Digital Battle Space

Volume 4 Number 2 March/April 2012
Phased value
The evolution of ground-based radar
ONE STEP AHEAD

Expeditionary C4ISR
STOCKING UP ON IDEAS
Sensor interoperability
SCALING DOWN SATCOM

C2 for counter-piracy
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Challenging environments. On-the-move communications. Real-time solutions.

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Exelis and The Power of Ingenuity are trademarks of Exelis Inc. ITT is a trademark of ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, LLC., and is used under license. Copyright 2012 Exelis Inc. All rights reserved.
1 CONTENTS
Editor Andrew White. andrew.w@shephardmedia.com +44 1753 727023 Staff Reporter Beth Stevenson. beth.s@shephardmedia.com North America Editor Scott R Gourley. scott.g@shephardmedia.com Contributors Claire Apthorp, Angus Batey, Peter Donaldson, Giles Ebbutt, William F Owen, Richard Scott, Martin Streetly, Tom Withington Production Department Manager David Hurst. david.h@shephardmedia.com Sub-Editors Michelle Stalker Adam Wakeling Commercial Manager Chris Richman. chris.r@shephardmedia.com +44 1753 727018 Publishing Director Darren Lake CEO Alexander Giles Chairman Nick Prest Subscriptions
Annual rate 65 Tel: +44 1858 438879 Fax: +44 1858 461739 shephardgroup@subscription.co.uk www.subscription.co.uk/shephard Digital Battlespace is published six times per year in January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, and November/December by The Shephard Press Ltd, 268 Bath Road, Slough SL1 4DX, UK. Subscription records are maintained at CDS Global, Tower House, Lathkill Street, Sovereign Park, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 9EF, UK. Air Business Ltd is acting as mailing agent. Articles contained in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers.
3 Comment
While Iran insists its nuclear intentions are peaceful, Editor Andrew White explores the alternative of cyber warfare as a military response should any conflict arise.
4 News
Report warns of EMP threats Northrop Grumman wins CANES navy contract TRACER goes operational with SOUTHCOM Raytheon wins DARPA communications contract
COMPUTERS
22 Stocking up on ideas
SPECIAL REPORT
8 Grounds for change

New and evolving threats emerging on the battlefield are testing the capabilities of existing ground-based radars. Claire Apthorp explores solutions currently being offered by industry.
The defence industry is turning to Wall Street to help find solutions for improving the dissemination of C4ISR information in campaigns, discovers Andrew White.
ISR
27 One step ahead

Speed and agility enable expeditionary forces to adapt to a vast range of environments. Beth Stevenson discusses some of the systems that could make information-sharing faster and more accessible, while reducing the support footprint.
COMMAND AND CONTROL
12 Scaling down SATCOM

Effective C2 is vital in counter-piracy operations, but the limited size of patrol ships means that conventional communications equipment cannot be installed. Tim Fish discusses the downsized versions suitable for such a role.
32 All along the watchtower

With a rise in threats and confusion over defining boundaries, Martin Streetly reports on the current trends and technology available for border protection and homeland security.
COMMUNICATIONS
16 Gathering the threads

A recent burst of tactical radio development work by the US Army points towards some parallel development paths for the future, reports Scott R Gourley.
36 Final Word
Andrew White talks to Giles Peeters of Track24 Defence about future applications of machineto-machine communications and how global militaries are starting to realise its potential.
The Shephard Press Ltd, 2012. ISSN 1759-345X DTP Vivid Associates, Sutton, Surrey, UK Print Williams Press, Maidenhead, Berks, UK
Cover story: The phased array used as part of Raytheons Patriot air defence system set the early benchmark for ground-based radars. (Photo: Raytheon)
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Volume 4 Number 2 | March/April 2012 | DIGITAL BATTLESPACE
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3 COMMENT
The cyber switchover?

All eyes are on Iran. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington, DC refusing to allow his people to live in the shadow of annihilation, with talk of a preemptive attack becoming more prevalent. US President Obama maintains a slightly less hardline approach, asserting that the potential for dialogue remains open, while all this time, Iran continues to insist that its nuclear strategy is peaceful. The global media has printed unofficial invasion plans involving ground forces launching from Iraq and Afghanistan and aircraft from Israel. Has nothing been learned from the long and drawn-out campaigns in Southwest Asia? There must be an alternative option, which one hopes is already in full swing behind the scenes cyber and electronic warfare. Rhetoric has been bandied about readily by the UK, US and NATO regarding the threat to the cyber domain. However, little has been said regarding its offensive use. Surely such a capability could be utilised to diffuse the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran? Digital Battlespace sincerely hopes that such efforts are being undertaken, especially by the newly stood-up US Cyber Command. But doubts arise when US-based think tanks recommend that NATO goes back to basics regarding its cyber strategy. Such efforts will hardly help in the fight to neutralise Iran. Speaking at a cyber briefing ahead of Mays NATO summit in Chicago, the Atlantic Council of the US (ACUS) and IBM shared their thoughts on current cyber security threats. Jason Healey, director of the Cyber Statecraft Initiative at ACUS, said: Sticking to the basics is, I think, a very, very wise strategy. Rather more worringly, he continued: Offence fits somewhat awkwardly into NATOs structure, but thats OK. Its new, its sensitive, its highly classified, but there are some practical suggestions in the paper [the ACUS and IBM report titled NATOs Cyber Capabilities: Yesterday, Today andTomorrow]. The report suggests the formation of a NATO ad-hoc coordination cell, similar to the US Air Force Cyber Operations Liaison Element. In addition, it calls for a specialist group to consider offensive cyber policy. Also mentioned in the report were hints that US military commanders considered a cyber offensive attack to disrupt Colonel Gaddafis air defence system during the Libyan conflict. If cyber capabilities could disable Libyan air defences from afar, then a military commander would be reckless to rule out cyber capabilities without even considering them, added Healey. Lessons learned remain relevant to Iran. Elsewhere, a UK government report has warned of the threat of electromagnetic pulse weapons, with Iran potentially posing a realistic threat in the future. The report described how no state currently had both the intent and capability to conduct such an attack. However, has such a weapon been considered by the US, Israel or NATO to deal with the Iran situation? Much has been said in recent years regarding the ability of unmanned systems to carry out dirty, dull and dangerous missions. Surely, the time has come for the same to be proclaimed for cyber and electronic warfare keeping ground forces on standby, while cyber warriors hack into networks either from the Iraq or Afghanistan borders or in safe houses behind enemy lines. Whether Israel, the US or NATO are willing to make such a switch in the current mindset for cyber operations is yet to be seen. Here at DB, we await with interest. Andrew White, Editor
RESPONSE
Digital Battlespaces editorial team is always happy to receive comments on its articles and to hear readers views on the issues raised in the magazine. Contact details can be found on p1.
IN THE NEXT ISSUE
I I
Sonar Land EW
I I
Counter-IED European C2 integration
4 NEWS
Northrop Grumman wins CANES navy contract

Northrop Grumman (NG) has been downselected by the USN to design the network infrastructure for the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) programme. The two-year contract was awarded by the navys Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) on 1 February, with the $36 million agreement covering the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the programme. NG beat Lockheed Martin to the contract, and this phase will see the former procure the CANES network infrastructure, which will include a guided missile destroyer (DDG) variant first article, DDG variant production unit and multipurpose amphibious assault ship (LHD) variant first article, according to a SPAWAR statement. Many factors were evaluated during the downselection evaluation process and we are confident that warfighter needs will be met, said Capt DJ LeGoff, programme manager for navy tactical networks. CANES is the navys only modernisation option for IT afloat. Speaking at the AFCEA West conference in San Diego on 25 January, LeGoff told a media briefing that in 2014 a full four-year deployment contract will be awarded, for which anybody can bid. An RfP for this will be released by the end of 2012. According to the statement: The next step in the programme is completion of an operational assessment in SPAWARs Enterprise Engineering and Certification laboratory in support of a Milestone C decision in the summer of 2012. The Milestone C decision will commit the DoD to production, and authorises the programme entry into limited deployment. By Beth Stevenson, San Diego
Space weather is now considered a significant threat. (Photo: NASA)
Report warns of EMP threats

A UK government report has warned the MoD against overlooking the threat of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons. According to the Defence Committees Developing Threats: Electro-Magnetic Pulses report published on 22 February, the consequences of EMP events must be addressed specifically. It is time that the government began to approach this matter with the seriousness it deserves, the report warned. There must be a clear line of responsibility within the MoD; an appearance is given that the MoD is unwilling to take these threats seriously. Referring to high-altitude nuclear EMP (HEMP) threats, it described how states such as Iran could potentially pose a realistic threat in the future, even if it does not currently do so, if nuclear non-proliferation efforts are not successful. Detonated anywhere between 40 and 800km above the Earth, HEMP could have a devastating and long-lasting impact on the UKs infrastructure, the report added. However, it conceded: Currently, no state has both the intent to threaten our vital interests and the capability to do so with nuclear weapons. [The] MoDs view is that over the next decade, existing space launch vehicle technology could theoretically be adapted by states to deliver a nuclear device. According to the US EMP Commission, Iran and North Korea are both aware of the potential of such an attack, adding that elements required to carry the task out
DIGITAL BATTLESPACE | March/April 2012 | Volume 4 Number 2
required an integrated delivery system and nuclear device. This, the commission said, was technically very challenging and expensive. The UK paper also described existing non-nuclear EMP technology as crude and limited, despite stating that viable devices could be produced by non-state actors. Such non-nuclear EMPs, which could include radio frequency weapons, would be capable of damaging electronics locally. Available on the open market, such a device can be designed to look like a suitcase, the report warned. Armed with such a device and with some knowledge about the electric grid, a terrorist could blackout a city. Highlighting reliance on SATCOM, including GPS, position navigation and timing and Earth observation, the report outlined how the government must ensure the long-term security of satellite technology. Finally, it described the additional threat of space weather caused by varying conditions in the Suns atmosphere. Described as a Tier 1 threat in the 2010 National Security Strategy, space weather is capable of degrading satellites. The report coincides with activity in the US where the Shield Act is currently passing through the Senate. An amendment to the existing Federal Power Act places responsibility for pulse protection upon operators and installations at a local level. By Andrew White, London
5 NEWS
News bytes
US Army anticipates network technology baseline

On the back of multiple iterations of its Network Integration Evaluation (NIE), the US Army is finally awaiting solidification and release of its first network technology baseline on 31 March. Speaking at the AUSA Winter symposium in February, Col Dan Hughes, director of the System of Systems Integration Directorate within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, said: It will comprise a technical baseline for the armys [tactical] network, informing industry and the acquisition community that they must meet these technical standards for a piece of equipment to go into the NIE to be bought or procured. The common operating environment is after the integrated network baseline that gives us a technical standard. So in the future, if Im company x and I build something like a router, I will know what the technical standard is. I will know that I have to meet that standard, and there will be no big surprise when I take something into the lab at Aberdeen my big push now is to bring everything into the labs and plug it in there. Hughes described the technical standards currently being used by the army as basically industry standards, just with a little more rigour on the security side. So we are really becoming smarter consumers by leveraging what industry is doing, adding what we need for security, and pointing at that baseline that you have to build to. He asserted: And by the way, make it better. Build something in that architecture thats better than what we have right now, and we will look at you for Capability Set [FY]14, 15, 16 as we go down the line. Noting that the army solution would be agile enough to upgrade to the latest industry standards, so that we dont fall behind, Hughes summarised ongoing coordination across multiple army programme executive offices: We have got to be of one voice going forward to industry to make this work. So the acquisition community is working together to bring in the baseline technical standards and align behind those standards with our requirements. By Scott R Gourley, Fort Lauderdale
Cassidian develops new security radar 29 February 2012 Raytheons MMPU terminal receives production award 29 February 2012 Roke expands EW range 28 February 2012 Lockheed Martins MUOS successfully launched 27 February 2012 Harris shows its SRW appliqu offering 24 February 2012 BACN demonstrated during US Army NIE 24 February 2012 DRS unveils new handheld device 24 February 2012 Harris introduces Falcon networking system 23 February 2012 Northrop Grumman completes UK E-3D Sentry repairs 22 February 2012 Harris unveils new ruggedised tablet 21 February 2012 ISAF operations highlight CAS deficiencies 17 February 2012 TerraSight expands video exploitation capabilities 16 February 2012
while NIE searches for SRW solution

