Day 1 - May’s South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster event

Day 1 - May’s South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster event, really did highlight the critical role that this region plays in our National Security.

Hosted by WholeShip's National Drone Hub, this half day event had a different look and feel compared to our others, but still a great line up of speakers and a fantastic representation from the Royal Navy.

Highlights for me:

Keynote address from Capt. James Hall as the Commanding Officer of RNAS Culdrose. The constantly contested North Atlantic underpins our power, infrastructure, trade and more, and therefore to increase the pace of change, facilities such as this act as a sandbox for safe, early day tech trials, weapon and sensor integration, and regulator and innovation engagement, ensuring war fighting readiness.

WholeShip's National Drone Hub overview from John Ling FRAeS – with over 8,000k㎡ of BVLOS segregated airspace, 4 runways, with a height clearance of up to 55,000ft, the facility is unique not only in the UK, but in Europe. Also, SADIE (Ship Air Integration Equipment) simulates the deck of a ship, for testing take off and landing of drones as if at sea. Very clever!

Having the ability to chat to the Royal Navy about the facilities and experience some of the equipment in the operational hangar.

Great to reconnect with some network contacts I’ve not seen for a while, as always some familiar faces, and to make some new connections.

Day 2 at Goonhilly tomorrow!