ITT Exelis' updated JTRS Bowman Waveform supports Battlefield Interoperability between U.K. and U.S. soldiers

News Report

As announced in a recent press release, ITT Exelis delivered an updated Joint Tactical Radio System Bowman Waveform (JBW) to the JTRS Information Repository as part of a $4.2 million delivery order that also included Soldier Radio – Multifunctional (SR-M) software-defined radios. The SR-M radios delivered to the JTRS Program Executive Office in this sale will be transferred to the U.K. government for upcoming assessment and trials for the JBW.

The JBW allows U.S. Forces to communicate directly and securely with U.K. allies using the Bowman VHF waveform on the battlefield.  JBW functionality enables users from both countries to work as a cohesive team during combat operations, sharing situational awareness information more efficiently and effectively, rather than using separate channels to pass information back and forth.

The JTRS Bowman VHF waveform software application was developed by ITT under contract to the JTRS Network Enterprise Domain. It is to enable operators of U.S. JTRS radios to participate directly in the U.K.’s Bowman network. With such waveform, U.S. and U.K. forces are able to communicate and share data, despite their different radio systems.

Comments

“This radio-agnostic approach toward waveform development under the JTRS business model provides our government customer greater value and increased competition for radios,” said Ken Peterman, president of the Exelis Communications and Force Protection Systems business area. “At the same time, it also provides greater capability to U.S. and U.K. military forces through interoperability on the battlefield.”

The Context

Back in 2002, representatives from the U.S. Defense Department and the U.K. Ministry of Defense signed an agreement to enhance battlefield interoperability via the U.K. Bowman communications system. Soon after, the JTRS program office awarded a contract to ITT to develop a Joint Tactical Radio System Bowman waveform, i.e. a software application that would allow JTRS users to add the U.K. radio system into the U.S. network. Since that date, U.K and U.S. are keep on working together to create a network in which U.S., U.K. and coalition units will be able to share information and situational awareness as if they were the flanking formations of the same nation.

Bowman is a tactical communications system integrating digital voice and data technology to provide secure radio, telephone, intercom and tactical internet services in a modular and fully integrated system. The programme includes the conversion of over 18,000 platforms. Specifically, as well as being man-portable, Bowman equipment fits into most UK military vehicles from Land Rover Wolf to the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank, as weel as fixed HQ buildings, naval vessels, aircrafts (including the major helicopter types supporting land operations, i.e. Chinook and Merlin).

Bowman provides key improvements to capability in what has been dubbed the “three-legged stool” of voice communications, data services and situational awareness.

Bowman Command and Control provides an Automatic Position Location, Navigation and Reporting system (APLNR) which gives Situational Awareness to units throughout the digitised structure. The friendly forces picture can be configured to update unit and vehicle positions automatically. The tactical picture is shown on map displays on a variety of purpose-built data terminals – handheld, portable, vehicle or desk mounted. Key armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) are fitted with specialised equipments tailored to each vehicle type to facilitate use of the APLNR capability in the specific environment of an AFV. Bowman's Common Battlefield Applications Toolset (ComBAT) provides the main C2 interfaces for users of the Bowman system. This provides mechanisms for messaging, reports and returns. Battle Management capabilities include support for planning functions.

Bowman provides high levels of security based on the UK Pritchel crypto system together with its appliqué crypto and NATO Standard Operating Modes to allow interoperability with NATO allies. The Bowman Key Variable Management System (BKVMS) provides generation and distribution of cryptographic key material.

Bowman's IP-based tactical Internet provides connectivity through the local area system (LAS), the ITT's High Capacity Data Radio (HCDR) and Combat Net Radio (CNR) nets. Resilience is provided by the self-healing ability of IP. A new design of Bowman's gateway equipment also provides voice and data interfaces to existing wide area networking assets such as ptarmigan, SATCOM systems and the public and military telephone networks.
The Bowman Supply and Support contract was awarded to General Dynamics United Kingdom. A review of the program was undertaken in late 2004 and this provided the opportunity to better ensure that it would deliver a capability consistent with the UK MoD’s vision of achieving Network Enabled Capability. Bowman willoing to meet the tactical communications needs of those elements of the three UK Armed Services that take part in, or provide direct support to, UK land, amphibious and air manoeuvre operations until at least 2026. It is expected to provide a secure digital voice and data communications service, including situational awareness capability.

