Join the Wireless Heritage SIG as we take a private tour of Bentwaters Cold War Museum and restoration hanger, with a lecture from Steve Roberts, Former Strategy Director of Leonardo Electronics on ‘The Story of Electro-Magnetic Spectrum Operations in delivering Air Capability’. As this is a unique opportunity there are limited delegate places so early registration is advised.
The Bentwaters Cold War Museum is based in the former USAF hardened command post on the former Bentwaters airfield. The main “war operations room” and “Battle cabin” have been restored to original condition, the BT telephone exchange room, and decontamination showers and airlock are also as original. Other rooms within the building have been turned into exhibition rooms, covering the history of RAF Bentwaters from W.W.II until the base closed in 1993. Included in this are histories of the units that operated form the airfield, particularly the 81st FW.
In addition to a private tour of the Museum, delegate will also have the opportunity to tour the restoration hanger for the Museum.
The day will the conclude with a lecture from Steve Roberts, Former Strategy Director of Leonardo Electronics. Currently Visiting Professor of EW Systems at Cranfield University and the Defence Academy of the UK on the History of Electronic Warfare in his talk ‘The Story of Electro-Magnetic Spectrum Operations in delivering Air Capability’
Defence and security operations across history have been associated with the physical domains of Land, Sea and Air, with Space has new addition. Operational success in these domains is increasingly dependent on the quality of information available to participants in operations. The invention of radios in the late 19th century was followed by widespread adoption for communication. Within 50 years, the use of radar to detect vehicles and control weapons had made a significant impact on the success or failure of military operations. In more recent times, infra-red and laser systems have become key elements in a range of defence and security applications.
The development of the equipment involved in these activities over the period 1900 to the present day provides insights into the innovations made to support past air operations and indicates some of the issues facing the development of air capability for the future. The lecture will tell the story of EMSO and EW* through:
- An introduction to operations in the Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Illustrations of historical applications of EW since the end of the 19th Century
- Platforms, Technologies and Context
- Thoughts about the co-development of EW with new Cyber and UAV capabilitie
*There are many ways in which participants can conduct EMS Operations (EMSO), which are often grouped into 3 broad areas: Electronic Surveillance, Electronic Defence and Electronic Attack, collectively known as Electromagnetic Warfare (EW).
Practical details to note:
As this is a private tour of the Museum there are limited facillities available to delegates. Arrival tea/ coffee will be provided but delegates will be required to bring onsite their own lunch and any further refreshments they require.
Delegates are advised to wear appropiate clothing/footwear for the entire visit.
Speakers include:
Steve Roberts
Agenda
Wireless Heritage SIG Champions
Stirling Essex
Stirling Essex has over 25 years of product development, product management, strategic marketing and business development experience in many areas of wireless technology, and has been intimately involved in the development of test systems for GSM, CDMA (IS-95), 3G (W-CDMA) and LTE. He founded Espansivo, a technology consultancy specialising in helping organisations with their technology, product and business decisions, in 2005. Stirling was previously a co-champion of the CW Future Wide Area Wireless Special Interest Group and and was a member of the CW Board from 2004 to 2015.
Professor Andy Sutton
Andy Sutton is a BT Fellow and Principal Network Architect for Wireless Access. The wireless access domain includes 4G/5G RAN architecture and mobile backhaul/xhaul, along with microwave and millimetre wave radio systems, and satellite communications. Andy holds an MSc in Mobile Communications from the University of Salford and has over 35 years of experience within the telecommunications industry. Andy’s current research interests include advanced RAN coordination techniques, including C-RAN and OpenRAN, optical fibre and radio based backhaul/xhaul, along with LEO satellite communications and High-altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), all in the context of building resilient heterogeneous networks. Andy holds the post of Visiting Professor of Telecommunications at the University of Liverpool and the University of Salford, he is a Chartered Engineer and holds Fellowships from the IET, ITP and BCS. Andy sits on the editorial board of the ITP Journal and is a CW SIG Champion for eMBB and Wireless Heritage.
- Twitter:
- @sutton960
Geoff Varrall
Geoff Varrall joined RTT in 1985 as an executive director and shareholder to develop RTT's international business as a provider of technology and business services to the wireless industry. He co-developed RTT's original series of design and facilitation workshops including 'RF Technology', 'Data Over Radio', 'Introduction to Mobile Radio', and 'Private Mobile Radio Systems and developed 'The Oxford programme', a five day strategic technology and market programme presented annually between 1991 and 2005. Geoff has been running in depth technology and market workshops for the industry for over 33 years, spanning five generations of mobile cellular technology. A co-author of the Mobile Radio Servicing Handbook (Heinemann Butterworth, UK), Data Over Radio, (Quantum Publishing, Mendocino, USA and 3G Handset and Network Design (John Wiley, New York). Geoff's fourth book, Making Telecoms Work – from technical innovation to commercial success (John Wiley) was published in early 2012 followed by 5G Spectrum and Standards published by Artech House in July 2016. His latest book 5G and Satellite Spectrum Standards and Scale is now available from Artech House and can be ordered from http://uk.artechhouse.com/5G-and-Satellite-Spectrum-Standards-and-Scale-P1935.aspx. As a past Director of Cambridge Wireless, Geoff is actively involved in a number of wireless heritage initiatives that aim to capture and record past technology and engineering experience and is a patron of the Science Museum In his spare time he plays Jazz trumpet semi-professionally and is a marathon and ultra-runner.
Nigel Wall
Nigel has been involved with connected vehicle research since 1992 when he led BT’s mobile data research team – initially using modems on first generation analogue TACS mobile phones! Since 2001 he has provided consultancy complex-systems, with a primary specialism in connected vehicles. He acted as the Monitoring Officer for twelve of the Connected and Autonomous Vehicle research projects supported by Innovate UK and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles. Climate Associates provides consultancy on delivering pragmatic sustainable systems and services, based on life cycle assessments where wholesale replacement of current systems with lower footprint solutions may not be the most sustainable option.
