2,000 apprenticeships from BAE deal - 28-08-2007 - 11:14

Up to 2,000 engineering apprenticeships could be created in Scotland as a result of the construction of a £3 billion aircraft carrier.

Over the next decade, Scottish Enterprises estimates that 2,000 modern apprentices will be recruited to work by BAE Systems on the Clyde and Babcock Engineering Services at Rosyth.

Scottish Enterprise's skills director Charlene O'Connor said: "Currently there are around 300 apprentices in the country's shipyards and this figure will rise steadily as around 150 new openings are created ever year to cope with the increased volume of work."

The development agency, in co-operation with the private sector, has launched a Scottish Marine Technologies Training Project to ensure that there is a skills base to support the construction work.

"The volume of work we will see passing through the yards over the next few years will reach levels not seen for decades. This skills strategy for the industry will ensure our young people are given the chance to get the most from the opportunities being created," commented Ms O'Connor.

Most advanced warship launched by BAE - 08-08-2007 - 16:36

BAE Systems engineers and Royal Navy personnel are set to put the most advanced warship in the world through a series of tests before it enters active service.

The HMS daring, which has been constructed at the BA shipyard in Scotstoun has left the dock on what is to be its maiden voyage down the River Clyde.

Once out to sea off the west coast of Scotland, the ship, which is one of six Daring class Type 45 destroyers commissioned by the Royal Navy, will be taken through sea trials by BAE engineers.

After tests have been completed, the ship will return to the shipyard for integration and testing before the Royal Navy takes over.

BAE Systems surface fleet solutions managing director Vic Emery said: "HMS Daring's departure, bang on schedule, is yet another tribute to the outstanding performance of the Clyde workforce. It is a huge achievement by a team involving BAE Systems and Royal Navy personnel."

MoD funds innovative SMEs - 08-08-2007 - 11:06

A small firm employing 80 engineers has won funds from the Ministry of Defence, in what is being called a welcome change in procurement policy.

The MoD traditionally looks to big defence companies to source technology, though it has recently decided to give innovative SMEs a chance as well.

Plextek, which has a total of 100 staff at the moment, won the MoD's Competition of Ideas and was awarded £300,000 to research military communication.

Lord Drayson, the minister for defence equipment and support said: "The Competition of Ideas aims to encourage innovation in defence technology and to help SMEs engage with the MoD."

Plextek is now set to conduct research into how military vehicles can better communicate with each other.

General Dynaics UK is already considering the issue of how vehicles in a convoy relay information about location, status and cargo data to each other, but its solutions are thought to be too expensive to fit in every vehicle.

The MoD is counting on the small firm to find a cheaper way to produce the "low cost, low power technology with little chance of intercept", according to Lord Drayson.

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EADS gets more support for UAV study - 01-08-2007 - 11:12

Spain has agreed to join France and Germany in their involvement in the EADS-led advanced unmanned air vehicle (AUAV).

The trio will now fund a risk mitigation stage with an initial contract being awarded in the next two months.

Speaking of Spain's signature of the deal, France's DGA said that it would lead to the launch of a European large intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance UAV programme.

It added: "It will also contribute to the development of an autonomous European industrial capacity for this type of system."

Cutting down on risk will include analysis of various technical and production issues.

As well as the expansion of nations involved, the industrial consortium lending its support is also set to expand when Thales and Indra join, with their roles to be defined once the risk study contract is completed.

Talks over the management of the system continue, with the European Defence Agency considering whether to take over.