Since initial deployment of 12 Mechanized Brigade to Iraq in April 2005, Bowman has been employed on Operations TELIC and HERRICK. Other brigades have been converted and continued operational experience indicates that Bowman is delivering a battle winning capability.

References: ITT Exelis  (1), UK MoD (2), General Dynamics (3), National Defense (4), SIGNAL (5), Aviation Week (6)

Contract Award: Lockheed Martin to provide Network-Enabled Geospatial Intelligence Capability to UK MoD

News Report

As announced in a recent press release, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded Lockheed Martin UK IS&GS (Information Systems & Global Solutions) and its industry team, Team SOCRATES, a contract to deliver the Future Deployable Geospatial Intelligence (FDG) Project, that is part of the overall PICASSO programme, which is aimed at providing geo-int capability to national and strategic decision-makers.

The Future Deployable Geospatial Intelligence Capability will provide an underpinning component of UK MoD Network Enabled Capacity, supporting shared situational awareness and the decision support process. The aim of the project is to rationalize and upgrade the current geospatial intelligence capability to meet the projected range of military activities and intelligence requirements, including its closer integration into the wider defence intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance infrastructure. The project will provide enhanced geospatial intelligence capability to support operations in the land, air and maritime domains.

The Context
Team SOCRATES consists of UK companies, including small and medium enterprises, with Lockheed Martin UK IS&GS, as prime, Actica Consulting Ltd, KNK, Marshall Specialist Vehicles, Polaris Consulting Ltd, Safety Assurance Services and SciSYS.

As reported by DefenseNews, sources said the contract is worth up to 20 million pounds ($31.5 million). Northrop Grumman and Raytheon were the other front runners for the deal to provide equipment for the FDG Intelligence program.

Comments

“We are delighted that the MoD has selected us to lead this critical GEOINT programme,” said Andy Hannam Director CGI of LMUK IS&GS.  “It cements our position as a leading provider of geospatial intelligence services and solution”

A spokesperson for the MoD’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) IMaGE Delivery Team commented: “Future Deployable GEOINT (FDG) is a vital project that will provide the MOD with improved and enhanced tactical GEOINT capabilities. It is very good news that we are now on contract, and we look forward to it being delivered in 2013.”

References: Lockeed Martin UK (1), DefenseNews (2), SIGNAL (3)

Contract Award: Rockwell Collins and BAE Systems to support UK MoD Tactical Data Link Systems

News Report

As announced in a recent press release, Data Link Solutions (DLS), a joint venture between BAE Systems and Rockwell Collins, has been awarded a $29 million contract to provide Link 16 sustainment and engineering services to the United Kingdom (UK) Ministry of Defense (MoD) Tactical Data Links Delivery Team.

The DLS Waddington Support Facility, located at Waddington, Royal Air Force Base (RAFB), will provide sustainment, engineering and design support services to the UK MoD, for a period of five years. The agreement includes DLS support for the application and integration of Link 16 Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) terminals, Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) terminals and the AN/URC-138(V)1(C) Information Distribution System.

The Technology

Tactical Data Links involve transmissions of bit-oriented digital information which are exchanged via message formats used in support of joint and combined operations. Link 16, in particular, provides real-time, jam-resistant secure transfer of combat data, voice and relative navigation information between widely dispersed battle elements. Participants gain situational awareness by exchanging digital data over a common communication link that is continuously and automatically updated in real time, reducing the chance of fratricide, duplicate assignments or missed targets. Each participant in the communication link is able to electronically see the battle space, including assigned targets or threats.

Link 16 has been developed and integrated in the United States of America, and the first units fitted with were in the Unites States Navy in 1994.

Link 16 operates on the principle of Time Division Multiple Acess (TDMA), wherein 128 time slots per second are allocated among all participating units for oroginating and receiving data. Link 16 temporal units, called time slots (TS) are organized into multiple functional Network Participation Group (NPGs). This functional groups permit to organize the Link 16 Network capacities by functions, like position and navigation, electronic warfare or command and control, and so to define the participants needs in TS with the functions needs.

Link 16 uses the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) which is the communications component of Link 16. JTIDS terminals are thus capable to constitute a pool of weapons, sensors and command information which is continuously updated by each participant. The participant simultaneously taps the pool for tactical data and is provided with information and commands for force management and co-ordination. Each member in the JTIDS network is assigned a sufficient number of time slots to accommodate the number of messages in accordance with mission requirements. During their assigned transmit time slots, each user broadcasts data into a commonly accessible communications datastream. All other elements can extract information of the type they require by continuously monitoring and sampling the database. Participants who have information will broadcast that information routinely into the net without needing to know who the recipients may be; tactical elements needing the data will extract it from the net without needing to know who furnished it.

The Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) is the NATO name for the communication component of Link 16. MIDS terminals are thus used by platforms to participate in a Link 16 communications network, and they can be also considered as the next generation terminals following JTIDS, designed to decrease size, weight, volume, and cost.

The Multi-functional Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminal (MIDS/LVT) is a five-nation cooperative program that provide a third generation Link 16 system that satisfies U.S. and Allied requirements. The MIDS program was inaugurated via a Memorandum of Understanding amongst the founding MIDS nations (Germany, Italy, Spain, France, and the United States). It is managed by the U.S. Navy MIDS International Program Office. MIDS Low-Volume Terminals (MIDS LVTs) are on most U.S. Air Force fighters, bombers and tankers, most U.S. Navy aircraft, ships, and U.S. bases and air defense systems. Other NATO countries, including UK, have generally been slower and less comprehensive in their implementations, but Link 16 is often installed on fighters, surveillance and patrol aircraft of all types, and air defense systems.

DLS's AN/URC-138(V)1(C) Information Distribution System provides anti-jam protected, encrypted, high throughput data distribution that is compatible with existing Link 16 systems and thus provides Link 16 interoperability between the U.S. tri-services and NATO forces. The terminal provides full stacked net capacity, up to 128, and full Link 16 data throughput. The system can automatically exchange information from a variety of platform sensors. This can include functions such as IR and optics scan, target identification and steering commands. Real-time data updates can also be used to provide landing cues. In addition to robust data communication, the AN/URC-138(V)1(C) terminal also provides two voice ports to enable secure voice communication in a jamming environment. Terminals have been in production since December 1999.

References: Rockwell Collins (1,6), FAS.org (2), Defense-Update (3), Jane's (4), Defense Industry Daily (5)

UK MoD to enhance integrated Aircraft Defence Capabilities

News Report

As announced in a recent press release, UK Ministry of Defence has begun a development programme to make aircraft better equipped in the hostile environments that UK aircraft are likely to encounter during future operations.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) working with UK industry, has brought together the country’s leading scientists and engineers to develop the Common Defensive Aids System (CDAS). This would allow air forces to more easily upgrade existing platforms with new technology and more easily reprogram such defensive aids systems (DAS) for different missions.

This development, CDAS Technology Demonstrator Programme (TDP), is a project to establish that the concept works practically, and will be achieved through collaboration - a partnership between UK MoD and an industry team led by Finmeccanica's Selex Galileo, and comprising Thales, QinetiQ and BAE Systems.

The Technology

Defensive aids systems (DAS) consist of two parts, sensors, which identify the threat, and effectors, which employ appropriate countermeasures to defeat that threat, for example flare or chaff deployment. Historically, DAS sensors and effectors, sometimes different on different aircraft, have communicated through different, proprietary interfaces developed by the supplier companies.

CDAS represents a new systems approach, based on an ‘open architecture’ - components which can freely communicate with any other component regardless of manufacturer, to improve the modularity of sensors and effectors and coherence of the DAS across aircraft.

The CDAS TDP includes a current missile warning system built by BAE North America, a new infrared threat-warning system being developed by Thales, a developmental system for detecting hostile gunfire from the ground and a laser warning system, all feeding into the DAS controller. On the output side of the demonstrator system is a next-generation laser countermeasure built by Selex Galileo. Other countermeasures could include chaff (tiny pieces of material to confuse radar systems) or flares. A Qinetiq on-board planning system has also been integrated into the TDP.

The Context

John Bowker, Team Leader at Dstl said: “The ‘eureka moment’ really came along when we developed the new ’CDAS spine’ concept which now feeds into the MOD’s CDAS programme.”

The CDAS spine concept, evolved from the battle proven Helicopter Integrated DAS (HIDAS) on UK Apaches, was recognised by Dstl scientists and engineers as the most effective model to input into the DAS upgrade on Chinook helicopters. The implementation of this upgrade was undertaken with the assistance of global defence specialists including Agusta Westland, Boeing Helicopters, Selex Galileo, BAE Systems, QinetiQ and UK MoD's Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), who drove the project.

The CDAS would also mean the UK MoD would be able to more fully exploit competition in the defence market because technologies built by different contractors could be used together. Integrating different systems would also enable the UK MoD to configure aircraft for specific missions without having to make major changes to the architecture.