Understood to be the first procurement activity emerging from Novembers NIE, the US Army has released a sources sought announcement for a single-channel, vehicle-mounted radio running the Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW). Referring to the 21 February solicitation, Hughes said: We want to be able to have as many nodes on the network as possible to enhance our SRW capability. A single-channel SRW radio may have applicability across the entire force. Thats more than just the 70 combat brigades we have, but also the other 200 that are in the [entire] army. These radios will slide into the SINCGARS [Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System] mounts, so no new mount is required.
Now just imagine the applicability of taking a small appliqu radio, sliding it into that mount, using the same power and creating a networking capability in every vehicle we possibly can across the force it would enhance and increase our capability. He continued: It does not replace the HMS manpack, which gives us a tremendous amount of capability, but it provides an incremental capability to units that were never going to get a networking kit until later on now they can get something a lot earlier. The sources sought announcement identifies army plans to buy approximately 5,000 of the vehicle-mounted radios, dubbed SRW Appliqu. By Scott R Gourley, Fort Lauderdale
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6 NEWS
TRACER goes operational with SOUTHCOM

US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has deployed Lockheed Martins Tactical Reconnaissance and Counter-ConcealmentEnabled Radar (TRACER) following operational demonstrations. According to the company, the sensor, which comprises a penetrating radar capable of detecting buried, concealed or camouflaged objects, has been used in support of SOUTHCOM operations since the end of January. The command chose to mount the TRACER system on board a US Army C-12 aircraft, although company sources were quick to explain that it is also available on board a variety of manned and unmanned platforms. As part of its development, TRACER was carried on board a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle. The payload was also part of an operational test and evaluation in April last year on board a US Army Beechcraft B200 King Air aircraft. The evaluation is understood to have run for up to 40 days, although mission specifics remain undisclosed. Specifically, the sensor has been used for counter-terrorism missions as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, company officials announced. TRACER is a lightweight, low-frequency synthetic aperture radar that can peer through foliage, rain, darkness, dust storms or atmospheric haze to provide real-time, high-quality tactical ground imagery. Prior to this deployment, it successfully completed more than 160 flight tests on manned and unmanned platforms.
The mission specifics of SOUTHCOMs TRACER C-12 remain undisclosed. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
The system was originally designed for the US Armys Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft system (UAS), and Lockheed Martin has also been in discussions to integrate TRACER onto Boeings A160T Hummingbird VTOL UAS, which has been conducting tests with DARPAs Foliage Penetration (FOPEN) Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Tracking and Engagement Radar sensor in the jungles of Belize. While smaller and more lightweight than FOPEN, TRACERs system design still incorporates all the capability of its predecessor, which uses an advanced detection capability to suppress background clutter. The dual-band (VHF/UHF) capability increases target discovery over a variety of terrain and concealment scenarios to reveal positions of mobile and stationary targets. By Andrew White, London
Raytheon wins DARPA communications contract

