Tornado Capability Lean – the enabler for technology insertion

摘要

The Tornado Capability Lean programme is a joint initiative by Tornado IPT, BAE Systems (Warton)rnand QinetiQ Ltd. It is aimed at substantially reducing the time and cost of developing and qualifyingrnaircraft modifications by implementing radical procurement reforms. This is to be achieved by severalrnwork-streams, which target areas for improvement. All can potentially benefit other MoD platforms.rnA key element is the proposed Tornado Capability Management Process (TCMP) that brings togetherrnrepresentative rapid prototyping assets to exploit technology previously unavailable to Tornado becausernof long development and integration timescales. The TCMP ranges from modelling and full man-in the-rnloop simulation to enhance requirements’ capture to integration rigs, aircraft integration andrnflight trials to help in defining technology and system readiness levels. Ultimately, this process canrnlead to flight trials using a production-standard aircraft.rnOther work-streams range from a review of the test and evaluation process, the formation of combinedrnproject teams, and reform of the safety management and the supplier management processes. Thesernactivities will be linked with other activities concentrating on system reliability, maintenance andrnobsolescence factors, which ultimately contribute towards the support costs and availability of thernplatform.