NITEWORKS MOD/INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHED FOR TESTING NETWORKED WARFARE

BAE Systems welcomed Lord Bach, Minister for Defence Procurement to Farnborough today to officially launch NITEworks - a joint MoD/Industry partnership for exploring networked warfare.

The partnership is intended to contribute to the evolution of an integrated sensor-to-shooter network that processes relevant, timely and accurate information to commanders and decision makers.

Lord Bach said, "NITEworks will play a key role in realising the vision of a truly network enabled capability outlined in the new chapter to the strategic defence review.�

NITEworks is now fully operational and conducting initial work packages aimed at better integrating existing MoD assets. These initial work packages revolve around integrated direction and co-ordination of indirect fire in the land battle, time-sensitive targeting within the entire battlespace, and integrating work for Special Forces.

NITEworks will use BAE Systems state-of-the-art Battlespace Management Evaluation Centre, separately developed to pursue network-enabled solutions, as a key tool for integrating systems, visualising concepts and experimenting in real time.

"This centre is linked to the MoD's joint command and battlespace management demonstrator at Portsdown West and other BAE Systems and partner sites. It will provide a hub for experimentation that will help optimise the UK's progress towards a fully integrated Network Enabled Capability,� said Mike Turner, Chief Executive, BAE Systems.

BAE Systems is providing overall industry leadership for the NITEworks partnership, supported by QinetiQ and will be engaging industry partners and associates to help deliver the NEC vision.