You are warmly invited to join us to hear about the exciting ground-breaking innovations being implemented on BAE Systems' RN OPV Project. One of many compelling themes running through the project is basing the 90 metre OPV on a proven BAE Systems design already in service with the Brazilian Navy and Royal Thai Navy and modifying it to meet the requirements of Britain’s Royal Navy in support of UK interests both at home and abroad. That sounds simple in theory, but perhaps not so simple in practice. Among other challenging requirements, the OPVs will be globally deployable and capable of ocean patrol with a range of 5,000 nautical miles and a maximum speed of 24 knots. 

Another fascinating theme is how the Company has chosen to use the programme to develop its engineering talent and provide valuable leadership experiences to its rising stars to meet the management challenges of the future. Our speakers will offer their reflections on how well this has gone and what has been important in making this initiative a success.

A third evolution underway on the programme is the use, for the first time, of a new BAE Systems-designed, state-of-the-art operating system called Shared Infrastructure, which will be rolled out across the Royal Navy’s surface fleet over the next ten years. Shared Infrastructure revolutionises the way ships operate by using virtual technologies to host and integrate the sensors, weapons and management systems that complex warships require. By replacing multiple large consoles dedicated to specific tasks with a single hardware solution, the amount of spares which are required to be carried onboard is reduced, significantly decreasing through-life costs –again, a simple enough principle requiring significant care to achieve successfully in practice.

We would be delighted if you are available to join us for Engineering Scotland’s Practical Lecture 2015, in which these and other innovations will be described by Iain Stevenson, Project Director, Alec Bennett, Chief Engineer, and Callum Vause, Engineering Manager, BAE Systems – on Wednesday 25th March, kindly hosted by Glasgow Kelvin College at its Springburn campus. This is a chance to see the College’s new campus and some of the impressive facilities which are available. (There is car parking both on site and in the surrounding area.) Please join us for a buffet at 5.30pm. The Lecture will follow at 6pm with Q&A and we will close at 8pm.

This event is free of charge but places are limited and registration is essential. When you register, please indicate whether you would be interested in a tour of the facilities. We look forward to welcoming you at 5.30pm on the 25th of March.