30 Nov 2001
BAE Systems announces the winners of the 2001 Chairman's Awards for Innovation. Presented annually, these awards are to those individuals and teams which have during the year, through innovation, materially aided the company to improve its processes, practices, technologies, and products to achieve the maximum benefit for our customers, employees, and shareholders.
Sir Richard Evans, Chairman of the Board, BAE Systems, presented the awards in London last night. He said, "This is what the securing the future is all about: people, with ideas of how to improve, and the driving motivation to pursue them. I am proud to be part of the company that so values them. To the winners, I say 'well done.' To everyone, I say 'these are the examples to follow.' Innovate, improve - it is our future."
The awards are given each year from among the entries submitted throughout the company worldwide by BAE Systems business units, teams, joint ventures, and other activities. Panels of judges review the entries and from them chose those of most merit. From these, winners are chosen for Silver and then Gold awards. This year, the sixth for these awards, saw the most entries submitted - 2300, from which the very best numbered 80, which resulted in 44 Silver Awards. These 44 then were judged by a panel headed by the Chief Executive, John Weston, to determine the Gold winners - 6 in all. The Gold and Silver awards this year are therefore truly representative of the company and the best of breed.
The 2001 Gold Awards for Innovation are:
Ground to Air Aircraft Tracking System:
BAE Systems Programmes, Engineering
Nominated by: Philip Brierley
Winners: Damian Austin, John Nightingale
'Something old, something new, something bought from the web!'
The programme engineering team adapted an ex-military 'rapier' missile launcher, bought off the internet, to a novel way of both tracking and measuring the infrared signature of aircraft in a ground-to-air role. This idea has led to significant savings in both development and measurement costs and greatly enhanced the company's measurement capability.
Microwave STRETCH for SAR Radar Imagery:
BAE Systems Avionics
Nominated by: John Roulston
Winners: Anthony Kinghorn, Robert Campbell and Angus McLachlan
Since World War II, radar has provided the long-range vision for aircraft and ships in all weather conditions. Radar is more than human vision in that it accurately places the things it sees on a grid of distance and angle. Most radars are limited to the resolution of the grid, which means that imagery is of a relatively poor quality, major features showing but ranking poorly with photography. Specialised radars can achieve photographic quality images, but at high cost.
The team have invented a new "add on" and low-cost device, which gives almost any radar the possibility to achieve the highest quality imagery. A prototype was quickly and successfully test-flown on the trials aircraft in Edinburgh used by the Sensor Systems Division for Radar Development. The first company application will be to provide state-of-the-art ground mapping capability for the Eurofighter weapon system at Tranche 2 (2005), without any increase to equipment cost. All BAE Systems Air, Land and Sea platforms can benefit from the added competitive advantage of this innovation in any situation where ultra-fine imagery can be used for mapping or target identification. This new capability adds world leading distinction to BAE Systems radar products.
Advanced Standoff Jammer Technique:
BAE Systems North America Information and Electronic Warfare Systems
Nominator: Dave Subisak
Winners: Ed Wassung and Bob Makowiecki
The award recognizes the Advanced Standoff Jammer Technique (ASJT) solution of a 20-year problem for our customers.
Since the introduction of modern monopulse missile systems in the 1970's, the ability to provide a robust onboard or standoff radar countermeasure response has been fragile, at best. This despite the 20 years of worldwide effort and millions of dollars invested seeking a solution. In the Fall of 2000, IR&D supported standoff jammer flight testing was conducted, using a novel BAE Systems approach. Results verified the ability of the ASJT to repeatedly deny an enemy the ability to track or engage the approaching aircraft. These results were presented to the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The small size and cost of required hardware combined with the robust nature of the technique make this approach viable for virtually all modern aircraft. This demonstration that a previously unattainable level of survivability was possible marks BAE Systems as a truly innovative provider for multiple programmes including the EA-6B replacement, Advanced Aircraft Designs, F-18E/F and F-22.
Generic Test System:
Eurofighter BAE Systems Warton
Nominator: Billy Beggs
Winners: Mike Alder and Tony Kingston
The Generic Test System (GTS) developed by Mike Alder and Tony Kingston, from the Research & Technology Manufacturing Engineering unit at BAE Systems Warton facility in the UK, is a radical departure from conventional practices. GTS is a 'one box for all' test system that provides a total diagnostic/test capability for all of BAE Systems products.
It combines the latest hardware and software in one unique package enabling real time on-line analysis and fault diagnosis to be performed anywhere worldwide on any project.
In its ruggedised form this single piece of equipment can be used by our customers at the front line instead of the myriad of test boxes presently used leading to a satisfied customer and thereby giving BAE Systems a world leading edge in diagnostics.
Implementation Gold
BAE SYSTEMS Aircraft Services Group
Nominator: Dave Cooper
Winners: Ken Jackson, Russ Brigham, Billy Beggs
How do you find the boundary between different paint schemes on an aircraft, when the information is held in a computer CAD model? And you need to paint the aircraft yesterday!
This team used an 'off the shelf' system, the Virtek Laser Projection System, designed for completely different purpose and already in use at Warton, to establish a virtual template of a CAD model and project it directly onto the surface of a Nimrod MRA4 fuselage. This innovative use of an existing system saved 250,000 on the programme. Further application of this has saved 5 million on the Eurofighter programme.
Community Gold
The Pear Tree Special Needs Playground Project:
Nominator: Denise Aldred
Winners: Stephen McGregor, Craig Lucas, Peter Lomax, Charles Wallace, Dave Murray, Marcus Spicer, Becca Drury and Rachael Wildman.
The Pear Tree Special Needs Playground Project has raised 35,000 in cash, and the same amount in in-kind donations, to design, manage and build a 250m2 special needs playground for the Pear Tree School in Kirkham, UK.
The team pulled together more than 30 charities, companies, and local organisations. The project has realised a ten-year dream for the school. More than 3000 man-hours have been invested in putting big smiles on the faces of the 61 special needs children that have benefited from this project.
Additional information on these winning innovations and the 38 Silver Award winners are available.
