future reactivation,” according to the navy’s general policy report on inactive ships.
“It is the navy’s objective to maintain retention assets in a fixed state of preservation consistent with available funds. It is further the navy’s objective to maintain all inactive vessels, whether for retention or pending disposal,” the report states.
While this policy may be a matter of general protocol for decommissioned ships, given the navy’s relative force structure it would be fair to say that the Mobile Bay has not exhausted its usefulness just yet.
(Source: naval-technology.com)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
16 Aug 23. Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility Welcomes First Contingent of AUKUS Personnel. Personnel from participating nations reported to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY&IMF) in support of the Australia, United Kingdom, and United States (AUKUS) security partnership’s Pillar One initiative, Aug. 14.
The Pillar One initiative is delivering a conventionally armed nuclear powered attack submarine (SSN) capability to Australia. The uniformed and civilian submarine maintenance subject matter experts from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States comprise the Advance Verification Team (AVT) that, over the coming weeks, will work directly with shipyard personnel to gain a full understanding of the maintenance and industrial skills required to establish Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-W) in Australia as early as 2027.
At its height, SRF-W will host up to four Virginia class and one Royal Navy Astute class SSN. Initially, a combined Australian and U.S. team will execute maintenance on the U.S. flagged SSNs. Over time, as Australia grows its workforce and expertise, the U.S. will reduce its presence in Australia. The AVT is working to build a detailed understanding of the types of specialized skills and trades required to establish the SRF-W repair workforce.
AUKUS Pillar One has three distinct phases. Phase One involves establishing SRF-W through increased Virginia class visits to Australian designed to expand Australia’s knowledge of SSNs and the development of an Intermediate Level Maintenance capability. Phase Two begins in the early 2030s, pending approval from the U.S. Congress, with the United States selling Australia between three and five Virginia class submarines. Phase Three sees the combination of United Kingdom submarine design and advanced United States technology in the delivery of SSN-AUKUS, the future attack submarine for both Australia and the United Kingdom. Australia plans to deliver the first sovereign-built SSN-AUKUS in the early 2040s.
“Each phase builds on the previous one and SRF-W is the foundation upon which the Australian maintenance, sustainment and new construction workforce is built,” said Capt. Lincoln Reifsteck, the U.S. Navy’s AUKUS Integration and Acquisition Program Manager, who emphasizes the importance of the AVT’s role in the establishment of SRF-W .
“Australians are superior submariners,” said Capt. Richard A. Jones, PHNSY & IMF’s commanding officer. “They operate one of the best diesel-electric boat classes in the world in a highly complex area of operations. That said, there is a big step between the Australian Collins Class SSK [diesel-electric attack submarine] and Virginia class SSN. We are honored to host the AVT over the next several weeks to share as much as we can, answer their questions, and set them on the right course to building out a holistic sustainment plan.”
Once the AVT determines the skillsets and number of personnel required to execute intermediate-level maintenance, they will build an embedment plan to upskill and train Australian personnel within U.S. public naval shipyards.
“With an informed and specific plan, we will control costs by ensuring we send the right people, to the right places, to get the right training, at the right time to meet our requirements,” said Rear Adm. Matthew Buckley, the Australian Submarine Agency’s Head of Submarine Capability.
“Everything the AVT is doing works to grow Australia’s organic capabilities needed to keep our spear point, our attack submarines, sharp,” added Royal Australian Navy Capt. William McDougall, Director Submarine Rotational Force – West. “We are focused on ensuring the work taking place at [Australian base] HMAS Stirling fully supports SRF-West and we have been nothing but impressed by the dedication of our trilateral partners in setting us up for success.”