DARPA has revealed plans to develop a communications system to allow friendly forces to communicate, while conducting simultaneous jamming operations. The agency has signed a $3.8 million deal with Raytheon to assist in the development of the High-Power Efficient RF Digital-toAnalog Converter (HiPERDAC) programme. Joseph Smolko, director of micro electronics technology at Raytheon, told Digital Battlespace that the two-year programme will allow tactical platforms, such as maritime craft, ground vehicles, tactical aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as well as individual soldiers, to conduct battlefield jamming operations, while minimising frequency interference with friendly forces. Outlining requirements to eliminate electronic fracticide, he added: Being able to maintain combat effectiveness while simultaneously disrupting enemy sensors and communication systems represents one of the greatest challenges in asymmetric warfare. By generating signals that are both linear that is the ability of a signal to remain within a certain frequency and efficient, HiPERDAC allows jamming across the frequency spectrum, while providing precise gaps for communication frequencies used by friendly forces. Smolko continued: Because of emphasis on efficiency, the real benefit to the warfighter enables usage in SWAP [size, weight and power] applications. Normally, jammers [are carried] on large airborne platforms, ships and ground vehicles we are aiming to use [HiPERDAC] components on UAVs and dismounted troops. Raytheon has been tasked by DARPA to produce a technology demonstration in order to illustrate an ability to generate high-power, rapidly tunable, linear microwave signals across a broad range of frequencies. Laboratory tests will be followed by integration onto current and emerging DoD platforms, explained Smolko, although he was unable to disclose more information. A demonstration is expected in two years, after which notional plans for additional iterations are scheduled. There is an operational need today, concluded Smolko. DARPA told us they would like to accelerate this as much as possible. There are a lot of compromises in the field right now and the operator has to choose what he wants to give up. By Andrew White, London
8 SPECIAL REPORT
New and evolving threats emerging on the battlefield are testing the capabilities of existing ground-based radars. Claire Apthorp explores solutions currently being offered by industry.
Grounds for change
round-based radar technology forms an integral part of effective air defence networks and air C4I systems. In order to gain and maintain dominance in-theatre and enhance battlefield awareness and national security, tactical and long-range radars must be able to identify and classify threats at all altitudes in all terrain, while continuing to keep pace with and overcome offensive efforts in order to counter stealth tactics. Traditional targets for air defence radars include fighters, bombers and military air freighters. The past two decades have brought a significant shift in the nature of threats from the air, which have posed a number of challenges to the ability of ground-based radars to effectively monitor the battlespace situation. While classical aircraft targets previously offered a large radar cross-section, making them relatively simple to detect, the development of advanced stealth technology has noticeably reduced this. II NEW THREATS In addition, new breeds of threats have emerged, including: cruise missiles, which pose a considerable threat when flying at low altitude; unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), designed to observe and gather intelligence on the battlefield at a wide cross-section of altitudes; and latterly, unmanned combat air vehicles, designed to carry offensive weapons and loiter over areas of interest at a range of altitudes. To a certain extent, it is the altitude where newer threats such as these are designed to fly that poses the greatest challenge to ground-based radar technology. Aircraft of any description flying at very low altitudes are harder for such radars to detect, as they are difficult to discriminate from the ground and weather clutter. Additionally, the airspace itself is growing increasingly more crowded at medium and high altitudes, with military and commercial fixed-wing aircraft, attack and transport helicopters, as well as UAVs. For full air supremacy, ground-based radars in both forward-deployed theatres and homeland national security operations
Saabs multi-mission Giraffe AMD radar system protects Australian troops in Aghanistan. (Photo: Saab)
9 SPECIAL REPORT
must be capable of keeping track of the multiple aircraft operating in their area of interest, as well as detecting that these aircraft are operating in an appropriate manner, in order to protect high-value assets and keep battle commanders and operators fully informed of the battlespace picture at all times. II TARGET TRENDS One of the major trends in new threats is the very low radar cross-section of targets, Michel Dechanet, product account manager at Thales, told Digital Battlespace. In addition, threats are asymmetric, they are smaller and they fly at very low altitudes and slow speeds compared to the classic fighter jet. The combination of a radar digital architecture with embedded intelligence to cope in real time with the radar environment provides a new capacity of detection. Thales manufacturers the Ground Master radar for ThalesRaytheonSystems. To deal with this, we have embedded several improvements into the technology building blocks of our radar systems. First, we use Doppler filtering a process where discrimination of targets is determined using speed of the target but the key point for good Doppler performance is stability. Both the transmitted and received signal must be very stable in order to determine the speed of targets at low altitudes amidst clutter. He continued: We also use 3D technology, which becomes very important in military settings where targets are not expected to cooperate as civilian targets do. For example, for air traffic control at commercial airports, the targets themselves will provide a lot of information to the radar, while in military settings, we must be able to determine as much information on the target as possible without its input. This is where 3D technology becomes invaluable, as it allows us to determine the position and elevation of targets, as opposed to 2D, which only provides range and azimuth. II COMPLETE AIR PICTURE This technology forms the central platform of ThalesRaytheonSystems ground radar portfolio, with each individual system designed
The GM 200 and Sentinel are elements of TRSs solution to providing range and altitude coverage. (Photos: TRS)
to meet the particular needs of its customers. The Ground Master family architecture is based on common building blocks and interfaces, a stacked beam concept and digital beam forming, providing complete range and altitude coverage. The Ground Master 400 (GM 400) is capable of detecting at low, medium and high altitudes a clear sea-change from requirements just a few years ago when the focus remained solely on high and medium altitudes. Launched in 2007, it has had 32 orders from nine different customers in both its tactical and mobile versions. The system is designed to track a wide range of targets from highly manoeuvrable tactical aircraft flying at several hundred feet to the unconventional small radar crosssection device, such as UAVs or cruise missiles, providing users with a comprehensive global air picture and long-range detection for better reaction times. The GM 400 has been designed so that the complete radar with its folded antenna can be packed in one single load as a 20ft ISO container, and transported on a standard 10t truck or in a C-130 aircraft, Christophe Groshenry, French operations director of strategic radars at ThalesRaytheonSystems, told DB. This is a key requirement, as it enables high mobility and manoeuvrability the GM 400 can be deployed within one hour by four people, and the GM 200 can be deployed within 15 minutes by two people. Crucially, the joint architecture also brings the benefits
of a reduced logistical footprint in terms of maintenance and repairs. The GM 200 can be deployed as a standalone multi-mission tactical 3D mediumrange air defence or weapon coordination radar, or in concert with the GM 400 as a gap filler, providing accurate detection against targets from very low to high altitudes and from short to medium ranges whatever the environment. As with the GM 400, it has its own C2 system that connects into the wider network to inform the battlespace picture. II DEMANDING CUSTOMERS Armed forces are demanding more capability and higher reliability, explained Groshenry. Thanks to the GM familys fully digital architecture and solid state, we are bringing key benefits in this area, providing high mobility within highly complex environments. Within the difficult terrain of Afghanistan, mobility and manoeuvrability are being pushed to the top of the requirements list. For systems such as the AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar, this is a significant issue. It is a 3D, phased-array radar system that operates in the X-band frequency range, with its primary mission being to automatically detect, track, identify and report airborne threats, including aircraft, cruise missiles and UAVs. Its capabilities are suited for a wide range of missions, including air defence and missile systems coordination, homeland defence and infrastructure and asset and special event protection. Being lightweight, the system can be easily transported by trailer or helicopter,
10 SPECIAL REPORT
and better placed for more effective surveillance, explained Paul Brar, director of battlefield radars at ThalesRaytheonSystems. That might include being placed on top of buildings in the urban theatres of Iraq, or on hillside terrain in Afghanistan, affording a better field of view. Higher rates of accuracy are also being demanded in urban theatres, with systems such as the AN/TPQ-36 and AN/TPQ-37 Reliability, Maintainability, Improvement Firefinder weapon-locating radars designed to limit false alarms. In urban environments, short- to medium-range weapon locating systems with 360 coverage is a central requirement thats coming through you cannot have false indicator of targets, accuracy is key, he added. II BRINGING BALANCE As changing threats present new challenges for radar manufacturers for example, in finding a balance between proven and new enabling technology in order to build systems of high performance and reliability the demand from armed forces for increased capability is seeing multi-tasking emerge as a key trend within the sector. Systems that are able to carry out more than one role preferably simultaneously not only increase force protection, but reduce the logistical footprint and manning requirements. At the same time, requirements are focusing on greater need for counter-rocket, artillery and mortar (C-RAM) systems that can cope with 24/7 operational demands, and contracting for systems at a higher level, such as for surveillance networks, rather than individual sensors. As a result, ground-based radar systems are being developed with an emphasis on complementary performance as part of integrated networks, but which can still operate as a standalone product. Saabs Arthur system is a C-band mediumrange weapon-locating system that detects and locates enemy fire within a 60km range. It utilises a passive phased-array antenna technology for optimised battlefield performance, with applications including counter-battery operations, fire control, peace-enforcement missions and force
The operator console for the Arthur weapon-locating radar. (Photo: Saab)
protection by suppressing enemy fire. The system features comprehensive built-in test and a high degree of automation, a manmachine interface developed with extensive user feedback and a mean time between critical failures of more than 1,800 hours. Arthur was originally developed for the Norwegian and Swedish armies, Jan-Olov Winnberg, senior product manager at Saab Electronic Defence Systems, told DB. Deliveries started in 1999, and since then the system has been continuously developed and improved. We are currently in the third generation, with ongoing large scale deliveries. Customers include: Norway; Sweden; Denmark; Greece; the UK; the Czech Republic; Spain; the Republic of Korea; and Italy. The programme started with the decision by the original customers to gain a modern counter-battery capability by procuring a weapon-locating radar. Since this was not available on the market under favourable conditions, the decision was to develop the system indigenously, he continued. Series deliveries of the third generation Arthur with an updated sensor baseline started in December 2009 and are ongoing, and an enhanced force protection data processing package is also currently being delivered to the lead customer. II COORDINATING PROTECTION In counter-battery operations, the Arthur system delivers the coordinates of enemy batteries and the impact area of their fire. Data is used to prioritise, based on position and impact coordinates, and deliver counterfire. In force protection, the mission is to deter with counter-fire or other actions to follow and to warn against impact. The latter is possible since the impact coordinates are known well in advance, added Winnberg. Arthur has a Doppler radar with a TWT [travelling wave tube] transmitter and an electrically controlled phased-array antenna. The latter means that the antenna beam direction is controlled by the phase of each array element while the physical antenna is
stationary. This technology is necessary for a weapon-locating radar since it, while searching over the horizon several times per second concurrently with tracking of many projectiles, must move the beam to some 100 locations per second. The radar will track each detected projectile for a number of seconds, after which a ballistic trajectory is matched to the track points. This trajectory is then extended backwards and forwards in time to find the point of origin and impact at the intersection with ground. The latter is represented by a digital terrain elevation database. The Saab Giraffe Agile Multi-beam (AMB) multirole 3D surveillance system is designed for rapid surveillance of the entire airspace for short- and medium-range air-defence systems. It can also be used to warn of incoming RAM and for coastal surveillance. The system features modular C2 and data links, and is contained in one 20ft ISO cabin, also including a diesel generator. The antenna head is mounted on a mast that can be raised to 12m above ground level and spins at up to 60rpm. The primary radar is a 3D multi-beam with digital beam forming and signal processing and tracking of air, sea and RAM targets, with integrated secondary surveillance. The Giraffe AMB was initially developed as part of a development step for the Swedish Ground-Based Air Defence programme, but the design was from the start oriented towards an international market in both land-air and naval domains, Lennart Steen, senior product manager at Saab Electronic Defence Systems, told DB. Since then, more than 500 systems have then been delivered in different configurations with successively updated baselines for its sensor, cabin, C2 and communications parts. There are many factors in-theatre working against the effective use of ground radar technology, and changing threat scenarios present new challenges to both industry and users. But as lessons continue to be learned from varying operational environments, the ability for ground radar to keep warfighters out of harms way will only continue to increase. DB
12 COMMAND AND CONTROL
Scaling down
I
n recent years, the increasing number of piracy incidents, particularly around the Horn of Africa, has required an enduring naval presence in order to protect commercial shipping, with offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) being ideal for this task. However, the smaller size of patrol ships means that they are unable to house the full version of naval C2 systems used on capital ships. To engage in counter-piracy operations, or other policing operations like the protection of fisheries, patrolling the economic exclusive zone (EEZ), counter-drugs or illegal immigration, such OPVs require an effective C2 capability. Manufacturers are redesigning and scaling down both SATCOM and combat management systems (CMS) so that they can be fitted to smaller ships, allowing them to undertake tasks more effectively. well as information from land databases, 85kg. It is fitted to the UK Royal Navys (RNs) there is a wealth of data that needs to be hydrographic ship HMS Scott, and is transferred. completing full military qualifying. This information can give commanders at SCOTPatrol weighs under half a traditional sea a more accurate tactical picture and the SATCOM terminal, and this benefits smaller ability to react faster to a changing situation. ships and also retrofits onto older vessels, said To support this, a SATCOM system is required Murray. When the vessels are commissioned, that can offer a guaranteed there is an initial equipment fit that is taken service, with enough into account in stability calculations, bandwidth to transfer a but as time progresses there is variety of information, additional equipment fitted onto from imagery to realthat vessel, taking up more time video, and the room, but it also starts to erode capability to support the stability margin as well. voice-over-internetA fairly lightweight terminal is protocol, audio much easier to place on the ship. conferencing, secure SCOTPatrol consists of a single user chatrooms as well as traditional terminal, with a choice in the size of antenna voice and email traffic. dish from 0.8 to 1.2m, mounted on a threeKeith Murray, naval terminals or four-axis stabilised pedestal offering X-, product manager at Astrium, Ka- and Ku-bands. It can withstand up to Sea believes this is only State 7 on a corvette or OPV, and take possible with a a MIL-STD-901 shock test, which is a military SATCOM non-contact underwater explosion, system that is scaled handling a 120g shock on a SCOTPatrols 0.8-1.2m antenna is down for use on 50m/s pulse. mounted on a stabilised pedestal. OPVs, giving them Due to the space restrictions (Photo: Astrium) capabilities they below deck, a simple have never had before. configuration is required, consisting of a He told Digital Battlespace that the kind of single 20U cabinet, a control unit, red and bandwidth required will be from 500kb up to black system (secure and non-secure) and 1 or even 2MB. Astrium has developed the some routers to run IP over the network. SHF Satellite Communications Onboard The reduced crews on OPVs also means that Terminal for Patrol Ships (SCOTPatrol), which there is less chance of a SATCOM specialist was launched in March 2011. It is a thirdbeing on board, so it needs to have a generation system developed from earlier simple graphics-based user interface for the incarnations, and has been reduced operators. Although SCOTPatrol cannot offer in weight from 300 to full connectivity to available networks, it still
II SIZE MATTERS The size of an OPV means that it is not possible to fit a standard 300-800kg SATCOM system, including dishes and antenna, to the top mast, as it will reduce the ships stability. Below deck, there is also limited space for cabinets and terminals. Existing commercial SATCOM options cannot offer guaranteed services when competing users all try to access the system, and the bandwidth on offer (64-128kb) can only support email and limited voice communications. With the range of sensors available on warships, maritime patrol aircraft, satellites, unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, as
SATCOM
provides two-thirds the capability of a full system, including Skynet network access.
Effective C2 is vital in counter-piracy operations, but the limited size of patrol ships means that conventional communications equipment cannot be installed. Tim Fish discusses the downsized versions suitable for such a role.
navigation and blind pilotage; weapon direction and control; asset management and aircraft control functions for Link 16-capable vessels; support for web browser facilities for non-real time data from third-party subsystems; and onboard training facilities. The three-screen multi-function consoles have a label plan display in the centre, with a right-hand screen for totes and data entry, and a general display on the left that can also be used for third-party applications. Whitefield said that CMS-1 is not just a combat system but an information system as well. The amount of information has exploded beyond even the level that we were looking at ten to 15 years ago, he explained. The Link system, more bandwidth availability and introduction of the CEC [cooperative engagement capability] will eventually provide near-real-time sharing of data between military assets. II NEW ROLES Naval assets in counter-piracy are doing a traditional surface warfare role, thus making it important to maintain a clear and accurate surface picture, and there is an increase in information that is available for this across the spectrum. Therefore, it is important to maximise a ships sensors and find new roles for them, such as the closer integration of optical fire control systems and CMS,
On board naval vessels, the challenge is to manage the higher levels of information and data management that come from improved II USING THE FORCE access to military networks and the ability In the US, Raytheon has been developing to move larger amounts of data from more sources. Giles Whitefield, head of business the Navy Multiband Terminal (NMT), which development for naval systems at BAE is a system of submarine, shore-based and Systems Insyte, told DB that C2 systems shipboard communications terminals for are now more integrated, the SATCOM component of the COTS technology is being USNs transformational $1.4 implemented and there is billion FORCEnet concept. It less intervention from offers bandwidth efficiency personnel in data analysis. in naval information Operators are presented networks, and will provide with simple decisions and the USN with advanced do not have to sift through extremely high-frequency (AEHF) vast amounts of information. It is waveforms, a global broadcast about being able to process system and X- and KaThe EOS 500 provides both more data and provide better band services. tracking and surveillance. information to allow the In December 2011, (Photo: Saab) operator to make better Raytheon announced that decisions and faster, he explained. NMT had demonstrated interoperable BAE Systems produces the Combat communications using the AEHF satellites Management System (CMS)-1, which extended data rate waveform, moving data provides a range of planning tools, including: more than five times faster than previous EHF full situational awareness; threat evaluation systems. The company will field 308 AEHF and weapon assignment; hardNMT terminals to US armed services. Scott and soft-kill coordination; kill Whatmough, VP of Raytheon Network assessment and re-planning; Centric Systems Integrated Communication Systems, said: This increased capability will give the navy more mission flexibility and significantly increased capacity to provide protected voice, data and video communications supporting strategic and tactical missions.
Counter-piracy missions require a compact, flexible and reliable C2 infrastructure. (Photo: US DoD) www.digital-battlespace.com
providing high-performance thermal imaging and surveillance capabilities useful for asymmetric operations. The capabilities of larger warships and smaller ones are beginning to overlap as the latter are fitted with more COTS technology and an improved sensor outfit, allowing a tactical picture approaching that of a major warship. Increased computer power and cheaper COTS technology have allowed C2 systems to be scaled down for this purpose. In partnership with Marine Electronic Systems, BAE Systems Insyte has fitted the RNs Falkland Islands OPV, HMS Clyde, with a single console that is also used on the Type 45 destroyer, and this offers intelligence capabilities not previously seen on the bridge of RN OPVs. Auxiliaries such as HMS Argus, which are being used in more frontline roles, have been equipped with four consoles the Type 45 destroyers have 26 and the Queen Elizabethclass carriers will have 40. This evolution is expected to continue in the Type 26 frigates under an assessment phase that seeks to reduce the hardware footprint further by using a blade server configuration and a shared network infrastructure using local area network (LAN) and wireless area network technology. II FUTURE INTEGRATION The trend towards open architecture and COTS equipment to support future growth has been central to the continued development of the Saab 9LV CMS family. Saab has been building on 40 years of experience to deliver increased integration of a ships sensor and weapons payload through the 9LV baseline, utilising the Ceros 200 stabilised optronic and tracking system and EOS 500 smart 3D tracking and surveillance sensor. The latest version is the 9LV Mk 4 system released at Euronaval in 2006. Aluminium cabinets measuring 48cm include anti-vibration shock mounts, EMI/EMC shielding and cooling and anti-condensation arrangements, and house the computer hardware for the system.
C-Raid is a compact version of Termas C-Flex system. (Photo: Terma)
Peter Behrendt, director naval domain at Saab Defence and Security Solutions, told DB: We havent had to change that much in the past 20 years. We have adopted new technologies, but our architecture has supported this growth in the higher data rates, new interfaces and better information. According to Behrendt, most C2 advances have been in the development of sensors and weapons, including more advanced track and plot data at a higher data rate. Standardisation at the physical interfaces has increased and more equipment suppliers are adopting open standards. The latest Saab variant is the 9LV SAT family, which provides a reduced level of capability compared to the full suite, but is suitable for smaller ships that operate assets like rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs). The SAT-S provides a real-time tactical picture to any area of the vessel, including the bridge, command and operations areas, electronic warfare office, aviation planning room and task group planning room. It utilises data from ship and networked sensors to create a synchronised situation picture that can be sent automatically to every linked display. It supports plug-andplay input from sensors such as GPS, the automatic radar plotting aid and automatic identification system (AIS). The SAT-R offers the same tactical picture to small RHIBs using a ruggedised display and touchscreen. Using an onboard tracker, the RHIBs position is relayed to the command ship, and it will receive updated information from the input sensors on the ship to distances over the horizon. 9LV SAT was designed specifically for constabulary tasks, or operations other than war, where we identified a need for situational awareness and asset control boats and aircraft etc, and reporting back to HQ, said Behrendt. It is built on the same technology, and this has been taken forward on an enterprise-wide
licence by the Royal Australian Navy with a prototype developed. Saab also sees trends for some frigatesized, smaller OPV and non-warfighting ships taking on C2 roles over a fleet, whereas before this had been devoted to a dedicated C2 vessel with a large crew. II FLEXIBLE FAMILY Danish manufacturer Terma has built a range of C2 systems based on its scalable C-Flex family. The minimum single console requires only one PC to execute the basic system with GPS, AIS, gyro, navigation radar input and full control of a Scanter surface search radar and designation to FLIR/gun systems. By adding more interface units, LAN switches and servers (Sun or Windows), we have delivered a fully redundant system with 28 operator positions, explained Thomas Blom, VP of naval systems at the company. To support communications, it has a fully integrated functionality for Link 11 and Link 16, including the Link 16 Joint-Range Extension over IP for tactical data over SATCOM. For HQ, there is an interface for ADatP-3 messaging, where a number of functionalities are automated, reducing an operators load and chance of errors. Thales Tacticos system has also been improved for scalability, and the company launched the Compact series at Euronaval in 2008 in order to meet the needs of OPVs conducting operations in EEZs. The first on offer is the Compact Sensor Control System, which provides the OPV with improved situational awareness using radar and AIS to fill in the tactical picture. The other is the Compact Fire Control System that has a tracker to control two guns. Both systems can be linked by Ethernet to the CMS or operate as standalone systems. Commonality with the full Tacticos system has been maintained with similar displays and operator panels, but with a reduced weight and space requirement. DB
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16 COMMUNICATIONS
A recent burst of tactical radio development work by the US Army points towards some parallel development paths for the future, reports Scott R Gourley.
anuarys announcement that elements of the US Armys 75th Ranger Regiment had recently deployed into combat with the General Dynamics C4 Systems AN/PRC-154 Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Handheld Manpack Small Form Fit (HMS) radio and Itronix GD300 wearable computer, served as a notable milestone in the US tactical radio arena. Significantly, this event occurred against a backdrop of parallel work involving both current JTRS elements and potential followons. Taken together, the myriad of activities appears to open the way for a number of emerging developments involving US tactical radios. Some of the opportunities stem from the parallel scenarios of the graceful exit from the four-channel JTRS Ground Mobile Radio (GMR), the ongoing field testing
of a bridge network at recent US Army Network Integration Evaluations (NIEs), and the emerging requirement for a two-channel GMR replacement identified as the Multi-tier Networking Vehicular Radio (MNVR) a draft RfP was released on 4 November 2011 and dubbed Maneuver by observers desperate for another acronym. II BETTER NAME NEEDED Somebody came up with the name Maneuver, observed Brig Gen Michael Williamson of the Joint Program Executive Office (JPEO) JTRS. Speaking at the recent West 2012 industry symposium, he explained: I absolutely hate that name so as soon as we get a box built Im going to have the name changed. Even more prominently than his opinion of the acronym, Williamson used the event
Without efficient communications at the tactical level, warfighters risk becoming sidelined. (Photo: US DoD)
Gathering the threads

