Our client, Communications and Situational Awareness within DE&S (Defence Equipment & Support), wanted to replace the current Navigation Radars on the ships and submarines of the Royal Navy Fleet.
The Navigation Radar Programme (NRP) covered Primary Navigation Radars (I-Band), Second Navigation Radars (E/F-Band) and Compact I-Band Radars. The 3 radars types each needed to be procured, integrated and installed on the 9 different classes of ship and submarine, each with their own requirements, yet ensuring commonality of interface, training & spares.
We performed the role of customer-friend throughout the Concept, Assessment, Demonstration & Manufacture phases. We advised the client and their team regarding which requirements and solutions could be traded, which had been met and which required more work from the prime contractor. We provided the primary technical input for the Test & Trials working group including outlining test methods, organising confidence-building trials and judging whether performance results were sufficient. We represented the customer at Preliminary and Critical Design Reviews and at Harbour and Sea Trials.
Due to our practical, collaborative approach, our recommendations were accepted by both MoD and the Primes so that potential issues could be quickly overcome including remedying critical issues on the eve of a trial so that it could go ahead rather than be cancelled. The Lead Radar Engineer thanked us for our proactive balanced approach that always moved the programme to a positive outcome.
In parallel, we also performed the same role for the same customer on the Type 994 Radar upgrade including driving the system to achieve Military Aviation Approval and release into service as an air traffic management system. At the end of the RT994U Programme, the MoD Capability Manager was delighted with our work and the Prime Project Manager said that while he was initially resistant to our idea of an informal-confidence building trial, he now regarded it as best practice.