The AVT will remain in Pearl Harbor for several weeks, return home, and then travel to the United Kingdom to tour British shipyards to refine its plans. “In the UK we have fewer SSNs than the US. We are going to show the AVT how we maintain and modernize a smaller number of submarines, while still operating at the highest possible standards. Given the projected size of the RAN SSN force, Australia will not require facilities akin to the United States Naval Shipyards, but instead infrastructure comparable to those present in the UK. This experience will be enormously beneficial for both the AVT and our personnel, as we look to strengthen our mutual knowledge, and ongoing partnership,” said Rear Adm. Chris Shepherd, the Royal Navy’s Defence Nuclear Organisation AUKUS Director and Senior Responsible Owner for the Replacement Nuclear Submarine Programme.
The AUKUS partnership is a strategic endeavor that strengthens the three nations’ national security and promotes peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Australia will acquire conventionally armed SSNs for the Royal Australian Navy under AUKUS Pillar One via the Optimal Pathway announced by leaders of the three partner nations on March 13, 2023. The AUKUS Integration and Acquisition (I&A) Program Office is responsible for executing the trilateral partnership to deliver conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines to the Royal Australian Navy at the earliest possible date while setting the highest nuclear stewardship standards. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ US Naval Sea Systems Command;)
14 Aug 23. Job themes decline in aerospace and defence except in Japan. GlobalData indicates a decline in job themes across the whole sector, except for an upturn in Japan’s macroeconomic outlook.
GlobalData’s theme activity analytics for jobs in aerospace and defence indicates a general decline, except for Japan’s macroeconomic outlook.
While jobs in the Future of Work have fallen by 26%; Space Systems and Supply Chain jobs by 22%; Cloud by 16%; and Electronic Warfare and 3D Printing by 14%; Japan’s Macro Outlook has seen a positive increase of 20%, with 152 jobs this month compared with 127 last month.
Why has Japan’s outlook increased amid widespread downturn?
Japan’s aerospace and defence industry has made room for growth through changes in its technology sector and strategic importance in the Pacific, where geopolitical tensions continue to fester with China.
On 26 June, the Japanese government offered to buy out JSR, a leading domestic semiconductor equipment manufacturer. The fund explained that “the tender offer is designed to enable JSR to smoothly and rapidly promote its bold, medium-to-long-term strategic investments without being bound by the short-term impact on business performance.”
At the centre of the global semiconductor market, the US and China are competing in their ‘chip war’ in order to gain the advantage in their wider geopolitical and military rivalry. Therefore, securing semiconductor material supply chains has become a military necessity, and Japan has expanded its ability in this area with this acquisition. This expansion may translate to growth in jobs in this critical defence-related sector.
Likewise, Japan’s strategic importance, alongside its allies in the Indo-Pacific, has helped job growth. On 14 August, Australia and Japan announced that efforts to strengthen their defence ties with the Japan-Australia Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) were coming into effect.
This military agreement provides the legal framework for greater defence co-operation between the Australian Defence Force and Japan Self-Defense Force. It is the first visiting forces agreement Japan has struck with any country outside the US.
Our signals coverage is powered by GlobalData’s Disruptor data, which tracks all major deals, patents, company filings, hiring patterns and social media buzz across our sectors. These signals help us to uncover key innovation areas in the sector and the themes that drive them. They tell us about the topics on the minds of business leaders and investors, and indicate where leading companies are focusing their investment, deal-making and R&D efforts. (Source: naval-technology.com)
11 Aug 23. DOD Announces Inaugural Innovation Challenge on Talent Management. From 11 August through 30 September 2023, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness is hosting the inaugural Talent Management: From the Ground Up Innovation Challenge to capture the diversity of thought, experience, background, and capability offered by our total force and bring forth new ideas on improving talent management across the Department of Defense (DoD).
The Talent Management Innovation Challenge encourages DoD military and civilian employees at all levels to submit promising talent management ideas with potential to make an impact across the Department in recruiting, retaining, and promoting a diverse force. It is an opportunity for Service members and civilians to have their voices heard, showcase their ingenuity, and share passion projects or solutions to better enhance the workplace.