18 COMMUNICATIONS
to explain the significance of some of the parallel threads running through US tactical radios. He began with a historical review of JTRS GMR heritage dating back to the Future Combat Systems (FCS) programme. Under that early planned architecture, the first 15 combat brigades plus all of their supporting units had created a requirement for more than 80,000 GMR radios. With the demise of FCS, however, the requirement dropped to a current estimate of 10,900. The massive drop in quantity resulted in price changes and an additional programme review. The first question that has to be answered [in the review] is from a national defence perspective is there still a requirement for this radio or this capability?Williamson explained. So a bunch of smart people got together, including from the operational side, and came back with the conclusion that there is still a need. Thats the good news. He added: There were some questions, however, about if we had the requirements right. Were there things we should change in the requirements in order to deliver a radio quicker? As a result, there has been a lot of re-wickering of that requirement to include the size, the weight, the power requirements, and the range requirements. So, coming out of [the review process] the DoD said that the army still needs a radio, and go back and restructure the programme, gracefully exit out of the programme that you are in now so that we can continue to reap the benefits. The programme manager will probably close that out in the March-April timeframe under the current [GMR] contract. II SPLIT OFFICE Williamson continued: At the same time, the [programme manager] has essentially split his office up, because we have a directed requirement from the army, saying they want 900 of the new radios as quickly as you can get them to us. So our intent is to
US Army rangers have already deployed with the Rifleman Radio and GD300. (Photo: GD C4S)
take all of the things that we learned in building those GMRs we actually have 200 of those with the army out at White Sands [Missile Range] running these advanced networking waveforms. Two critical elements required for any nearterm solution would be the Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW) and Wideband Network Waveform (WNW), with significant user follow-on interest in others like the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) waveform. Attempting to clarify the frequently confusing nature of the parallel tactical radio activities, Williamson outlined: The first step will be to address that small quantity of roughly 1,000 radios. That will come under a directed requirement. We
will get those out to the army. And while that is happening over these next eight or 12 months we will also start a new programme, because the army wants to go back and acquire those 10,000. Late last year the government released a draft RfP for that new programme dubbed Maneuver. Williamson projected release of the final RfP in February, adding: We will then go back out and do some technical evaluations from the vendors who will offer a solution. Then later, towards the fall timeframe, well do an operational assessment. And that will roll into a source selection. As of late January, JPEO JTRS representatives noted that seven vendors had expressed the capability to meet the MNVR requirements noted in the draft RfP. II ROOM FOR MNVR According to Chris Brady, VP of assured communications for General Dynamics C4 Systems, that company is not only maintaining focus on current programmes like the equipment recently fielded with the 75th Rangers, but also finds itself well positioned to address the emerging MNVR requirement. The reason is that the HMS manpack radio the AN/PRC-155 is already a vehicular two-channel radio and it already
Soldiers get to grips with the AN/PRC-117G wideband tactical radio at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. (Photo: US DoD) www.digital-battlespace.com
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is designed to run the WNW. As a matter of fact, WNW is an objective requirement in the specifications for HMS. So weve always been building to WNW. Its just not a contractual option that was activated. But because we have a box that is capable of doing this we have gone ahead and implemented the waveform on the manpack version ourselves, in preparation for the MNVR competitions and tests. We are very pleased to be able to do that, because there is already a basis of issue for the manpacks to be in a number of army vehicles, he said. So just adding the ability for them to be able to activate WNW on the same hardware is something that I think would be very attractive. The other thing that I would add is that the only demonstrated WNW power amplifiers that were used by GMR were also General Dynamics products from our IDSI power amplifier group, he offered. And we are also able to apply a good deal of the lessons learned in the subtleties of installing high-powered amplifiers that run this rather complex waveform in vehicles.
A vehicle-mounted AN/PRC-152 in a brigade commanders Point of Presence prototype. (Photo: US DoD)
Codan is delivering interoperable systems for mixed use. (Photo: Codan)
He summarised: Bringing all of those assets together, we think we have a very good offering and a very attractive one for the manoeuvre community, because we will already be in production on manpacks for both dismount and vehicular applications. Acknowledging that the draft MNVR requirements did not ask for the MUOS waveform, Brady characterised MUOS as the much-needed follow-on to UHF tactical SATCOM. He continued: Other forms of SATCOM were originally a GMR requirement but are not a requirement for MNVR. If we get to bring the [HMS] manpack into MNVR there is an additional benefit in that you also have a MUOS capability on the same product for over- the-horizon communications in very large numbers both in terms of numbers of subscribers and the bandwidth that each subscriber can simultaneously receive. Another big upside is the ability to network all three of those waveforms between MUOS, WNW and SRW which is an additional asset beyond even what MNVR is asking for. II ON THE BRIDGE Another representative industry leader with obvious interest in MNVR is Harris RF Communications. The company has been extensively involved in recent NIE events, where it has refined a bridge network based on the AN/PRC-117G while also gathering broader expertise in meeting army network and communications requirements. Like many vendors, Harris RF Communications has seen and commented on the US Armys preliminary RfP for the new MNVR, the GMR replacement, acknowledged Dennis Moran, VP of government business
development at the company. We are awaiting issuance of the final RfP and intend to leverage our status as the only company with experience in fielding tactical wideband networking radios. Harris will offer a two-channel system that will allow the army not only to meet but exceed its requirements, he said. It will be based on the wideband Falcon III AN/PRC/VRC-114 radio system, which includes AN/PRC-117G radios and has been deployed to combat environments since 2009. Harris has fielded more than 20,000 AN/PRC-117G radios to US and allied forces. II LEGACY OPTION Moran said that the Harris MNVR system will deliver certified WNW and SRW capabilities, and also provide backward interoperability with more than a million legacy radios already in the field. Were a strong believer in the armys approach to MNVR because it calls for a true NDI [non-development item] solution. We believe our commercial business model is especially conducive to delivering a low-risk, affordable radio system that will meet the armys requirements for cost, availability, fielding and sustainment. Other representative MNVR interest has been expressed in a team established by Northrop Grumman and ITT Exelis. The former leads the team and is offering its two-channel, full-duplex Freedom 350 multi-function radio system, with Exelis supporting radio development, manufacturing, vehicle installation and integration and logistical support services. By joining together, Northrop Grumman and ITT Exelis bring singular depth of experience to the MNVR programme
SATCOM has formed the backbone of tactical communications in recent years. (Photo: US DoD)
21 COMMUNICATIONS
deep experience in designing and delivering multifunctional airborne radios and in the high-volume design and manufacturing of SINCGAR radios, offered Greg Bublitz, director of international business at Northrop Grumman Information Systems. Northrop Grumman and ITT Exelis will provide the US Army with an MNVR that meets the needs of the warfighter with an integrated WNW/SRW/SINCGARS four-channel radio system. Bublitz noted that the industry team is also working in parallel with the System of Systems Integration (SOSI) team (led by the System of Systems Integration Directorate within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) in support of upcoming NIE 13.1 activities, initially at Aberdeen Proving Ground and then transitioning to the field at White Sands in April. He added that the support to JTRS JPEO and SOSI/NIE was concurrent but still somewhat independent. While additional MNVR offerings and teams will be covered in upcoming issues of Digital Battlespace, the characterisation of some efforts as concurrent but still somewhat independent is hardly surprising in light of simultaneous sources sought announcements being generated to support the mandates of the fast-moving NIE and its supporting Agile acquisition process. II CAUSE FOR CONFUSION One clear example of how this process could be outwardly confusing can be seen in the mid-January 2012 sources sought announcement calling for industry to provide additional candidate systems to participate in NIE 13.1, slated for October-November 2012. The first item on the list of identified capability gaps was a Multi-Channel Tactical Radio. Williamson quickly acknowledged the apparent overlap between his MNVR draft RfP and the sources sought gap, explaining: What we are really dealing with is a sync/ time issue. Perfection would have been our RfP language included within that sources sought. The problem was that the cycle time for getting vendors to meet the timeline for
Central Asian cooperation

