Defense
AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM // JUNE 31
“Over the years we’ve managed a number of urgent
operational requirements for assets in-theatre, where
we’ve been asked to provide a rapid capability insertion
or rapid capability upgrade. Understanding how to tie
down an isolation unit in a C-17 during the Ebola crisis is
something JADTEU did overnight. A modification to the
flare sequencing from an aircraft’s countermeasures
system can be done within the same kind of timescale.
“We also have a reach back capability. If the front line
should find a problem, with a weapon for example, the
operational commanders will reach back into the AWC.
Our integrated mission support team then takes the
problem and goes to the subject matter experts across
the organization to find the answer.
“Once we have the solution, it goes back to the
commanders. We don’t provide them direction, we don’t
tell them what to do, instead we give them all the
information they need to make informed decisions.”
TRIALS MANAGEMENT
Meanwhile, the AWC informs and manages trials on
aircraft platforms that are among the world’s most
advanced. It’s an environment where synthetic vision
systems and computer modelling have important roles
alongside more traditional trials.
Within the AWC, Davies believes the personal
relationships built-up between colleagues who’ve grown
up together through their service and industry careers
results in high quality work. “It’s among the reasons why
we have embedded elements of our test organization
within the front line,” he says. “Having 41 Squadron at
Coningsby means its personnel can interact with
operational pilots, engineers and commanders.
“We’re the leading experts
in air weapons, defensive
aids and electronic warfare”
2
fast jet test and
evaluation squadrons
1,000
personnel in the UK’s
Air Warfare Centre
INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS
The Air Warfare Centre is
nominally an RAF organization,
but its test work is accomplished
through cooperation not only
between the three services and
defense organizations, but also
industry. QinetiQ partners with
the Air Warfare Centre in several
key areas, while BAE Systems
takes an important role in F-35B
and Typhoon trials.
There is also an important
niche for smaller contributions
from companies including
Inzpire. The training firm enables
highly experienced, senior
ex-military operators to continue
their high-level contribution,
adding to a mix of civil servants
and serving military personnel
that ensures the Centre’s output
remains relevant.
“The same applies to 206 Squadron
and some of our other units.
Conversations take place directly
between personnel. Having the badges
and people out there means people know
who to talk too and better understand
the work we do.
“Our primary task is to support the
front line, but we also look at capability,
working with industry and the Defence
Equipment & Support organization,to
understand future challenges.
“The front line is focussed on the
present and doesn’t really need to
understand all of those elements, but we
are looking ten, 15, even 20 years ahead.”
The AWC also works to define
developmental paths for future aircraft.
“We have just under 1,000 personnel,
covering all aspects of the air and space
domain. We’re therefore the leading
subject matter experts in air weapons,
defensive aids, electronic warfare and
more, so we’re often called upon to support future
capability discussions,” says Davies.
“We hope to provide support to and influence some of
those aspirations based on our understanding of what
the warfighter is facing now and how we might enhance
existing capabilities for the future.”
RPAS AND SYNTHETICS
Remotely-piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) testing falls
under AWC control. “Our first RPAS test pilot recently
4 // The Puma Mk 2 being
tested by the Rotary Wing
Test & Evaluation Squadron
(Photo: Crown Copyright)
5 // Emergency floatation
system trials with the
Apache AH.Mk 1 also fell to
Rotary Wing Test &
Evaluation Squadron (Photo:
Crown Copyright)
5
4
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