In February 2010, the UK MoD awarded SELEX Galileo a 4 year contract to lead the Common Defensive Aids System (CDAS) Technology Demonstrator Programme (TDP) in support of the UK strategy for air platform protection. Under the TDP, SELEX Galileo is providing a coherent cross platform approach to both acquisition and support of defensive aids suites for both new build and legacy helicopters. The common architecture leverages the UK's existing investment in the Selex Galileo HIDAS (Helicopter Integrated Defensive Aids System) suite in service on the UK Army Air Corps' Apache AH.1 attack helicopter and the Project Baker DAS fit developed for the Royal Air Force Chinook fleet under an urgent operational requirement.

After 18 months of studies and a further 18 months of hardware development, DSTL has now put together a technology demonstrator programme (TDP) in partnership with four defence firms, showing how different sensors and countermeasures can work together under one DAS controller.

DSTL plans to conduct flight trials of the technology by the end of December, after which it will be up to the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) department to decide how the system will be manufactured and rolled out across the UK’s air fleet.

Comments

“This collaborative approach allowed us to quickly find the best equipment solutions to improve protection to aircraft and personnel," said John Bowker, Team Leader at Dstl. "As MOD’s science and technology specialists, Dstl works with industry and academia to increase our knowledge base and develop effective solutions. The Chinook upgrade is a great example of this and is in Afghanistan right now helping to save lives. Sharing ideas is the most effective way of getting the best capability to the front line.”

References: UK MoD (1), The Engineer (2), SELEX Galileo (3)

The UK Cyber Security Strategy

News Report

After a couple of postponements, the UK Government has finally published its Cyber Security Strategy, which details UK plans to secure critical infrastructure and improve the country’s cyber-defenses to protect national security and citizens from multiple cyber-threats. The UK government classified cyber-security as a "tier one" national security priority in 2010 and set aside 650 million pounds over the next four years to be used for cyber-defense.

The 2015 Vision

The goals of UK Governemnt on Cyber are ambitious. By 2015, the aspiration is that the measures outlined in this strategy will mean the UK is in a position where:

• law enforcement is tackling cyber criminals;
• citizens know what to do to protect themselves;
• effective cyber security is seen as a positive for UK business;
• a thriving cyber security sector has been established;
• public services online are secure and resilient;
• the threats to our national infrastructure and national security have been confronted.

To achieve this vision, 4 main objectives are identified:

1. The UK to tackle cyber crime and be one of the most secure places in the world to do business in cyberspace.
2. The UK to be more resilient to cyber attacks and better able to protect our interests in cyberspace.
3. The UK to have helped shape an open, stable and vibrant cyberspace which the UK public can use safely and that supports open societies.
4. The UK to have the cross-cutting knowledge, skills and capability it needs to underpin all our cyber security objectives

Funding

To achieve the above, UK Government has set aside £650 million of public funding for a four-year, National Cyber Security Programme (NCSP). This funding is intended to transform the UK Government’s response to cyber threats, and has been allocated to those departments and agencies that have key roles to play. UK intelligence agencies and UK Ministry of Defence have a strong role in improving reducing the vulnerabilities and threats that the UK faces in cyberspace. But the UK Home Office, the UK Cabinet Office and UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) are also receiving funding to bolster their specific individual capabilities.

The bulk of the funding will go towards the Government's efforts to detect and counter cyber-attacks. Specifically, around 65 percent is expected to be spent on capabilities, 20 percent on critical cyber-infrastructure, nine percent on cybercrime specifics, five percent on reserves and one percent on education.

Cyber Centres and Organizations

The new UK Joint Forces Command will take the lead in the development and integration of defence cyber capabilities from April 2012. At the same time, UK MoD is creating a new Defence Cyber Operations Group to bring together cyber capabilities from across defence. The group will include a Joint Cyber Unit hosted by GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) whose role will be to develop new tactics, techniques and plans to deliver military effects, including enhanced security, through operations in cyberspace.

The UK Ministry of Defence has already opened a new Global Operations and Security Control Centre, to act as a focus for cyber defence for the armed forces. A second Joint Cyber Unit embedded within this centre will develop and use a range of new techniques, including proactive measures, to disrupt threats to our information security.