We have recently won a number of contracts in Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, offered Andrew Sheppard, VP and GM, Americas/ Europe/Middle East/Central Asia operations, for Codan US. And that is on top of our radios being provided to Afghanistans Ministry of the Interior the Afghan National Police. Pointing to more than 15,000 radios fielded into Afghanistan since 2005, Sheppard noted that the companys main effort now lies in the Central Asia region, in addition to stabilisation within Afghanistan. Our assistance is to the US State Department and counter-narcotics operations, where we are providing HF infrastructure where none previously existed. And when youve got borders that are really just mountain passes where there is no effective control, we are providing the infrastructure mechanisms for communications as well as command and control with data systems as well. Sheppard expanded on the challenges of border control in many regions of the world, describing it as a huge problem and adding: Its not just about putting radios on the ground. Another big part of it is power and other aspects of the logistics. Putting radios out there and training is a challenge in itself. But having something that is sustainable requires sustainable power sources. While acknowledging the presence of one or two big players in these regional markets, he asserted the existence of a huge need for simple, affordable, logistics easy radios. those NIEs was a different timeline than ours. What I had asked [the SOSI team] to do, and it didnt work out, was to have it just read: Reference [JPEO JTRS MNVR] RfP. But instead, we decided to do the following. The army has said they want radios that run these advanced networking waveforms WNW and SRW on that [MNVR]. So we have had the GMR doing that in every NIE. According to Sheppard, one Codan advantage involves its status as an Australian company that is subject to Canberras export rules but is not affected by some of the complications and congestion typically associated with the US ITAR environment. If you put a radio out there that has ITAR issues, or one that is difficult to support, or one that is complex to operate, or without flexible power supplies, it may work for the first couple of months, he said. But beyond that it becomes a political headache, where you cant support it. II USER FEEDBACK Thats an area where I think weve been very successful. Weve had a lot of glowing reports back from CENTCOM about our systems in Central Asia. And its not just the affordability of it. Its the long-term life cycle cost of a deployment where these radios do work for the performance periods. Weve had radios out in places like Turkmenistan for three years now, he continued. And its that sort of long-term success that really helps these [international assistance] programmes. In addition to the CENTCOM successes, Sheppard said that Codan has recently extended the business model to AFRICOM in the form of the African Union C3 Information Systems programme and is exploring emerging opportunities with other regional combatant commands. There are a lot of people who are promising that they have got radios that run WNW, he said. Well, if thats the case, were not going to do our formal source selection until a point in the future. But if they can show up [through the sources sought announcements] and start demonstrating that, good for us because I get to see it and we get to have WNW still part of the NIEs. DB
22 COMPUTERS
The defence industry is turning to Wall Street to help find solutions for improving the dissemination of C4ISR information in campaigns, discovers Andrew White.
t would normally be difficult to associate Wall Street with the various asymmetric military campaigns being conducted around the world. However, technology used in the New York Stock Exchange is being primed to help out such operations, as the defence industry looks to improve interoperability in the day-to-day dissemination of C4ISR information. Based on a stocks trading solution, the technology is designed to ensure that data is distributed to server, desktop and mobile applications in order to enable highest possible performance required to integrate both front and back office operations. Comparisons with defence applications are obvious, industry experts have suggested. These include real-time situational awareness and analytics, asset management, continuous security assessment and holistic system-ofsystems management. The benefits that come from managing IT and OT [operational technology] convergence, alignment and integration include optimised business processes, enhanced information for better decisions, reduced costs, lower risks and shortened project timelines, according to technology research specialist Gartner.
The New York Stock Exchange is an unusual benefactor for troops engaged on asymmetric operations. (Photos: US DoD)
Stocking up on ideas
One company participating in this effort is Real-Time Innovations (RTI), which is also involved in US efforts to manage an interoperable network of universal ground control stations (GCS) for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). II LEADING THE WAY According to Curt Schacker, COO of RTI, the transformation to an interoperable open architecture (IOA) began with the government owning integration infrastructure, allowing it to acquire various platforms and applications. As he told Digital Battlespace, the UKs Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) and US Universal Control Segment (UCS) programmes are leading the way. RTIs Connext system, as used by the New York Stock Exchange, allies operational systems and IT systems. You overcome lack of integration power and performance and scalability it bridges the gap, explained Schacker. As an example, he highlighted how such a capability could easily be integrated into the Joint Battle Command (JBC), which he described as having poor performance and lack of maintainability. Designed to track all assets ranging from aircraft down to warfighters on the ground, JBC topped out at 20,000 tracked updates per second, with reliability and uptime challenges, according to Schacker. The US DoDs goal for JBC was to track some 100,000 updates per second. After eight years in development and the use of 21 servers, it emerged that it could only accommodate this number of 20,000. Additionally, he said that the system could only operate for 24 hours before crashing. RTI ran a demonstration on a laptop for the DoD. We got to 50,000 updates per
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second and stopped this was a year ago, asserted Schacker. However, he believes that next-generation technology such as Connext could achieve up to 250,000 upgrades per second. As a network operations centre technical lead on the programme stated: This would not have been possible with any other known technology. II CRITICAL REQUIREMENTS Schacker added: This is about data critical applications and getting the data from where it is produced to where it needs to be. It is a critical functional requirement for all these applications, and if it doesnt happen, it goes into failure mode of some sort or other. Take existing foundation technology and extend that capability by adding an integration product as well as a new flex and a richer set of communications patterns youd
normally see in IT enterprises. By combining those two capabilities, we are able to deliver the first and only edge-to-enterprise real-time SOA [service-orientated architecture] platform this is something the world needs. He continued: There is a real business need behind all this. This is taking system-ofsystems integration and making [sensors] interoperable. This has been our focus for the attention of the government customer and explains how defence procurement agencies can achieve IOA within programmes designed and implemented by different prime contractors. This is the holy grail of defence procurement, albeit a work in progress. At the moment, the UCS working group is tasked to focus purely on GCS. However, the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)
SOA will play an important role in the development of the UKs Scout SV. (Image: GD UK)
remains aware of wider implications across other platforms. As one OSD source explained: This kind of methodology does apply to a lot of systems. FACE [Future Airborne Capability Environment] looks at manned rotorcraft too, and we are going to take what weve done and improve upon it. Outlining how the programme was also working alongside the US Armys Victory initiative an equivalent to the UKs GVA programme the source added: Strategically,
25 COMPUTERS
we can leverage demonstrations across many years. Other services like the army and navy are looking to do their own. The USN just finished their common control station and are developing their own business model, which was demonstrated last year. II INTEROPERABLE INTERFACE Beyond the UCS programme, Spains armed forces are also in the midst of integrating HF radios and communications infrastructure into an IP network computer interface. Sources told DB that the country had mandated a data distribution service as standard for the interoperability of all sensors supplied by industry. All Spanish integrators are now rolling this out and changing systems to an interoperable interface, a source said. This encompasses C2, battle management systems, blue-force
tracking and potentially UAVs. Tactical networks are notoriously difficult to get efficient information across. This reduces the time for a battalion to get information on where deployed units are something which normally takes far too long. At a NATO C3 Agency technology meeting in February, interoperability was discussed at length, DB was informed. One NATO insider said: At NATO, this is the main imperative. The organisation is interested in getting a pulse check in whats happening in the market everybody was pleasantly surprised. Discussions included UCS and GVA, and how NATO could help defence procurement agencies. There is ongoing dialogue, and in some ways, NATO is not used to working with small companies, but primes. It is about working up more direct relationships with NATO.
According to Lockheed Martin, to understand sensor interoperability, one must look at the problem from a data perspective. Mark Grablin, director of the airborne reconnaissance systems division at the company, told DB: Radar, EO/IR, ESM, SIGINT all produce data in different formats, and with interoperability you almost have to start looking at it from a data perspective. II IN THE CLOUDS An active member of various consortia tasked with defining and network functions for the DoD and NATO, Lockheed Martin has been involved in the implementation of tactical cloud architectures. The worldwide web Open Cloud Consortium, to name but one, is concerned with the interoperability of data for cloud architectures, and aims
26 COMPUTERS
to define standards for open systems for more than one manufacturer to be able to contribute to. We then have to adapt those standards for defined requirements, explained Grablin. However, he warned that although companies like Apple had initiated a real-time streaming protocol, it was fundamentally limited to its own products and nothing else. This happened in the late 1990s with military customers, he continued. For example, GCS for airborne platforms efficiently worked with various vehicles, but wider interoperability was not available. Describing how industrial cooperation is becoming easier thanks in particular to documented standards from bodies such as the WorldWideWeb Consortium, he said: Every element of Lockheed Martin is embracing it. The challenge is, with so many different customer sets, how a particular international customer wishes to solve its problem.
The US Armys JBC is put to work by a dismounted warfighter. (Photo: US DoD)
a NATO operation, a UK sensor operating in that C2 environment is able to arrive and export information into a cloud allowing NATO C2 to receive and display it. In essence, the through-movement of worldwide IT standards will allow that to occur but how to maintain security in such an environment is the challenge. II FROM THE GROUND UP Lockheed Martins Airborne Multi-INT Laboratory (AML), for example, was built from the ground up as an interoperable, open-standard server. You can move the sensors in or out by keystrokes not by changing payloads, explained Grablin. With the USN considering migration of its P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft to more of an open-architecture model, he said that AML was mentioned as an example. We have completed multiple demonstrations for military customers, and shown our ability to quickly adapt the system to operate in different environments. Again, referring to a US Army C4ISR exercise, Grablin explained how AML changed configuration in a matter of days in order to receive information from army-defined GCS. In June, Lockheed Martin is expected to participate in Exercise Unified Vision in Norway, where its Dragon Shield system is due to display interoperability with a variety of international control stations. Speaking to DB at the Singapore Airshow in February, it was clear that FLIR is another company that IOA is an important focus for. Confirming how this was in its business roadmap, Rob Kubis, director of airborne product management at the company, described how the IOA market was getting better with every year. The [US] DoD is leading the pack, but a few years ago it was Europe in the lead, he
said, following up by mentioning Australian and Japanese roles in IOA. The former, according to Kubis, was the first country to use high-definition (HD) full-motion video for P-3 aircraft as part of 2001s Operation Falconer in Afghanistan, which saw the platform change mission role for overland flights. With HD, if you get garbage in, you get garbage out this can make application companies look good or bad, he said, referring to the processing, exploitation and dissemination of data in particular. II ALL OR NOTHING Another issue has been the switch from analogue to digital technology. IOA in the analogue age was very simple and quick, continued Kubis. In the digital age, it is easier to get things wrong with it it is an all or nothing situation. Dubbing this threat the damage of digital, he said there was a lot to learn in order to get this right, not only in South-East Asia, but across the globe. If you dont have IOA with the things we connect with, you get a backlog of problems. It plays a huge part in what we do. Kubris described how committees such as the Motion Imagery Standards Board were helping to shape IOA standards. For the step to digital, there was a change in resolution, encoding, decoding and compression, providing huge depth and complexity, he said. This is mandatory today for all DoD purchases for all ISR platforms. South-East Asia continues to lack C4ISR IOA due to constraints associated with ITAR, according to FLIR. South-East Asia is less exposed to [IOA] because of ITAR constraints for newer generation systems, concluded Kubris. But they understand the technology and are moving up pretty quickly. DB
AML is designed to be fully interoperable with any sensor. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
The challenge, according to Grablin, is clear: [It is] the migration of standards themselves. Look at systems such as the [US] Armys Guardrail system which has been in service for 30 years. The challenge of one version to the next is backwards interoperability. SOA for DCGS [Distributed Common Ground System] was designed as a migratable standard. COTS Moores Law made it possible to adapt new standards without changing the architecture completely. However, according to Grablin, the future will see cloud computing taking SOA to the next level a time when during
Speed and agility enable expeditionary forces to adapt to a vast range of environments. Beth Stevenson discusses some of the systems that could make information-sharing faster and more accessible, while reducing the support footprint.
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One step ahead

