UK AOC Newsletter - April 2008

RAF SMALLWOOD EW TROPHY

The Smallwood Electronic Warfare (EW) Trophy is awarded biennially to the individual or unit within RAF Air Command that submits the most innovative work that provides significant enhancement to the Command’s EW effectiveness. The UK Chapter of the Old Crows is pleased to support this effort and is able to offer a cash award to go along with the Trophy as an incentive to encourage units and individuals. However, the selection process for the winner is entirely within the Service.

As reported in the last Newsletter, the Air Warfare Centre’s Air Platform Protection Operational Evaluation Unit (APP OEU) was declared the latest winner for significantly enhancing Air Command's Electronic Warfare effectiveness through their outstanding and tireless efforts to improve the efficacy of the numerous defensive aids systems that protect all of the UK’s operational aircraft types.

The AOC UK Chapter Board was represented at the presentation ceremony on 4 March by Roger Hannaford, Professor Peter Hill and David Peck. Although no longer an active member of the AOC, we were also pleased to include Wing Commander Alan Watkins RAF Retd in our group. As a young(ish) Squadron Leader, he was the Command Electronic Warfare Officer in 1974 and had worked for Sir Dennis Smallwood in first setting the Trophy in being.

The Chief of Staff Operations, Air Vice-Marshal Nigel Maddox CBE RAF,
accompanied by Roger Hannaford, presents the Smallwood Trophy to
Wing Commander Steve Chaskin, Officer Commanding the APP OEU

The Smallwood Trophy winners, runners up and AOC UK Chapter
Board members at the presentation ceremony
at RAF High Wycombe on 4 March 2008

VISIT TO ROKE MANOR RESEARCH 17 MARCH 2008

We are very grateful to Roke Manor Research for hosting a visit by the UK Chapter to their facility on 17 March. Although only a dozen members were able to attend, those who didn't missed a very interesting and stimulating day. The event was superbly hosted by Jason Hall and members were given four technical presentations ranging from Surface Wave Communications to Adaptive Phased Arrays, to Mobile Telephone Communications Signals and finally on a Novel Broadband ESM Array. There were also laboratory visits to see the HALO system (acoustic-based location equipment) and to the Roke anechoic chambers. Roke Manor is one of the leading research centres in the UK and their continuing support to the UK Chapter is noteworthy and very much appreciated by the AOC.

BASIC COMMUNICATIONS EXPLOITATION COURSE (BCEC)

As previously announced, the AOC UK Chapter has agreed to encourage students on the BCEC held at the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre (DISC), Chicksands, by awarding a Commendation and cash prize of £50 to the most improved student on this new course. We are therefore very pleased to announce that Signaller S A Kennedy (aka ‘The Fox’) is the first winner of this award. The AOC UK Chapter Board was represented by Chris Howe MBE (VP) and Paul Burrows (Army Rep) at an awards ceremony held at Chicksands on 20 March 2008. ‘The Fox’ was a most proud recipient and was recognised on receiving the award not only by his fellow students and the BCEC staff but also by the presence of his family. Congratulations!

VISIT TO HMS COLLINGWOOD 11 JUNE 2008

We are delighted that the Royal Navy has kindly invited the UK Chapter to visit HMS COLLINGWOOD, Hampshire, the home of Navy EW. This will be our first Chapter visit since the move from HMS DRYAD a few years ago. Details of the visit and an application form to attend are on the Events page.

THE DEFENCE ELECTRONICS HISTORY SOCIETY

With the explicit intention of harmonising the interests of members, we are pleased to announce that the AOC UK Chapter and the DEHS have agreed to provide an affiliation as follows:

• Members of the DEHS may attend AOC UK Chapter activities and events, subject to the specific attendance, registration, security and cost aspects that otherwise apply to UK Chapter members.
• Members of the AOC UK Chapter may attend DEHS activities and events, subject to the specific attendance, registration and cost aspects that otherwise apply to DEHS members.
• That where there are limitations on the number of attendees at any activity or event, then the members of the organising Group will have priority.

See: http://www.dehs.org.uk for details of the DEHS and its current programme.

FUTURE EVENTS

Our current programme includes:

• An EW Industry Open Day at Abacus EW Consultancy Ltd, near Lincoln, on 8 May.
• The EW 2008 Conference & Exhibition at Interlaken, Switzerland, on 15/16 May.
• A visit to HMS Collingwood, Fareham, the home of Navy EW, on 11 June.
• A classified visit to QinetiQ, Malvern.
• A visit to the new SELEX GALILEO EW support facility in Lincoln.
• A classified visit to the Defence Intelligence & Security Centre, Chicksands, Bedfordshire.
• A classified visit to BAE Systems at Warton to view the EW Test Facility and Typhoon.

AOC UK WEB SITE: www.ukaoc.org

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