As part of the creation of the UK National Crime Agency (NCA), UK Government will create a new National Cyber Crime Unit, drawing together the work currently carried out by the e-crime unit in SOCA (Serious Organised Crime Agency) and the UK Metropolitan Police’s Central E-Crime Unit. The new unit will underpin the work of all four operational commands of the NCA (borders, organised crime, economic crime and Child Exploitation and Online Protection – CEOP) by providing specialist support, intelligence and guidance. The unit will act as the national capability to deal with the most serious national-level cyber crime, and to be part of the response to major national incidents.

UK authorities will also set up a simplified cyber-crime reporting system through the existing Action Fraud reporting center. Users will also receive training to increase public awareness of online threats. A voluntary code of conduct with Internet service providers will also outline how users whose computers are infected with malware will be notified and receive instructions on how to mitigate the problems.

The "Hub"

In February 2011, the UK Prime Minister met the heads of some of the largest companies from all sectors of the UK economy to discuss the cyber threat and their shared interest in getting the response right. In the months since, the private sector and UK Government have come together to design and build an innovative new approach for cyber security.

Within such context, the Cyber Security Strategy outlines a new public-private sector collaboration in which the government and businesses will exchange information on cyber-threats and responses. A joint public/private sector ‘hub’ will pool government and private threat information and pass that out to ‘nodes’ in key business sectors, helping them identify what needs to be done and providing a framework for sharing best practice. A pilot will commence in December involving five business sectors: defence, finance, telecommunication, pharmaceuticals, and energy. Lessons from this will be used to inform roll-out of the initiative to other sectors from March 2012.

Similar to the Defense Industrial Base Pilot launched by the United States Department of Defense, the "Hub" will allow organizations to receive classified details about cyber-attacks and information on how to counter them. The U.S. version of the program is limited to defense contractors and similar organizations. The British counterpart will include companies from the defense, finance, telecommunications, pharmaceutical and energy industries.

Business Considerations

Though the scale of the challenge requires strong national leadership, UK Government cannot act alone. It must recognise the limits of its competence in cyberspace. Much of the infrastructure they need to protect is owned and operated by the private sector. The expertise and innovation required to keep pace with the threat will be business-driven. UK Government will create a thriving market in cyber security products and services that can win the UK business abroad and contribute to growth. It will also enable to promote the UK as a good place to do business in cyberspace

For cyber security, UK Government is setting an expectation that at least 25% of the value of Government cyber security contracts go to SMEs, either by breaking contracts into lots or by including SME sub-contracting arrangements in contracts awarded to larger suppliers.

Comments

"The Cyber-Security Strategy document heralds a new era of unprecedented co-operation between the government and the private sector on cyber-security, working hand in hand to make the U.K. one of the most secure places in the world to do business," said Francis Maude, the Minister for U.K.'s Cabinet Office and Paymaster General.

"Just as in the nineteenth century we had to secure the seas for our national safety and prosperity, and in the twentieth century we had to secure the air, in the twenty first century we also have to secure our position in cyber space in order to give people and businesses the confidence they need to operate safely there," said UK Prime Minister David Cameron. "That is why today I am announcing - alongside our updated National Security Strategy - the UK's first strategy for cyber security".

References: UK Cabinet Office (1), eWeek (2), NTA Forensics (3), The Hacker News (4)

Marshall Land Systems demonstrated improved network interoperability for UK MOD Forward Operating Bases

News Report

As announced in a recent press release, a team from Marshall Land Systems has recently deployed as part of Team Castrum on GBA2, a demonstration of network concepts and standardisation for Forward Operating Bases, held at Caerwent, South Wales. During the demonstration to the UK MOD and other interested observers the team showed a generic base architecture (GBA) which enables information to be freely moved around a secure network and between FOBs providing commanders from section level upwards with operational and logistic data.

During the exercise, Team Castrum, led by Finmecanica Battlespace Solutions, demonstrated a family of fully networked, sustainable and deployable bases all interacting with one another. Marshall Land Systems provided perimeter surveillance using its Trakker unmanned ground vehicle fitted with a 3 meter Clark Mast on top of which was Chess Dynamics’ OWL thermal imaging and video cameras. Fitted to the rear of the vehicle was a Roke Manor Resolve EW system.

Base security was provided from a Marshall SafeBase deployable armoured sangar fitted with a Selex Galileo remote weapon station. A sensor fit could also be deployed.

SafeBase is based on a 10ft Marshall shelter with a rising sentry position, which can be lifted into position in 30 seconds. Once deployed the space in the base of the tower can have multiple uses. It can for example serve as a mini operations room or as an RWS (Remote Weapon Station) control station.