Expeditionary forces require quick and seamless communications, no matter what the environment. (Photo: US DoD)
s witnessed on recent operations whether they be ground-based in Afghanistan or air-based over Libya expeditionary forces are dealing with a wider variety of operational environments than ever before. The ability to enter a particular theatre, get the job done and exit with as little footprint as possible is a growing requirement, and a range of solutions have been conceived to meet these demands. The key focus is quick, light movements [and] information dominance capabilities, Steve Frith, senior programme manager at Lockheed Martin, told Digital Battlespace, describing how expeditionary deployment is limited and that soldiers must be able to reduce the support footprint, as well as network back-up for systems in the field. The hardware to support the deployment is critical. In this constrained, austere communications environment, you are bringing communications with you. As a result, military and industry are now focusing on actionable intelligence in order to get information to the operator in rigorous conditions as quickly as is required. Its very exciting weve finally come up with a way for the soldier to use this information, Frith said, regarding
Lockheed Martins efforts in developing expeditionary capabilities. The challenge for ground troops is being able to communicate with all the necessary parties. Lockheed Martin is focusing on shared environments and is looking at bringing in intelligence, allowing forward commanders to move to cloud computing and thin clients. The latter refers to a system that relies on other computers in order to carry out its role. These are components of a broader infrastructure, using common interfaces or widgets to share data. II A HELPFUL HAND There is information in the cloud, and you have a number of widgets that allow you to work from a handheld device, like Monax or a laptop, explained Frith. The data is then pulled out of the cloud for dissemination. He claimed that the company is working with the US Army on developing this capability. Monax is the companys handheld mobile communications system that provides persistent 3G broadband in the field and brings information to the forward edge. It is a mature technology an actual product that has two customers within the US, but is awaiting a military decision for deployment.
The companys communications-on-themove (COTM) technology is a key capability for bringing the information to thin clients that are actually fighting the war. COTM is essentially a network in a box that can be used to extend the network at the tactical edge of the battlefield. In August 2011, the company announced that it was developing a miniaturised version, saving on weight and power. It is for brigade-level combat-on-themove, and allows the soldier to reach into the cloud, using the widgets for a small footprint capability.
ITT is currently demonstrating the manpack variant of GNOMAD to potential customers. (Photo: ITT Exelis)
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One of the areas that we are focused on is ISR as a service, said Charles Gulledge, programme manager, strategic programmes C4ISR systems division, at Lockheed Martin. He explained that there is an ISR need and revealed that the company is looking at configuring and deploying ISR on behalf of the customer, which will lower costs. With a normal purchase, capabilities are locked in, but because a speed to operate would be important in an expeditionary environment, customers need to avoid getting into the trap of having yesterdays capability, explained John Beck, business development for integrated intelligence solutions at Lockheed Martin. Gulledge confirmed that Lockheed Martin has entered into an agreement for ISR services, but could not go into detail. Speaking to DB at the Singapore Airshow in February, company officials revealed it is now offering its Dragon ISR solution as a contracted service. The socalled Net Dragon solution is designed to satisfy the immediate needs of customers who require intelligence aircraft or ground systems to support missions for a short period of time. Security budgets are decreasing, yet the demand for ISR remains constant, said Jim Quinn, VP of C4ISR systems at the company. With Net Dragon, we are able to provide the ISR capability customers need without them having to incur the expense of owning the assets. II MARITIME OPTIONS General Dynamics Canada is looking at expeditionary underwater ISR for countermine missions, with the development of its TrailBlazer Sonar. Developed alongside fishing technology specialist Marport, it is based on the companys Hydra sonar that is deployed with the Swedish Navy. It was designed from the start to be a very retractable system, Peter Giles, product manager for underwater ISR at General Dynamics, told DB. Its no obstacle to the hydrodynamics of the ship. The company has developed a mine avoidance and advanced mine classification sonar capability in one, and we think weve developed something unique, with two
capabilities in one sonar and at a lower cost. According to Giles, expeditionary forces do not want to have to stop and stand still: In the expeditionary world, they want the tool at their disposal. TrailBlazer can detect mines from 1km away and identification takes just a few minutes. The alternative would be to deploy unmanned underwater vehicles or dive teams. The operator wants enough range [from the mine] to be able to make an operational decision, Giles explained. TrailBlazer can provide the resolution required to identify the mine, and this classification capability is important for a high operational tempo.
a more robust, more agile radio waveform. Boeing, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman all use ITTs waveform. One offering is SideHat, he continued. Rather than embed an entire new radio, we take advantage of the current footprint. Our value proposition is that instead of the army buying an entirely new radio, we offer an affordable attachment for SINCGARS.The device attaches to the same mount as the SINCGARS, offering a software-defined radio module that costs significantly less than developing a whole new system. It is an independent chassis, but both components are controlled by the same keyboard. It slides right into the tray and pulls power from the SINCGARS tray and GPS from it too, explained Flowers. Taking one minute to put it in, the operators can then do the normal programming its very easy. II HATS OFF During Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) 12.1, which took place at Fort Bliss, Texas, and White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, at the end of last year, one- to four-channel radio options were tested using SideHat, which he described as very successful. From a SideHat standpoint, we were able to range out to approximately 20km, which is very good in comparison to other companies we anticipate being in NIE 13.1 this fall, explained Flowers, stating that the next testing will be a continued and more rigorous evaluation. He also confirmed that ITT spoke to other companies such as General Dynamics, Harris and Northrop Grumman about integrating different systems during the testing, and said that any SRW radio will be able to use SideHat: We had to develop and stabilise the waveform to make sure it was interoperable across industry. SideHat is currently going through the certification process with the National Security Agency, which usually takes 12-18 months. It is then fully blessed by the DoD, which will allow ITT to market it as a certified radio. The company is continuing to test the system in the meantime.
SideHat can be integrated into a SINCGARS tray in minutes. (Photo: ITT Exelis)
A total of 18 months in the making, it is currently at the development stage, and set to enter sea tests this spring. Giles also confirmed that an undisclosed navy is interested in the system. Once we have proven the technology at sea, we will have a transducer that will be much more flexible and suitable for multimissions, he said. ITT Exelis is utilising its currently deployed systems to further expeditionary capabilities. SINCGARS [Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System] is the armys most prolific radio, Ken Flowers, director of business development for networked communications at the company, told DB. There are some 450,000 deployed, and we take advantage of those installed radios. The US DoD wants to offer a Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW), a more powerful solution with ad-hoc networking, Flowers explained, where one radio is a relay and you have sort of a daisy chain effect, adding that it is looking for
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MicroDAGR provides real-time data to warfighters. (Photos: Rockwell Collins)
ITTs Global Network on the Move-Active Distribution (GNOMAD), which has been deployed to Iraq, was also tested in NIE 12.1. The company provided nine systems for the testing: six on Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, two on High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles and one on an Armoured Medical Treatment Vehicle. [GNOMAD] interfaced with almost every radio you can imagine out there, Ross Osborne, senior manager for business development at ITT Exelis, told DB. During NIE 13.1 it will undergo additional testing and the company is aiming to achieve 2013/14 army hardware integration. GNOMAD was developed for targeting an on-the-move requirement within the army, following requirements from Afghanistan and Iraq at combat level. It allows commanders to input into the system, and plan and conduct live operations, which troops were not able to do on the move before, explained Osborne. He said that it can establish infrastructure in an immediate and minimal capacity, with up to four radios plugged into it, and can expand as required for a very cost-effective and scalable solution. The system has been deployed with the US Army 4th Infantry Division in Iraq for some 12 months, with 12 systems in total five in the US and seven in South-East Asia. In addition, ITT Exelis is developing the Microsat Man-Packable Mission Command, which is a manpack variant of GNOMAD currently being demonstrated to potential customers. The company is also looking into a maritime variant. It is understood that thereare several European customers interested in the system, in addition to four to five in the Pacific Rim. II SMALLER AND FASTER In February 2011, Rockwell Collins launched the MicroGRAM GPS receiver that is a smaller,
lightweight version of its Miniature Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver Engine Selective Availability Anti-spoofing Module. Rockwell Collins is currently talking to multiple C4ISR customers, ranging from radios to mini-UAVs to other specialised devices and systems, Al Simon, principal marketing manager at the company, told DB. It is engineered to minimise its footprint and power usage, and has been optimised to allow rapid acquisition of the GPS satellites when power is first supplied to it, according to Rockwell. The company also offers its Defense Advanced GPS Receiver, which provides real-time position, velocity, navigation and timing information to warfighters in all services and mission areas.
MicroGRAM can be installed in mini-UAVs as well as radios.
armed forces. Expeditionary C4ISR directly supports these missions, as well as others, he said. The campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past decade have clearly demanded this capability. Our recently declared national defence strategy and focus on special operations also emphasise this capability. II LIGHTER ON ITS FEET In response to the USMCs Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S) programme, ThalesRaytheonSystems (TRS) set up its expeditionary warfare laboratory in California last year. Weve seen an increased interest in mobile expeditionary,Wayne Scott, programme manager for CAC2S at TRS, told DB. Weve got some great C2 capabilities how do we focus on delivering those capabilities so that a military force can operate rapidly with a reduced footprint? He explained that in Iraq and Afghanistan there was an increased dependency on IT and theres been a huge logistics impact, with soldiers now looking for a reduced logistics footprint. The expeditionary lab aims at not so much innovating C2 capabilities, but packaging them in smaller, lighter packaging for a decreased footprint. It looks at reducing the size and weight of existing systems, with lower power consumption yet the same range of capabilities, although Scott could not go into detail regarding specific platforms. It is not just about the physical dimensions, Scott pointed out, but also developing networkcentric capabilities, including particular data links, for example. As well as working on Raytheons systems, TRS is considering third-party vendors in order to work on platforms for this mission type that the former company does not offer. It is also looking at being able to develop classified systems, because at present it is not certified to do so. If it adheres to ITAR, anything we learn in the lab can potentially be used on an international programme, concluded Scott, confirming that the USN is also looking into a similar programme to the USMCs CAC2S, for which an RfI has been issued. DB
Simon said that the company is working with expeditionary and special operations forces with regard to applying and integrating these products. Typical challenges when working with the expeditionary/ special operations customers include security and unique performance requirements commonly associated with specialised missions, explained Simon. Common implications of enhanced security requirements include increased costs, longer schedules due to slower staffing ramp-ups and/or security clearances. The implications of unique performance requirements include increased costs due to distinctive product configurations and typically low-volume production runs. Simon described these types of missions as very important, and said that counterterrorism, counter-insurgency and irregular warfare remain primary operations of the
ITEC Demonstrating the latest digital

Arguably the most concerning conflict which faces us today cannot be fought physically, but is instead being waged on the World Wide Web. Characterised by ceaseless unpredictability, developments in cyberspace are advancing at an alarmingly rapid rate and it is now acknowledged as the fifth domain of modern warfare. Tackling the immense threat is proving a primary concern shaping the strategy of governments and militaries around the world. Consequentially, the comprehensive implementation of robust training methodologies is acknowledged as essential if we are to successfully secure our systems against this unprecedented attack. ITEC, the internationally acclaimed conference and exhibition focused on military training, education and simulation, provides an ideal platform for a thorough exploration of this increasingly deadly dimension to global conflict. The event will be held 22-24 May at ExCeL, London. For over two decades, ITEC has been recognised as Europes leading arena for the display of significant new training capabilities and the discussion of issues of key importance to the global training community. The event is organised by Clarion Events Ltd in collaboration with the National Training Simulation Association (NTSA) and is hosted annually by a variety of major European cities. Lille, Lausanne, Maastricht, Prague, Brussels, Stockholm and Cologne have all previously been venues, emphasising the internationality of training for military and national security forces.
Training for the digital battlefield