“To remain the best fighting force in the world and effectively compete in today’s job marketplace, we must innovate the way we recruit, retain, and develop top talent,” said Gilbert Cisneros, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. “We are working hard to solve today’s talent management challenges, and this challenge reinforces the need to tap into the full range of strengths and capabilities of all our employees. By harnessing the tremendous talent and experiences of our military Service members and civilian colleagues, we can bring forth new, innovative, and effective ideas tailored to our personnel.”
Participants are encouraged to submit ideas in one of three categories: Recruiting and Accessions, Promotion and Retention, or Wild Card. All ideas will be assessed for broad applicability across the Department and for potential positive impact. Finalists will pitch their idea to a panel of DoD senior leaders for consideration of adoption across the Department.
The DoD 2040 Task Force will help kick off the inaugural Talent Management Innovation Challenge, and the Chief Talent Management Officer (CTMO) and Talent Management Executive Council will oversee future challenges.
“We are always looking for new insights and ideas to evolve and transform the way we do things across the Department. This first ever Talent Management Innovation Challenge will bring forth innovative solutions from those on the ground to help solve the issues of today,” says Mr. Brynt Parmeter, DoD CTMO. “I encourage both our military and civilian colleagues to bring forth their ideas and help us build a more inclusive and talented workforce in the months and years ahead.”
The Talent Management Innovation Challenge is open to all active, guard, and reserve Service members and DoD civilian employees. To submit an idea, participants must first create a Platform One account by following the instructions at https://www.innovatedaf.com/, then access the Air Force’s Guardian and Airmen Innovation Network (GAIN) platform at https://gain.il4.afwerx.dso.mil/dod/dodtm2023/.
For questions contact: (Source: U.S. DoD)
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
16 Aug 23. Ms Pamela Joanne (Jo) McPhail has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Gabonese Republic in succession to Dr Christian Dennys-McClure. Ms McPhail will take up her appointment in September 2023.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
14 Aug 23. MG Michelle A. Schmidt to commanding general, 7th Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. She most recently served as director, Force Development, G-8, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.
14 Aug 23. BG Antoinette R. Gant, commanding general, South Pacific Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco, California, to chief, Army Enterprise Marketing Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Chicago, Illinois.
14 Aug 23. BG Kirk E. Gibbs, commanding general, Pacific Ocean Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, to commanding general, South Pacific Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco, California.
Army Reserve
14 Aug 23. MG Kris A. Belanger, special assistant to the assistant secretary of the Army (Individual Mobilized Augmentee), Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Washington, D.C., to commanding general, (Troop Program Unit) 99th Readiness Division, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
14 Aug 23. MG Tracy L. Smith, commander (Troop Program Unit), 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support), Salt Lake City, Utah, to commanding general, (Troop Program Unit), 63rd Readiness Division, Mountain View, California.
14 Aug 23. BG Katherine A. Simonson, director, Research and Development, Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Virginia, to deputy commander (Troop Program Unit), 3rd Medical Command (Mission Support Element), Fort Gillem, Georgia.
14 Aug 23. BG Peter J. Whalen, deputy commanding general (Individual Mobilized Augmentee), U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to deputy commander (Troop Program Unit), 84th Training Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky.
14 Aug 23. BG Michael L. Yost, deputy commander (Troop Program Unit), 807th Medical Command (Mission Support Element), Salt Lake City, Utah, to deputy commander for Professional Services (Troop Program Unit), 3rd Medical Command (Mission Support Element), Fort Gillem, Georgia.
14 Aug 23. USMC LG Christopher J. Mahoney for appointment to the grade of general, with assignment as assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. Mahoney is currently serving as deputy commandant for Programs and Resources, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.
INDUSTRY
PERSONNEL
28 Jul 23. Babcock investing heavily in its STEM workforce to meet defence and security challenges.
Science and technology are at the heart of Australia’s defence capability, with engineers critical to how the nation will meet growing defence and security challenges.
Defence prime Babcock is investing heavily in its STEM workforce, with a range of career opportunities available to provide employees with the opportunity to serve the nation.