Marshall provided a main briefing facility in an expandable shelter fitted with TV monitors and networked briefing stations. In other parts of the main FOB were a laundry unit and ablutions block provided by the company's Norwegian partner, CSI. These shelters were supported by a deployable incinerator provided in partnership with Inciner8. All of these units can be networked into the GBA and provide commanders with information on water and fuel usage and waste management and in the briefing centre an overall situational awareness picture.

The Context (GBA, FOBEX)

A Forward Operating Base (or FOB) is a military base which provides troops with a secure location to operate from in forward areas. A FOB may be used over extended periods of time and although not able to provide full support facilities, it provides the infrastructure troops need to survive in the field, including accommodation, living/dining quarters, even an airfield in some cases. Because of their remote locations a FOB must be self sufficient – in forward areas there are no power grids to plug into. The base must provide the power needed to support the all of the infrastructure. Currently all bases are powered by diesel generators, necessitating regular and hazardous resupply convoys.

Forward Operationg Bases should be modular and simply deployable. In their design they must conform where feasible to open standards, thus allowing greater flexibility of configuration, interoperability and portability of component parts. This reduces logistic footprint whilst maximising their utility. A systems approach should ensure their individual integrity and architectural commonality across the generic ‘family’. They should also offer climatic protection in extreme conditions, 24 hour and all-weather performance, and be deployable in complex terrain. The current design for such bases is heavily reliant upon networked information and intelligence to support command. Bases should be protected by layered local surveillance, operating across the electromagnetic spectrum.

GBA (Generic Base Architecture) and FOBEX (Forward Operating Base Exercise) is UK Defence’s future deployable Tactical Base (TB) capability in the land environment. The requirement for this development work is partly based upon emerging experience and operational requirements from Operation Herrick (the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002). The generic base architecture project aims to develop the thinking of the tactical base as a system, rather than a collection of constituent parts, that will enable them to be easily adapted when the need arises, cutting the work in theatre, and reducing the operational burden.

Comments

"Team Castrum was a great partnership and all parties learnt a lot. GBA2 (FOBEX) has enabled us to demonstrate to a wide range of military and industrial customers, how Marshall Land Systems can integrate into an overall operating base concept. Working as part of Team Castrum has given us an even greater depth of knowledge of networking within a deployed environment," said Peter Callaghan, Chief Executive of Marshall Land Systems.

"The idea of FOBEX is looking at ways we can be more efficient. Having lighter and more portable kit, which is quicker to assemble and creates more of a standard base, will not only use less energy but save lives," said Captain Christian Hulme, of the UK Royal Engineers.

References: Marshall-LS (1), Finmeccanica (2), Connect (3), UK MOD (4)

UK MoD's Information Superiority Experimentation Laboratory

Picture: Crown Copyright/Dstl 2011

News Report

A recent news article on the UK MOD website illustrates the activities that are performed in the Information Superiority Experimentation Laboratory (ISEL) in support of UK Defence Operations.

The ISEL, functional since June 2010, is located at the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down in Wiltshire, and employs UK MOD scientists who support operations. The commercially neutral, Government-owned and operated building, where ISEL is situated, provides users from Government, the Armed Forces, industry and academia with a comprehensive support package that includes: secure and flexible laboratory space in ten reconfigurable laboratories, links to secure national and international network links, and access to subject matter experts from across Dstl, including military personnel.
Although the primary focus for ISEL is C4ISTAR experimentation, the facility contributes to a range of related activities, from military training to equipment capability demonstration.

The Technology (VBS2)

Work facilitated by the laboratory includes the use of an adapted commercially available computer game to provide military training. Virtual Battlespace 2 (VBS2), modified from the existing game 'Armoured Assault' by Bohemia Interactive, is now used across the MOD to provide pre-deployment training and the ability to practise drills anywhere - significantly reducing transportation and facility costs.

"These pieces of software have provided real benefit to armed forces during pre-deployment training," said Dstl military adviser Commander Mike Toft, "I have spoken to commanding officers who have told me that the repeated drilling of troops in the correct procedures using VBS2 means that, when faced with real situations in-theatre, they are far more effective; and this has saved lives."