Cyber attack costs British business an estimated 21 billion ($33 billion) a year, including 7.6 billion from industrial espionage, and the UK Government has recently pledged 650 million to protect and counter against these crimes. Reflecting this, Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones, the UK Governments Special Representative to Business for Cyber Security is to deliver the keynote presentation at ITECs first Cyber Security Training and Education Workshop an innovative addition to the event, which will take place during the show, 23-24 May. The rise in digital danger has presented the global military training and simulation community with a unique set of requirements and opportunities for innovation. Responding to this, ITECs cyber workshop will see delegates from the public and private spheres join leading representatives from government, military and the defence industry, as well as eminent figures from across civil industry and academia, to discuss challenges and solutions to a major threat which faces us all. Pioneering cyber security training content will be presented by a series of eminent speakers within five main themes: Policy, Protocol and Plans; Human Capital for Cyber Security; Education and Training for Future Threats; Human Factors and the Insider Threat; and Simulation for Cyber Security. Experts in increasing the capability of communications systems on the cyber battlefield, SCALABLE Network Technologies, has recently been announced as sponsor of the Simulation for Cyber Security session. Responding to the assertion of the UKs National Cyber Security Strategy to build cross-cutting knowledge, skills and capability to underpin all cyber security objectives, cyber training specialists, as well as those already exhibiting at ITEC, will all be encouraged to showcase their cyber security offerings. Across industry, a number of long-standing ITEC exhibitors have identified the need for innovative solutions to this ongoing threat and are currently developing cyber-related products; these include Cassidian, Raytheon, Thales and Finmeccanica. First time exhibitor, QinetiQ, will showcase a number of its newest offerings to the industry, while Israels Elbit Systems is to demonstrate a new Cyber Training Simulator. Camber Corporation, a regular at ITEC, is also showing a Cyber Enhanced Network Training Simulator (CENTS).
Future forum
In addition to tackling the much-publicised threat from cyberspace, the military simulation and training community is charged with providing the most cost-effective and time-efficient solutions to a complex myriad of combat-related challenges. www.itec.co.uk/conference
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
developments in military training and simulation

Transformation is to seek solutions to military requirements as well as continue to improve on the resolution of the military requirement itself. ITEC has been invaluable in this search by providing a venue for information sharing activities.
Uncover the latest military innovation

A unique showcase of the latest innovations for the military simulation and training market, ITEC combines the needs of those who define, influence, procure and implement military training from Europe and beyond. This is evidenced by the steady stream of new participants that will be featuring at this years event, as well as those companies returning after an absence of some years. Training troops to understand and respond to the nuances of a foreign language, while maintaining an awareness of cultural considerations, requires not only sophisticated technology but also significant expertise. Employing a combination of learning and social sciences with its patented technology, Alelo will use ITEC to showcase its unique range of realistic, mission-relevant virtual environments in which learners can practice their communication skills. Endorsed by many thousands of military, governmental and general public users around the world, Alelos products, such as the Virtual Cultural Awareness Trainer and MyEnglish, provide effective performance-oriented training for intercultural competence and world languages. Advanced communications technology will be demonstrated by FreeWave Technologies. The companys range of impressive radio systems, currently in operation with a number of governmental organisations such as the US Department of Defense, can be applied to a variety of roles, including: command and control of unmanned vehicles and robotics; biological and chemical sensing; asset tracking; Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Micro UAV; guided parachutes; and soldier training. The British Armys Directorate of Training will also be using ITEC 2012 to brief industry on its training needs for the coming years. The Service is currently finalising its training strategy and sees ITEC as an ideal opportunity to give industry a clear understanding of the capabilities it is seeking and to learn about affordable new solutions. Specialising in training within the UK defence community, the UK MoDs Defence Centre of Training Support (DCTS) is planning its first appearance at the show. Acknowledging ITECs ability to bring together a broad range of those involved in the research, design and delivery of defence learning technology solutions, Wing Commander David Smith, DCTS SO1 Learning Technologies, confirmed that the Defence Centre of Training Support will be using ITEC 2012 to demonstrate to both industry and the Defence community how the appropriate use of learning technologies can be used as part of innovative blended learning solutions, to ensure that the right training is delivered, to the right people, at the right time, to support operational capability.
Top right and centre: Alelos Virtual Cultural Awareness Trainer Bottom left: CAEs Caesar an example of the innovation on the ITEC exhibition floor Bottom right: Elbit Systems new Cyber Training Simulator
Acknowledged as the foremost forum for the debate, display and discussion of military simulation and training, this years ITEC conference is tailored to offer an expert overview across a wide range of topical issues. Featuring a series of compelling sessions within a strategically themed format, the agenda aims to examine every aspect of current and future training and simulation technology: Addressing the People Dimension; Maintaining the Technological Advantage; Meeting Current and Future Operational Needs; and Designing and Acquiring the Best Training Solutions. NATO, a long-established ally of ITEC, will again demonstrate its support with a strong presence throughout the show. Running a series of workshops focused on Exploiting Commercial Technologies and Games for Use by NATO, Wayne Buck, Training and Simulation analyst, NATO Allied Command Transformation, is also scheduled to chair a revealing session on Simulation as a NATO Capability Development Enabler. Explaining NATOs ongoing commitment to the show, Wayne Buck confirmed: For the past several years, NATO has participated in ITEC because it is the premier simulation and training event in Europe. It attracts the best of industry and government. One of the continuing activities of Allied Command www.itec.co.uk/conference
To register to attend ITEC 2012, visit: www.itec.co.uk/DB
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All along the