“The breadth of programs available to Babcock employees span exciting projects across our defence portfolio,” said Glenn Logan, Babcock’s Executive Director Engineering & Technology.
“This ranges from warship sustainment, submarine and surface ship weapon handling and launch systems, counter-chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (C-CBRNE), ground support equipment and high frequency communications defence capabilities.
“Career opportunities extend throughout the engineering lifecycle – from systems engineering to supportability and asset management – and across a broad spectrum of engineering disciplines including naval architecture, mechanical and software engineering and more.
Fatima Shafiq is a Senior Systems Engineer working on Babcock’s Enhanced Defence High Frequency Communications System (EDHFCS) program.
“I have a diverse role, which has been tailored to my skills and career aspirations. My work extends beyond day-to-day engineering and includes collaborating with internal and external stakeholders and working alongside the engineering lifecycle to apply methodologies and generate value addition for Babcock and our customers,” Shafiq said.
“Since joining Babcock, I have witnessed the business grow significantly and demonstrate a commitment to delivering engineering excellence.
“Babcock is playing a key role in inspiring future generations to pursue STEM opportunities and it is motivating to see my passion aligned to Babcock’s ambitions.”
Logan says a defence engineering career provided opportunities for individuals who are passionate about serving and protecting the nation.
“Babcock engineers are inspired to design, develop, and modify innovative offerings that directly shape and protect the communities in which they live and work.
“This provides the platform for individuals to hone their skills and identify areas for professional development and specialisation, while working on projects that help build Australia’s sovereign defence capability and ultimately help to keep the nation safe.”
Promoting career progression within Babcock is a way the company is seeking to retain and develop talent, committing to filling 50% of roles with internal talent.
In practice, this looks like active monitoring of the internal talent pool and a tailored internal talent development and career process that feeds into the engineering talent pool.
“Babcock’s engineering resourcing model provides dedicated and robust career structures that allow our people to reach their full potential,” Logan said.
Babcock also believes in having a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce to promote more accessible pathways and supportive environments in defence for those who are traditionally represented in the minority.
“It is the diversity of our engineering base which Babcock prides itself on. We are committed to being a workforce that reflects the rich diversity of wider society and to be a business that inspires and shapes the communities in which we operate,” he said.
Babcock does not mandate defence experience when recruiting, noting that skills and experiences from complementary disciplines in other industries promote greater skills diversity that strengthen capabilities.
“We are committed to broadening our resource pool, so we have a diversity of thought – different ways of looking at the same problem always lead to the best results.
“Skills found in neighbouring engineering industries—such as energy and resources—are transferable, particularly in an individual’s approach to problem solving and innovation,” he said. (Source: Defence Connect)
17 Aug 23. Defence promotes STEM careers during National Science Week. With nearly half of ADF roles requiring STEM knowledge, Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro discussed opportunities for Australia’s future STEM and Defence workforces during the launch of National Science Week.
Defence launched the week with a “Lunch and Learn” on 14 August, discussing an array of STEM innovation opportunities within Defence including the development of directed-energy weapons and quantum technology, Defence detailed.
The launch covered short presentations of the Defence Strategic Review’s six science and technology priorities, including long-range precision fires, information warfare, trusted autonomy, hypersonic technology, directed-energy weapons, and quantum technology.
With nearly half of Defence roles requiring some level of capability in STEM fields, Professor Monro explained that it was important to promote the study of STEM to Australia’s future workforce.
“Thirty per cent of civilian roles and over 40 per cent of ADF roles need STEM, and too often, our young people aren’t choosing the subjects they need to prepare them for those high-value jobs,” Professor Monro said.
“Defence offers STEM professionals a chance to work on challenging, engaging and important problems, and STEM personnel in DSTG [Defence Science and Technology Group] are already working in ways that align with the Defence Strategic Review.”
