QinetiQ2009-02-05 15:28:14
QinetiQ part of winning team for MOD contract to improve situational awareness in the battlespace
UK solution will connect and correlate multiple blue-force data sources in the same battlespace to improve the combat effectiveness of UK forces
QinetiQ, in partnership with General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited and Rockwell Collins, have won a competition for a £3 million contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to develop the Joint Data Network Combat Identification Server Technical Demonstrator.
The Combat Identification Server (CIDS) requirement will contribute to improving tactical situational awareness (SA) for UK forces involved in the delivery and control of indirect and direct fires to land operations; it will also assist in improving SA for forces working together on other joint fires operations. The CIDS will provide military commanders and pilots with rapid and timely access to accurate near real-time force tracking and location information, improving mission effectiveness through increased accuracy and tempo of operations and assisting in reducing incidences of fratricide.
The CIDS will correlate blue-force tracking information from 15 different network sources including Link-16, Bowman and UK asset tracking systems as well as coalition network sources, and then, on receipt of requests, make it available to joint fires assets and Close Air Support (CAS)/Close Combat Air (CCA) aircraft. CIDS will use Link-16, Variable Message Format (VMF) and AFAPD networks, and eventually other tactical networks to redistribute blue-force tracking information. The Technical Demonstrator Programme's (TDP) capabilities will be tested against realistic CAS and Forward Air Controller (FAC) engagement scenarios.
The programme will be managed by the Tactical Data Links (TDL) Integrated Product Team and will feed in to the Joint Data Network (JDN) Backbone programme, which focuses on linking tactical networks to support joint and coalition war fighting.
Work is due to commence in February 2009 and complete in June 2010. Prime contractor General Dynamics UK will lead on systems engineering and integration activity; Rockwell Collins' UK subsidiary on CIDS software development; and QinetiQ on the trials and demonstration activity, data fusion and provision of multiple-level security devices. The CIDS will use both General Dynamics UK's NetLink multi-link tactical gateway and Rockwell Collins' Rosetta Technology® multi-link gateway to provide connectivity to the various tactical networks. All development and integration work will be conducted within the UK.
UK solution will connect and correlate multiple blue-force data sources in the same battlespace to improve the combat effectiveness of UK forces
QinetiQ, in partnership with General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited and Rockwell Collins, have won a competition for a £3 million contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to develop the Joint Data Network Combat Identification Server Technical Demonstrator.
The Combat Identification Server (CIDS) requirement will contribute to improving tactical situational awareness (SA) for UK forces involved in the delivery and control of indirect and direct fires to land operations; it will also assist in improving SA for forces working together on other joint fires operations. The CIDS will provide military commanders and pilots with rapid and timely access to accurate near real-time force tracking and location information, improving mission effectiveness through increased accuracy and tempo of operations and assisting in reducing incidences of fratricide.
The CIDS will correlate blue-force tracking information from 15 different network sources including Link-16, Bowman and UK asset tracking systems as well as coalition network sources, and then, on receipt of requests, make it available to joint fires assets and Close Air Support (CAS)/Close Combat Air (CCA) aircraft. CIDS will use Link-16, Variable Message Format (VMF) and AFAPD networks, and eventually other tactical networks to redistribute blue-force tracking information. The Technical Demonstrator Programme's (TDP) capabilities will be tested against realistic CAS and Forward Air Controller (FAC) engagement scenarios.
The programme will be managed by the Tactical Data Links (TDL) Integrated Product Team and will feed in to the Joint Data Network (JDN) Backbone programme, which focuses on linking tactical networks to support joint and coalition war fighting.
Work is due to commence in February 2009 and complete in June 2010. Prime contractor General Dynamics UK will lead on systems engineering and integration activity; Rockwell Collins' UK subsidiary on CIDS software development; and QinetiQ on the trials and demonstration activity, data fusion and provision of multiple-level security devices. The CIDS will use both General Dynamics UK's NetLink multi-link tactical gateway and Rockwell Collins' Rosetta Technology® multi-link gateway to provide connectivity to the various tactical networks. All development and integration work will be conducted within the UK.
For more information contact:
Cody Technology Park
Room G069, Building A 7
Cody Technology Park, Ively Road
FARNBOROUGH
Hampshire
GU14 0LX
United Kingdom
Tel: +44(0)8700 100 942