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)

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)