In October, we unveiled BriteStorm, a revolutionary new electronic warfare (EW) capability designed to give a decisive advantage to friendly forces in the face of increasingly sophisticated air defence systems. This low Size, Weight & Power (SWaP) stand-in jammer leverages Leonardo’s Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) technology developed at our EW Centre of Excellence in Luton. BriteStorm can be used on-board Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and launched effects to disrupt and degrade enemy radar and communication systems, ensuring the protection of airborne platforms and paving the way for mission success in contested battlespaces.
Another exciting capability to grab headlines this month was our Adversary Emulation, which was covered in a BBC article spotlighting the strategic importance of cyber security during Cyber Awareness Month. Comprising former military and intelligence personnel, Leonardo’s team provides a unique service to clients in government, critical infrastructure and defence. Using a combination of reconnaissance, social engineering, and technical expertise, this adversary emulation team exposes vulnerabilities and helps organisations strengthen their defences against real-world threats.
As we continued through Cyber Awareness Month, Ben Kimberley and Jacob Rogojan-Rush – two second-year Cyber Engineering Apprentices at our Bristol site – shared their experiences of hands-on learning, exciting projects like working on the security implications of the UK's Future Combat Air System (GCAP) and the benefits of an apprenticeship route into the ever-growing cyber security industry.
Staying in Bristol, we introduced Matt Howlett, our Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Lead for Leonardo's Electronics business in the UK. Systems Engineering lies at the heart of most programmes at Leonardo, and Matt is responsible for driving MBSE implementation across the organisation, ensuring we have the right tools and guidance in place to effectively manage complex projects. His expertise and dedication to advancing our engineering processes are helping to shape the future direction of Leonardo.
The winners of our Apprentice of the Year Awards were announced in October, celebrating the exceptional talent emerging from our UK apprentice workforce. Jainna Bhalla, a Project Manager Degree Apprentice based in Basildon, was named the overall winner for her outstanding contributions to the business, including her work on major reports for local MPs and her active role in our Ethnicity Inclusion network.
And with October being Black History Month, the Ethnicity Inclusion network was busy across our sites, creating the space to embrace, appreciate and understand black culture, in alignment with the month’s theme of ‘Reclaiming Narratives’.
On World Mental Health Day, we highlighted the importance of mental wellbeing by sharing the personal stories of two of our Edinburgh-based colleagues, Ian Thomson and David Marshall. They shared their experiences and the invaluable support they received from Andy's Man Club on their mental health journeys.