MPs experience Fast Jet Transformation
By Rich Saunders, Programme Manager
Fast Jet Transformation Phase 1 is now well and truly underway at RAF Valley and making great progress.
We were pleased to welcome the Lockheed Martin (Orlando) engineering team to RAF Valley in mid-September. They are now enjoying Anglesey life and will be supporting the programme for the next few months.
We have quickly set about upgrading the Hawk Flight Training Devices and were pleased to deliver the first Phase 1 Customer Demonstration to 22 Gp, 4 FTS and MOD colleagues in September. This demonstration showcased the key enhancements that Phase 1 will deliver, including the integration of latest generation mixed reality visual display technology into the devices.
Overall, Phase 1 will deliver significant enhancements to both the Hawk and Texan synthetic training equipment portfolios – improving the learning environment for our trainees and increasing their chance of success as they progress through the syllabus.
We were fortunate to also have the opportunity to provide a briefing and technology demonstration to the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme MPs during their visit to RAF Valley in October. They clearly enjoyed their ‘mixed reality experience!’
The Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS) provides Members of Parliament (both House of Commons and Lords), most of whom have little to no direct experience of Service life, with an insight into how the military conducts its business and the particular challenges faced by personnel on a day-day basis.
Visits are designed to ensure that Parliamentarians are better equipped to make informed contributions to the decision making processes; including contribution to debates in Parliament and serving as members of key Select Committees that oversee Defence related business.
The visit took place against the backdrop of a Strategic Defence and Security Review by the new Government and was the first such visit of the new Parliament – with largely new MPs.