Vector Aerospace Sponsors Lecture On Helicopters In Modern Warfare

The General, who has extensive first-hand experience at the highest levels of command in counter-insurgency operations, will analyse the role of the helicopter in meeting the challenges faced in theatres such as Afghanistan and Iraq - and which are likely to be faced in the future. He will examine issues such as where lies the balance between sophistication and risk; whether sheer numbers are more important than operational capability; and if the helicopter is the weapons system of choice in counter-insurgency operations where a delicate balance must be maintained between winning hearts and minds and the need for instant lethality when troops are in danger.

General White-Spunner will deliver the Slessor Lecture at The Willis Building on 17th February 2009. Full details on the Air League website www.airleague.co.uk

Vector Aerospace is a key player in the helicopter support sector. In April of this year the company acquired the Defence Aviation and Repair Agency Rotary Wing and Components facilities at Fleetlands and Almondbank from the UK Ministry of Defence. The Fleetlands operation, which provides maintenance, repair and overhaul support for the MoD Chinook (CH-47), Lynx and Sea King helicopters, now operates as Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services Fleetlands. The Almondbank facility, which provides maintenance, repair and overhaul for dynamic components installed in these and other platforms for UK MoD and other international military customers, is now known as Vector Aerospace Components Services Almondbank.

Major General Barney White-Spunner CBE
Major General White-Spunner joined The Blues & Royals in 1979, serving initially in a series of junior regimental appointments before attending the Army Staff College and commanding a Medium Reconnaissance Squadron in the United Kingdom and with the UN.

He spent two years working for The Military Secretary dealing with personnel issues and then went to Western China as Deputy Leader of the Joint Chinese/British expedition that made the first crossing of the Taklamakan Desert. In 1996 he spent 6 months as a Post Graduate Student at Kings College, London before becoming Military Assistant to the Chief of Defence Staff, dealing primarily with European and Balkan issues.

From 1996 to 1998 he commanded The Household Cavalry Regiment based in Windsor which included four squadron deployments to Bosnia. In 1998 he became Deputy Director of Defence Policy in the Ministry of Defence, dealing with long-term defence planning issues. Promoted to Brigadier, he assumed command of 16 Air Assault Brigade in 2001 and, in that capacity, commanded the NATO Task Force Harvest operation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and the Kabul Multi-National Brigade in 2002.

He took over as Chief of Joint Force Operations in 2003 and became Chief of Staff of the National Contingent in the Middle East (Op TELIC) in April that year. Thereafter he ran several small operations in Africa and Asia. In May 2005 he was promoted to Major General and became Chief of Staff at Headquarters Land Command, assuming command of the 3rd Division in October 2007.