Celebrating National Science Week, Defence promoted emerging technologies that are shaping tomorrow’s battlefield.
Among these technologies are laser sensors embedded on the S100 Camcopter, used to map the seabed and beaches to detect amphibious landings.
The lasers were trilled under Exercise Sea Raider.
“We participate in major exercises to understand how the outputs of scientific research can be accelerated through the transition into operational use. This seeks to make the warfighter more effective for their missions,” geography scientist Dr Alexander Lee explained.
“It’s about talking to people, either day or night, to better understand how science can be used to resolve issues or identify new opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of the ADF.”
Defence also shone a spotlight on those members building a more capable ADF like Flight Lieutenant Joelene Buntain who holds a PhD in astrophysics and provides essential capability for the Defence Space Command.
Following the release of the DSR in April, leading the innovation charge will be the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), funded to the tune of $3.4bn over the next decade.
The sum is $591m over the forward estimates for Defence innovation, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence’s office outlined.
The Accelerator has been tasked with ensuring that the Australian Defence Force maintains qualitative overmatch, while ensuring a more “agile” procurement process.
ASCA opened for business on 1 July, bringing together innovators from Defence, industry, and academia to accelerate Defence capability and is headed by interim head Professor Emily Hilder.
Among its first priorities will be hosting state-based industry forums.
“The Accelerator is up and running less than three months since the government received the Defence Strategic Review,” the minister for defence industry said in a statement.
“It will unlock and ignite innovation from across the nation, bringing together the best experts from different sectors – driving change from within Defence to move at the pace and scale we need.
“This will mean faster acquisition and better links between Defence and industry to deliver the capabilities the soldiers, sailors, and aviators of the Australian Defence Force need.”
According to the Commonwealth’s initial schedule, ASCA will have 18 months to develop, test, and refine the operating model. (Source: Defence Connect)
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
15 Aug 23. Ansi Arumeel to join Milrem Robotics’ team as COO. Ansi Arumeel, who has held several leadership positions in logistics and e-commerce companies, will join Milrem Robotics’ team as Chief Operating Officer and member of the board as of September 2023. Arumeel has extensive leadership experience, most notably from the Estonian state-owned post and logistics company Omniva where he worked in different roles for 14 year, last two as the CEO. Since leaving Omniva, Arumeel has been the deputy managing director of the Polish Retail Robotics, the largest Automated Parcel Machine manufacturer in Europe with ca 500 employees. His role was keeping the focus on strategy, aligning organisation to targets and creating an environment for the talents to succeed. He was also working with values and culture improvements, communication, KPI structure and visualisations, processes and improvement and business development. Arumeel has a BSc. in Mechanical Engineering, Transportation Technology from TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology and a MSc. with distinction in Management of Transportation & Logistics from the Chalmers University of Technology.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
10 Aug 23. Dedrone expands with three new hires in line with global growth strategy. Airspace security company Dedrone has expanded its team with three key hires. Sara Devitt joined as Chief People Officer; Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE joined as Vice President Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC); and Carl Landrum has joined as Vice President, Civilian Programs and Strategy.
In her role as Chief People Officer, Devitt will lead Dedrone’s global people strategy and continue the company’s legacy of attracting, developing and retaining top, diverse talent to continue enabling its current hyper-growth phase.
In his new role, Alexander-Cooper will be responsible for Dedrone’s growth across EMEA and APAC. He has served as an advisor to the company for the past 18 months, leveraging his experience as a defense, national security and commercial specialist to support Dedrone’s overall growth strategy.