VBS2 is a commercial-off-the-shelf, game-based training platform, incorporating a high-fidelity virtual environment, scenario and mission editors, AAR and a powerful development suite. Soldiers move in a shared, immersive, firstperson environment that supports mounted and dismounted operations. The system provides ground and air vehicles, small arms and vehiclemounted weapons, communications, and interactive opposing forces of the contemporary operational environment, including improvised explosive devices. Warfighters learn to anticipate and respond to tactical situations by practicing existing and developing tactics, techniques and procedures. Trainers and leaders use VBS2 to rehearse tactical missions and conduct AARs of training sessions using easy-to-use authoring tools integrated in the simulation.

The Technology (CFBLNet)

Dstl manages connectivity into and out from the ISEL site, and facilitates the creation of secure collaborative working environments across the UK and internationally. The Combined Federated BattleLabs Network (CFBLNet) allows those operating at ISEL to connect with sites in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and America simultaneously, reducing the need for international travel, along with the associated costs and carbon emissions.

The CFBLNet is a laboratory environment which utilizes a distributed Wide Area Network as the vehicle to experiment with new capabilities by conducting Research and Development, Trials and Assessment (RDT&A) initiatives. The CFBLNet consists of a distributed and integrated network architecture of Combined, Joint, and Military Service infrastructure components (networks, database servers, application servers, client workstations, etc.). These strings of network equipment and services are located within the confines of the various national and international battle laboratories and experimentation sites of the participants, which provide the applications, analytic tools, and communications necessary to conduct initiatives or experiments.

The CFBLNet grew out the network designed to support the U.S. Joint Warfighter Interoperability Demonstrations (JWID), which used to build a support network for the period of the demonstrations and tear it down each year after the demonstrations. In 1999, the Joint Warrior Interoperability Demonstration (JWID) exercise used, for the first time, a permanent infrastructure that became what is now called the CFBLNet, as established by the NATO Consultation, Command and Control Board in 2001.

Further Reading:

• VBS2 White Paper (pdf)

References: UK MoD (1), US Army (2), CFBLNet (3)

QinetiQ provides global asset tracking solutions to Czech Army

References: Jane's (1), QinetiQ (2,3), A-N-T (4), IridiumEverywhere (5)

News Report

As reported by Jane's, the Czech Army is among those now using the Bushman global asset tracking system, an improved blue force tracking system developed by QinetiQ on the back of its experience with the Helicopter Asset Tracking and Ground Asset Tracking Systems previously supplied to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The System

QinetiQ has developed a simple highly effective ‘pay-as-you-go’ satellite-based asset tracking service, which enables to have complete control of all assets at any given time. The service provides truly global coverage, enhancing situational awareness by enabling the user to locate and track their assets 24/7. It is ideally suited to nations seeking to participate in NATO coalition operations, and facilitates sharing of locations between partners.

In general terms, the system consists of small communicators that are attached to the assets, and a hi-tech map-based user interface which gives position reports on-demand. An integrated picture of the tracked assets can be received directly on the bridge or on a handheld device. The QinetiQ system has flexible web-based or satellite-based functionality, and also provides secure feeds into corporate networks, supporting a number of data formats and mapping applications, including Google Earth. Users can decide the extent to which they wish to interact with the system, safe in the knowledge that the Bushman system is equipped with alarm functionality and will send alerts directly to a PC or handheld PDA device, in the event of an emergency.

QinetiQ's Bushman solution consists of 4 different components:

• Bushman Commander: a command and control and blue force tracking terminal which receives from multiple independent paths to ensure the user is always connected anywhere in the world, supporting rapid changes in coalition operations.
• Bushman Airborne: a flight-cleared tracking solution for use in the airborne environment, consisting of a modem unit placed remotely in the avionics bay, and a control unit to be integrated directly into the cockpit.
• Bushman Dismounted: a handheld personal tracking device which can be easily attached to body armour or webbing for the combat fighting soldier, and that can be set into a range of modes including; motion activation, text messaging and immediate emergency alert notification.
• Bushman Mobile: a vehicle mounted tracker that is capable of operating from either vehicle power or battery and provides user-configurable updates of vehicle locations.

Coupled with the low latency and global reach of Iridium’s constellation of 66 low-Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites, the QinetiQ system is viewed as a cost-effective solution offering unique asset-tracking capabilities. That’s particularly the case for troops operating in Afghanistan’s deep valleys, where mountains disrupt line-of-sight communications systems and often thwart the military’s geostationary satellite communications systems. Iridium’s fast-moving LEO satellites provide full coverage, even in this extremely difficult terrain.