With a rise in threats and confusion over defining boundaries, Martin Streetly reports on the current trends and systems available for border protection and homeland security.
King Air platforms are used for a variety of missions, ranging from fire monitoring to interdiction. (Photo: US DoD)
n the 21st century, attention has been increasingly focused on defending borders from what seems to be an ever-expanding range of threats. Alongside traditional border management issues, such as port and airport control, current concerns include terrorist incursions, drug trafficking and illegal economic migration. World events are also forcing the re-definition of exactly what a border is, as agencies attempt to execute some elements of protection at arms length and try to define what the boundaries are between traditional border patrol and securing national assets, such as biomass resources, oil and gas reserves and food.
II SENSING THE THREAT Land border protection ranges from physical barriers (such as the West Bank barrier that is being constructed to separate Israel and the Palestinian territories) to increasingly sophisticated surveillance systems providing threat alerts in real time and incorporating sensor systems such as EO imagers, radars and acoustic and motion sensors. As an example, Thales used the 2012 Singapore Airshow to showcase its Combined Surveillance and Intrusion Detection System (CSIDS) that is designed for both fixed-site protection and border surveillance.
CSIDS incorporates a variety of sensor types (including EO and radar); is capable of intersensor cueing, target tracking and alarm zone/area-of-interest designation; and makes use of a multi-sensor C2 software package that integrates sensor outputs, generates overall and individual sensor displays and provides system control and status data. Overall, CSIDS architecture can control up to 16 radars and 16 EO sensors simultaneously, process up to 320 individual target tracks and be configured as a vehicle-mounted architecture, if required. While CSIDS exemplifies current thinking in the field, it must be stressed that Thales is one of many contractors with an interest.
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watchtower
According to a recent North American Technology and Industrial Base Organizationsponsored survey, no less than 34 companies worldwide are capable of supplying border surveillance architectures, equipment and/or control and communications systems. Alongside mix-and-match solutions, such as CSIDS, Digital Battlespace has also identified forward projection as a growing trend within the border security arena. Such an approach is nowhere better illustrated than by the US defence of its northern and southern land boundaries with Canada and Mexico respectively. As an aside (and while the problems of both drug and human trafficking along the US-Mexico border are most frequently highlighted), relatively light policing of the countrys frontier with Canada has over time provided a conduit for contraband and a means of illegal entry. Again, the events of 9/11 have meant that US borders are now seen in three dimensions, with the sea and air taking on much greater importance as potential venues for terrorist attack. In such an environment, the US Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Air and Marine (OAM) has amassed what in many countries would be considered an air force to detect and track potential threats well beyond the US physical borders. II EYES IN THE SKIES CBP OAM is currently operating a fleet of 25 Cessna 550s; two General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) Guardians; five Predator B unmanned aerial vehicles; seven de Havilland Canada Dash 8 multirole patrol aircraft (MPA); at least 17 Hawker Beechcraft B200s; eight Lockheed Martin P-3 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) variants; eight P-3A/B Long-Range Trackers (LRT); and five Piper PA-42 Customs High Endurance Tracker (CHET) surveillance aircraft to monitor US borders and contiguous air and sea spaces. The five CHETs have a five-hour endurance and are equipped with a variant of the X-band (8-12.5GHz) Northrop Grumman AN/APG-66(V) fire control radar and an L-3 Wescam MX-15 EO sensor. The aircraft are used to intercept targets that are thought to be homeland security or drug-related threats. As their designation suggests, the CBPs eight P-3 LRT platforms (also known as slicks) perform a similar role at longer ranges and are divided into two configurations. The first accounts for four aircraft fitted out with a Raytheon AN/APG-63(V) fire control radar, a FLIR Systems Star Safire EO/IR imaging turret and a long-range Customs Airborne Stabilized Optic System (CASOS) EO sensor. The remaining four second generation LRTs are fitted with an AN/APG-66(V) radar, CASOS provision and an L-3 Wescam MX-20 EO sensor.
CBP operates a fleet of five Predator B UAVs to patrol the US northern and southern land borders. (Photo: GA-ASI) www.digital-battlespace.com
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The organisations eight P-3 AEW&C platforms are nicknamed domes and are equipped with Lockheed Martins AN/APS145 AEW radar. Frequently working in concert with the LRTs, they are described as being a key component of the DHS defence in depth strategy. Elsewhere, a percentage of CBPs 17 B200 King Airs are fitted out with an 8.99.4GHz-band L-3 Communications Electronic Systems APS-504(V)5 surveillance radar and an EO sensor for air interdiction duties, while the seven Dash 8 MPAs carry a mission suite that includes a 9.4-9.8GHz band Raytheon SV-20321 SeaVue surveillance radar, an MX-15 EO sensor turret and ATKs Integrated Sensors and Display System. Continuing the catalogue, the five Predator Bs are equipped with GA-ASIs AN/APY-8 Lynx Block 20 ground moving target indication (GMTI) and synthetic aperture radar, a Raytheon AN/AAS-52 MultiSpectral Targeting System-A (MTS-A) EO/IR imaging system, relay and air traffic control radios and a Ku-band (12.5-18GHz) satellite communications and control link. II COMPLETE COVERAGE The remaining air vehicles are designated as Guardian platforms and differ from their peers in being fitted out with winglets, an Expanded Mission Capability (XMC) variant of Raytheons SeaVue surveillance radar and an enhanced EO/IR sensor, thought to be a variant of Raytheons AN/DAS-1 MTS-B equipment that has been optimised for over-water operations. Most recently, three of the OAM Predators have been stationed at Sierra Vista, Arizona, with the remainder flown out of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Of the two Guardian airframes, one is based at Cocoa Beach, Florida, while the other resides at Corpus Christi, Texas. Finally, the CBPs 25 Cessna 550 interceptors carry a mission suite that includes the AN/APG-66(V) fire control radar and a FLIR sensor that is believed to be Raytheons AN/AAS-36 equipment. Taken together, these 77 airframes allow US forces to both monitor the countrys various land, sea and air boundaries and to push the threat detection envelope well beyond these frontiers.
CBP Cessna 550 interceptors are being upgraded with Selex Galileos Vixen 500E AESA radar. (Photo: CBP)
The CBPs airborne surveillance fleet is being recapitalised. Here, both the slicks and the domes are being progressively re-winged to extend their service lives, while the LRTs are also being retrofitted with the SeaVue XMC radar, in addition to their existing fire control sensors. Elsewhere, CBP has embarked on the first stages of a programme to replace the AN/APG-66(V) radars aboard its Cessna 550s with Selex Galileos Vixen 500E active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar equipment (including a mission management system) and to upgrade their cockpits. If successful in trials, the CBP is known to want to modify all 24 of its Cessna 550s to the new standard. Potentially even more significant is the CBP OAMs King Air 350-based Multirole Enforcement Aircraft (MEA) effort. Intended to replace three existing types of CBP air vehicles (assumed to include the MPAs and King Air B200s), the Sierra Nevada Corporationdeveloped MEA will be capable of ground interdiction, air-to-air intercept and medium-range maritime patrol operations. The aircraft will start life with a mission suite that includes Selex Galileos 8-10GHz-band Seaspray 7500E multimode AESA surveillance radar, an EO/IR sensor (to include laser rangefinding/ illumination, charge-coupled device TV camera, camera spotter scope and IR camera payloads), a line-of-sight SATCOM capability and at least one removable sensor operators console. Desired capabilities for the future include the introduction of a signals intelligence capability and a two-way, over-the-horizon data/imagery transfer link. The first MEA was rolled out on 11 May 2011, and if fully consummated, the complete programme will involve the procurement of 50 aircraft. Alongside a sizeable contingent of CBP airborne surveillance assets, the US border with Mexico and its Gulf coast is home to the USAF Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS), which also seeks to push the detection
envelope beyond the countrys physical border by means of sensor elevation. Serving the US Northern and Southern Commands, as well as the CBP, TARS is designed to detect lowaltitude air threats at stand-off ranges over the US-Mexico land border, the Florida Straits and a section of the Caribbean. II BIGGER PICTURE The network makes use of 275 and 420K aerostats equipped with Lockheed Martins L-band (1-2GHz) L-88 surveillance radar. So equipped, the eight TARS sites (Fort Huachuca and Yuma in Arizona; Deming in New Mexico; Eagle Pass, Marfa and Rio Grande City in Texas; Cudjoe Key in Florida; and Lajas in Puerto Rico) provide surveillance out to ranges of up to 370km. As might be expected, the use of aerostats for border surveillance is not restricted to the US, with India, Israel, Italy, Kuwait and the UAE all identified as having acquired such capabilities. India has procured at least two TCOM 71M aerostats equipped with Israeli EL/M-2083 Aerostat Programmable Radars (APR), while Israel is known to have been a longtime user of aerostats both for air surveillance and as a means of monitoring activity on the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip. Israeli manufacturers Elta Systems and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems (ADS) are
35 ISR
both known to have developed aerostatbased homeland security solutions, with the formers efforts being concentrated on its EL/I-3330 Multi-Payload Aerostat System (MPAS) architecture. Making use of a TCOM 32M aerostat, the baseline MPAS incorporates a GMTI radar and a day/night imaging EO sensor, with the system reporting to an associated ground exploitation station. Capable of remaining on-station for up to four weeks, the MPAS radar offers detection ranges of up to 20km against vehicles when operating at an altitude of 3,300ft. Rafael ADS continues to promote a generic aerostat capability that can accommodate surveillance radars, signals intelligence equipment, EO imagers and communications gear, and which links into a dedicated C2 and operations centre. Such architectures are said to be capable of operating at altitudes of more than 20,000ft and as offering detection ranges of up to 480km. II GOING COASTAL US contractor TCOM is also the source for Italys 32M-based South Adriatic Aerostat Coastal Surveillance (SAACS) system that the countrys navy set up at San Cataldo in southern Italy during 1998. Designed to monitor surface activity in the Adriatic, SAACS incorporated an AN/APG-66SR surveillance radar, an L-3 Communications EO sensor, a General Dynamics URC-200 lineof-sight transceiver, a Northrop Grumman
LTN-92 inertial navigation system and nationally developed software and radar tracking equipment. Kuwait acquired a TCOM 71M aerostatbased low-altitude surveillance system during 2003, and equipped it with a mission suite that incorporates a Northrop Grumman L-band AN/TPS-63 surveillance radar and an ITT Exelis AR-900 electronic support measures package. The UAEs border surveillance capability is built around two architectures designated the Emirates Coastal Defense Aerostat System and the Off-Road Tactical Aerostat System (ORTAS). Of the two, the former employs a TCOM 32M aerostat that is equipped with a maritime surveillance radar, a 30MHz-3GHzband radio repeater and a FLIR Systems EO sensor. FLIR Systems is also the primary sensor supplier for the truck-mounted ORTAS system, which makes use of a TCOM 17M aerostat and is said to be used primarily for border reconnaissance. As these examples show, aerostat solutions are viable as border surveillance tools despite vulnerability to extreme weather conditions. It is thought that the technology developed for the Persistent Ground Surveillance System, Persistent Threat Detection System and the Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment base protection solutions fielded in south-west Asia will in future find a ready market in border surveillance and/or homeland security. II OPTIONALLY MANNED In the longer term, the same is probably true of the new generation of optionally manned surveillance airships such as the Mav6 M1400I Blue Devil 2 and Northrop Grummans longendurance multi-intelligence vehicle that, at the time of writing, were due to be deployed in Afghanistan by the US military. There are several possibilities offered by UAVs as persistent border surveillance tools with CBP already making use of such vehicles. There is little doubt of their utility in the role, but a major stumbling block remains the difficulty of integrating unmanned platforms into civilian airspace.
The Swiss Army is playing a major role in the resolution of such problems through its experience of operating Ranger air vehicles for border patrol, search and rescue and event security patrolling. The service has developed tactics and equipment (including fixed flight ceilings, the ability to operate in Category III weather conditions, and fixed and mobile ground-based sense-and-avoid communications stations) that have facilitated safe UAV operation for almost 13 years. Most recently, Switzerland has announced a programme to make use of an optionally manned, DA42-based Centaur UAV surrogate to further investigate the expansion of UAV operating envelopes.
India has acquired at least two TCOM 71M aerostats equipped with Elta Systems EL/M-2083 APR radar for border surveillance. (Photo: TCOM)
The EUs Frontex border security agency has experimented with an optionally manned DA42 analogue as a persistent ISR tool. (Photo: Lockheed Martin) www.digital-battlespace.com
Diamonds DA42 has also formed the basis of an optionally manned ISR technology demonstration for the EU Frontex border security agency. Undertaken during 2011, the DA42 analogue was used to stream video from an onboard FLIR Systems EO/IR sensor to assess how rapidly ISR tools could be deployed while maintaining linkage with existing infrastructure. During the course of the effort, US contractor Lockheed Martin provided integration, link and processing services, and at the time of publication was awaiting Frontexs decision on whether to proceed with an operational capability based on the demonstration that would provide a level of persistent surveillance along the EUs sea frontier with North Africa. DB
36 FINAL WORD
Andrew White talks to Giles Peeters of Track24 Defence about the future applications of machine-to-machine communication and how global militaries are starting to realise its potential.
Rise of the machines

uture military strategy will encompass increased levels of machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, as leaps in technology benefit modern-day warfare in austere and remote environments. So says Giles Peeters, defence sector director at blue force tracking (BFT) specialist Track24 Defence. According to Peeters, it is now imperative for militaries to further explore the increased capability that M2M communications can offer: It is impossible to ignore the efficiencies, added intelligence and protection with which you can provide your military assets by sending basic short-burst data [SBD] transmissions over an affordable, secure commercial satellite network. As a consequence, we expect to see commercial satellite carriers releasing military-specific, tailor-made data plans, which consider military SBD applications. The commercial sector is, as usual, well advanced in its use of the technology, as it leads to huge capital and operational savings but were starting to see global militaries realise M2M potential as well. Describing how M2M had been developed in the commercial world, Peeters outlined how such technology was unsuitable on the 21st-century battlefield, where reliable and secure GSM and GPRS networks can be few and far between.
II FUTURE TRANSMISSIONS Modern day M2M military applications no longer rely on telemetry, but now utilise public networks, he continued. The affordability of commercial satellite networks means militaries are turning to beyond-lineof-sight, low-cost, SBD transmissions, and associated small, powerful and robust SATCOM hardware, as opposed to just limited line-of-sight VHF/UHF transmissions. In fact, its looking increasingly likely that satellite SBD will be key to future military M2M communications.
During service with the UK RAF, Peeters highlighted how the MoD had its work cut out to ensure all frontline troops had operational personal role radios. Dedicated satellite channels were in high demand, he explained. This meant that the use of the SATCOM channels for anything other than primary communications with a frontline regiment, operating hundreds of miles from base out of range of radio transmissions and beyond-line-of-sight, was so impractical it was virtually impossible. However, he said that today a proliferation of carriers offering affordable, reliable and most importantly secure SBD transmissions has opened up the possibilities for all military communications applications, including M2M-optimised BFT. Interestingly though, militaries are now approaching us with requests to use the powerful data handling capability of the BFT system to add M2M functionality to their existing systems within their command post [CP], explained Peeters. While my experience in Joint Helicopter Command suggests that a natural use for M2M comms would be telemetry on deployed choppers reporting on altitude, speed levels, damage taken, fuel levels and ammunition status the queries were receiving now highlight how far battlefield M2M thinking has come. In fact, M2M intelligence gathering seems to be gaining popularity, as more militaries familiarise themselves with what is available in terms of SBD SATCOM. He said an undisclosed unit had approached the company with plans to use a small, very low-megapixel camera to send tiny images of no more than 10kb back to the CP. The camera is triggered when a laser tripwire is broken, and the satellite device is small and robust enough to just sit in a nearby tree in sleep mode, only becoming active when it needs to send a photo down the pipe, he added. You could argue that such a low-resolution image holds no value, but
even at this level its possible to garner information on troop numbers, types of vehicle and armaments all of which could prove to be invaluable intelligence. Using commercial SBD to enhance the CP also has added security advantages. While digital radio frequencies are encrypted to prevent interception and information leaks, it is still possible for the enemy to monitor the airwaves and establish when and where youre transmitting from the potential blocking or disruption of the VHF/UHF/HF signal then becomes a security issue. SATCOM provides what is essentially silent, undetectable data comms, which are virtually impossible to block and decipher. II NO LIMITS According to Peeters, the possibilities for intelligence gathering to complement CPs are almost limitless. Imagine if you could automatically redirect drones on a battlefield to the most serious enemy engagement? he continued. Time taken to assess numbers and threat levels could be collapsed by a simple piece of software, and automatic redeployment planning could take place almost instantly. Finally, drawing comparisons with the health sector, he concluded: M2M is already used to monitor the hearts of patients with pacemakers and automate minor electric pulses to correct errant coronary palpitations. Imagine if the same could be done with troops; initially it wouldnt have to be complex, just a measurement of blood pressure or heart rate for example, sent to the CP, but it could very well be the difference between life, death and mission success or failure. DB
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Volume 4 Number 2 March/April 2012

ONE STEP AHEAD

SCALING DOWN SATCOM

Challenging environments. On-the-move communications. Real-time solutions.

8 Grounds for change

27 One step ahead

COMMAND AND CONTROL

12 Scaling down SATCOM

32 All along the watchtower

16 Gathering the threads

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Volume 4 Number 2 | March/April 2012 | DIGITAL BATTLESPACE

is Not a Viable ConOps.

The cyber switchover?

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Volume 4 Number 2 | March/April 2012 | DIGITAL BATTLESPACE

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US Army anticipates network technology baseline

while NIE searches for SRW solution

Volume 4 Number 2 | March/April 2012 | DIGITAL BATTLESPACE

TRACER goes operational with SOUTHCOM

Raytheon wins DARPA communications contract