RAF 100 - Leonardo Article

Many of us will be aware that on Sunday 1 April the Royal Air Force launched RAF100, a national campaign to mark its 100th year. 

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier gave lectures in London and Edinburgh to launch the campaign, and there have been some great interviews and programmes on the BBC over the last week, including with our customers at RAF Stations throughout the UK.
Reflecting on its proud record of serving the nation, the RAF100 campaign focuses on 3 themes which will: COMMEMORATE the service and sacrifice of those who have gone before; CELEBRATE its service men and women who continue to aid and protect people around the world; and INSPIRE the next generation, helping them to fulfil their potential and their future aspirations.
Leonardo is proud to be an official partner of the Royal Air Force for RAF100. We have a strong heritage over the past 100 years of helping the RAF maintain operational advantage through innovation in the design, development and production of airborne capability.  Many people working within our business have either joined us following a career with the Royal Air Force, or they continue to serve as Reserves or active members of their local Air Cadet Squadrons. 
Centenary events, activities and initiatives will run nationwide from April to the end of September 2018.  The enduring intent of the initiative, to inspire young people towards careers in aerospace and engineering, will run well into next year and beyond. This is obviously something that our business is already very active in supporting. We look forward to celebrating this very significant milestone with direct participation in initiatives and events throughout 2018, including:

• Leonardo is contributing to the RAF100 legacy 'Inspire' appeal, through its contribution as an official sponsor.
   
• We hosted the RAF100 STEM team on our STEM stand at the Big Bang in Birmingham in March.
   
• Edinburgh STEM Ambassadors demonstrated their immersive work experience programme at the Chief of the Air Staff’s Parliamentary launch of RAF100 in Edinburgh last week, together with Edinburgh Engineering, Sales and Communications representatives.
   
• STEM Ambassador exhibition and demonstration at RAF Cosford Air Show in June.
   
• Leonardo STEM stand at RAF National Static Aircraft Tours on Horse Guards Parade in London (6 – 9 July) and at Glasgow Science Centre (31 Aug – 2nd Sept).
   
• Leonardo heritage, present day activity and 'look to the future' captured in imagery and demonstration at the Royal International Air Tattoo in July, plus STEM presence in the TechnoZone.
   
• Potential Engineering demonstration with Typhoon at the Royal International Air Tattoo and IMW Duxford in September.
   
• Co-delivery with the RAF and headline sponsorship of a STEM day at the National Museum of Scotland in August, together with sponsorship of the RAF Benevolent Fund Scotland dinner.

In addition to the STEM events we are involved in, a few of the campaign’s major activities will include:
 
RAF100 Parade and Fly Past – London – 10 July
100 aircraft, representing the RAF’s history, will fly over Buckingham Palace and thousands of servicemen and women will take part in a parade through London.


RAF100 Augmented Reality Flypast App
From May, an app will become available enabling people to 'collect' aircraft and build their own flypast.  More information to follow….
 
More information on RAF100 can be found on RAF100 the Royal Air Force website: https://www.raf.mod.uk/raf100/

Please find below just a few of the projects through which we have supported the RAF over the years:

Type 338 receive antenna associated with BOOZER. Development of radar and radar countermeasures gathered pace during the 1930s.

Delivery of the Gyro Gun Sight MkII commenced in December 1943 allowing RAF Spitfire to achieve extraordinary success during air to air combat.

B-17 100 Group. November 1943 witnessed the formation of No.100 Group (Bomber Support), specialising in the arts of electronic warfare, using Airborne CIGAR radio jamming equipment.

Serrate radar warning (on WW2 Mosquito). Dual purpose night fight radar.

In 1957 AI23 (AIRPASS) was produced for the BAC Lightning interceptor aircraft. This was the first high power radar with monopulse tracking to go into squadron service anywhere in the world.

TIALD (Thermal Imaging and TV Laser Designator) is a second-generation laser designator pod, which entered service under an Urgent Operational Requirement in the 1991 Gulf War, used day and night for as a laser designator by Tornado GR1s.

BRITECLOUD - EXPENDABLE ACTIVE DECOY. Designed for fast jet and fixed-wing aircraft, BriteCloud is a battery powered, self-contained advanced digital countermeasure designed to enhance platform survivability by defeating RF-guided missiles and fire control radars.

PRAETORIAN - DEFENSIVE AIDS SUB SYSTEM. Introduced to service in 2004, Praetorian for Eurofighter Typhoon provides integrated situational awareness and enhanced platform protection against the full range of air-to-air and surface-to-air threats, enabling mission success.

CAPTOR-E is the future primary sensor on Eurofighter Typhoon. It is Wide Field of Regard AESA radar which is the evolutionary approach to the proven Captor- M radar by technology insertion.

Leonardo leads the delivery of over 60% of Eurofighter Typhoon avionics, including IFF, Navigation, Communications and mission controls.