Carl Landrum recently retired as the Chief Patrol Agent of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of Laredo, leading over 2,000 agents. In his role with Dedrone, he will oversee the company’s relationships with civilian federal agencies and will spearhead the development of a long-term strategy to integrate and implement all Dedrone’s latest product advances to protect America’s airspace. For more information visit: www.dedrone.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
14 Aug 23. Fortem Technologies has announced the appointment of Tom Thebes as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer. Thebes brings nearly 40 years of financial and operational management experience, specifically in the manufacturing and defence sectors, to his new role at Fortem Technologies. In his new role, Thebes will play a crucial part in financing Fortem Technologies’ expansion, helping to scale with the company’s continued growth and success. Fortem Technologies’ former CFO, Greer Carper, will be transitioning to his new role as the company’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategy. Prior to his new role, Thebes has served in a number of senior executive roles at Fortune 500 and 1000 public and private enterprises, both in the U.S. and internationally. His prior roles include that of CFO and VP of Finance at Armor Express, Blue Force Gear, Domo Tactical Communications, Protected Vehicles, Inc., and Force Protection, Inc., and EVP of Operations/CFO at Chemring. For more information: https://www.fortemtech.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
16 Aug 23. Mayman Aerospace has hired Dr. Manu Sharma as chief engineer. He will be responsible for the continued development of Mayman Aerospace’s range of VTOL aircraft, including Speeder, a compact, scalable, high-speed vertical take-off and landing (HSVTOL) air utility vehicle (AUV) designed for a variety of military, special missions, and commercial/private applications. The aircraft can be remotely piloted and optimizes autonomous operational capabilities. Dr Sharma comes to Mayman from Virgin Orbit, where he served as chief engineer of flight sciences. There he was responsible for technical oversight, approval of configuration changes, and issue resolution for a department of diverse disciplines. As backup chief engineer, he was on console for the most recent rocket launch operations and was the technical lead for a flight-failure investigation team, in addition to other leadership roles. Speeder development will benefit directly from this expertise.
15 Aug 23. Mercury Systems, Inc. (the “Company” or “Mercury”) (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a technology company that delivers processing power for the most demanding aerospace and defense missions, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Bill Ballhaus as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Ballhaus had been serving as Mercury’s interim President and Chief Executive Officer since June 24, 2023. As previously announced, Mr. Ballhaus will also assume the role of Chairman of the Board, effective immediately prior to the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Barry R. Nearhos, who has served on the Board since 2018, has been appointed by the Board to serve as Lead Independent Director following the previously announced retirement of Mr. O’Brien immediately prior to the Annual Meeting.
15 Aug 23. Open SAN Consulting LLC (dba OSC Edge), a leading IT enterprise solutions firm specializing in engineering Information Technology and Cybersecurity solutions for defense and intelligence agencies, proudly welcomes Robert Link to the team as the Chief Technologist for Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC). With a distinguished career spanning more than three decades, Link brings a wealth of experience and innovation to his new role, positioning OSC Edge at the forefront of secure communication solutions. Throughout his impressive tenure, Link has played a pivotal role in advancing national security and redefining the landscape of Cross Domain Solutions (CDS) and CSfC. As a former “Principal Sales Engineer” at Forcepoint, Link’s strategic acumen and operational expertise have consistently contributed to critical defense strategies, safeguarding vital systems both within and beyond the Department of Defense (DoD) space. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
11 Aug 23. Embraer announced today that Carlos Naufel, current Technical Director of Azul Linhas Aéreas, will be the new Vice President of Services & Support, effective on September 1, 2023. The current VP of the area, Johann Bordais, will assume the role of CEO at Eve Air Mobility, as announced at the end of July. With 27 years of experience in the aviation sector, Naufel graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and earned a Master’s in Business from FAAP University, in São Paulo, among other specializations. At Azul for almost five years, Naufel now leads Azul’s Technical Department, which has more than 2,000 employees and covers the areas of engineering and maintenance (line and heavy maintenance), quality, and logistics. Starting this year, he also became responsible for Azul TecOps, a new business unit created to sell services.Prior to joining Azul, Naufel worked at Embraer for more than 18 years, holding various roles in the service and support area. Between 2017 and 2019, he was Vice President of Technical Solutions, being responsible for maintenance engineering, fleet performance and technical support for Commercial, Executive and Defense Aviation customers.