The QinetiQ system is interoperable with a range of Geographic Information System applications and military communications networks. That permits to share information with NATO and coalition forces. It is compatible with the Joint Automated Deep Operation Coordination System (JADOCS). A “go to war” command-and-control tool, JADOCS is designed to improve situational awareness across the military decision-making process. One key use is for deconfliction of weapons systems, such as to keep aircraft from flying through space where artillery operations are being staged. The QinetiQ system also works with Tapestry, a distribution management system used by U.S. forces and security contractors operating in Iraq to manage and track containers and for logistics. In addition, the system is compliant with NATO’s Friendly Force Identification network.

The Context

Since 2005 QinetiQ have provided a secure satellite tracking system to the UK Ministry of Defence that provides worldwide access and reliable service for secure global asset tracking. The system uses the Iridium satellite communications system to provide world wide coverage. The system uses commercial off the shelf (COTS) equipment; protected with military grade encryption and security to provide a secure and robust tracking capability.

Working with Iridium and NAL Research, which supplies the hardware components, QinetiQ developed and fielded the HeATS (Helicopter Tracking System) and GrATS (Ground Asset Tracking System) under an Urgent Operational Requirement from the U.K. Ministry of Defence for improved tracking and monitoring of aircraft and ground vehicles in Afghanistan. Using Iridium’s global short-burst data (SBD) service, the systems have helped to enhance situational awareness, accelerate the tempo of operations, and improve response time to troops needing assistance in the field.

RTI and QinetiQ to improve UK Armed Forces Land Data Model

References: RTI (1), OMG (2)

News Report

As announced in a recent press release, Real-Time Innovations supported QinetiQ in the development of the Land Data Model for UK Defence Standard 23-09. Specifically, The U.K. Ministry of Defence had chosen QinetiQ as leader of the Vehicle Systems Integration Group (VSI), which consists of defense contractors based in the U.S. and U.K. The VSI Group was tasked with applying open-standards-based architectures to land-based defense platforms.

The Context

UK Defence Standard 23-09 (Def Stan 23-09) was been produced on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) by UK Defence Standardization (DStan). It has been developed through the collaborative efforts of the MOD and industry, and builds on the extant Vehicle Systems Integration (VSI) and previous work including the Vehicle Technology Integration Demonstrator (VTID). The purpose of Def Stan 23-09 is to enable the MOD to realise the benefits of an open architecture approach to Land platform design and integration, especially in regard to platform infrastructure and the associated Human Machine Interface (HMI) in order to improve operational effectiveness across all Defence Lines of Development (DLOD), reduce integration risks and reduce the cost of ownership across the fleet. This is achieved by mandating and applying the appropriate interface standards.

Def Stan 23-09, section 13, mandates the use of the DDS (Data Distribution Service). The DDS family of standards were easily the most appropriate for military land vehicle application due their openness, the commitment by the vendors to address full interoperability, and technical features of DDS. Most important of the technical features considered were the opportunity to simplify application development through adoption of the data centric nature of DDS and the low coupling achieved by using a publish and subscribe communication model.

In order to fully benefit from the use of DDS and to encourage adoption by its contractors, UK MOD has funded the construction of the UK MOD Land Data Model. This data model encompasses data type definitions, quality of service patterns and vehicle type profiles, it allows the defence community to generate a set of products that interact over DDS based data network in a number of platforms. The Data Model has been endorsed by the VSI Group and a recommendation to the MOD for standardisation through the GVA Office (Generic Vehicle Architecture) has enabled the data model to undergo its initial deployment in two procurement activities. The Land Data Model has been declassified and made available to any approved requestor by the U.K. MOD. As a result, the MOD is now able to reduce the use of custom interfaces, and the defense industry can take advantage of the opportunity to provide products for increasingly diverse platforms. The primary benefit, however, is that the military will have an increasing number of fully integrated and upgraded vehicles. Declassification of the Land Data Model was an unprecedented move in open-systems procurement by the MOD. The Land Data Model has already been shared with several other friendly nation-states, reflecting the increasing levels of cooperation between the U.K. and its defense partners.

Comments

"RTI's experience and knowledge in the development of data-centric integration strategies are deeply appreciated by QinetiQ," said Mike Haines, project manager at QinetiQ. "We value RTI's help and support as we strive for a single, consistent industry view of the data model for all armored vehicles. The open publication of the Land Data Model marks an exciting step forward in the industry as it adopts new and innovative ways to deliver superior systems at lower costs and in tighter timeframes for our armed services."

Further Readings

• DefStan 23-09 (pdf)
• DDS (pdf)
• Generic Vehicle Architecture (pdf)