Memorandum from The Boeing Company

 

 

In response to the House of Commons Defence Committee's request for evidence regarding its inquiry into the contribution of ISTAR to operations, The Boeing Company is pleased to submit the following evidence. In this document we provide information about: The Boeing Company; Boeing Defence UK Ltd; Boeing's ISTAR platforms and domain knowledge, including Network Enabled Capability, ScanEagle, E-3D AWACS, Apache AH MK1 and a concluding statement.

 

General information

 

1. Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft, with capabilities in rotorcraft, electronic and defence systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. The company's reach extends to customers in 145 countries around the world and Boeing is the number one U.S. exporter in terms of sales. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., Boeing employs more than 160,000 people in more than 70 countries.

 

2. Boeing has a long standing relationship with the UK dating back almost 70 years and today the UK remains a critically important market for the company, as a supplier base and a source of technology partners. Boeing's annual spend in the aerospace industry supports thousands of jobs around the UK, in the process generating intellectual property and facilitating exports.

 

3. Boeing typically sources more from the UK than from any other country in the world, except the USA. In 2005, the company bought more than $1billion of services and materials from around 300 UK suppliers. There are currently more than 600 Boeing UK employees, in locations from Perth to Gosport.

 

4. The Boeing Company also has an extensive network of industrial and academic partners and suppliers across the UK. Boeing works with a number of Universities in the UK and has established multi-year collaborative research and technology relationships with several including Cambridge, Cranfield, Southampton and Sheffield.

 

Boeing Defence UK Ltd.

 

5. A subsidiary of The Boeing Company and a business unit of Boeing's Integrated Defence Systems, Boeing Defence UK Ltd currently has employees at 20 locations throughout the UK supporting Ministry of Defence (MoD) and U.S. military programmes. Boeing Defence UK is strengthening its ability to accommodate future business growth as it continues its alignment with the MoD's Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) which calls for delivery of UK military capability through the development of UK-based expertise and technology.

 

6. Boeing Defence UK is positioned to support the through-life system-of-systems programme management to complex defence programmes. Along with engineering and integration, as an integrator, Boeing Defence UK delivers through-life capability and through-life technology management, as well as alliance development and supply chain management.

 

7. One such way Boeing Defence UK is delivering capability is through the company's Analysis, Modelling & Simulation facility, The Portal, located in Farnborough with partner QinetiQ. The Portal enables future military hardware and software solutions to be assessed in a variety of operational environments. Comprised of personnel from Boeing Defence UK and QinetiQ, The Portal is tasked with providing a robust experimental architecture including a realistic scenario, detailed mission briefs and, most importantly, a rigorous analysis plan.

 

8. Delivery is a cornerstone of business for Boeing Defence UK. Boeing's extensive capabilities can be seen in the variety of platforms utilised by the UK armed forces, enhancing operational effectiveness. From the C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft and the heavy-lift capability of the Chinook, to the Apache AH MK1 attack helicopter, Boeing platforms and the services provided to support these and other platforms, are making a difference to the frontline.

 

Network Enabled Capability

 

9. Boeing as a system-of-systems integrator has vast expertise in coalescing sensors and advanced communications technologies to link soldiers with both manned and unmanned ground and air platforms and sensors. In order to amplify operational effect, soldiers on the frontline can now be linked to a wide range of weapons, sensors, and information systems by means of mobile networks that enable unprecedented levels of interoperability.

 

10. Boeing embeds Network Enabled Capability (NEC) into the core of all its capabilities world-wide. Boeing believes that NEC offers commanders the decisive advantage through timely exploitation of information and intelligence that enhances operational effectiveness on the battlefield. Implementation of NEC is through the coherent and progressive development of defence equipment that includes software, processes, structures and individual and collective training. Analysis, Modelling, Simulation and Experimentation is becoming increasingly well recognized as a vital component in helping the UK's armed forces understand the complexity of integrating the ISTAR process - Collection, Process and Dissemination - and associated equipment. The Portal facility in Farnborough, is a collaborative project between Boeing and QinetiQ that combines the necessary skills and tools to help the commander understand available courses of action. The power of the network for increasing capability is well known however, Boeing's platforms are able to work effectively within the network, but also importantly they can deliver effective combat power in a stand alone manner. With that in mind the following paragraphs will, in accordance with the scope of the inquiry, outline Boeing's platforms currently delivering military capability.

 

ScanEagle

 

11. Boeing and its subsidiary the Insitu Group developed and built a low-cost, long-endurance autonomous unmanned vehicle, called ScanEagle. ScanEagle is based on Insitu's Seascan miniature robotic aircraft and draws on Boeing's systems integration, communications and payload technologies. ScanEagle's standard payload includes a stabilised electro-optical camera that allows easy real time tracking of stationary and moving targets. With the USMC ScanEagle has flown many thousands of hours providing persistent low-altitude reconnaissance that delivers a coherent intelligence picture over some of the world's most complex operational theatres.

 

12. The ScanEagle system also has been used to support the MoD's Joint UAV Experimentation Programme (JUEP), through an industry team that includes Thales, QinetiQ and Boeing. During trials conducted off the coast of Scotland, ScanEagle was successfully controlled from a Royal Navy warship, proving its ability to support maritime as well as land based operations.

 

E-3D AWACS

 

13. The E-3D Sentry, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), based at RAF Waddington, has been in service with the RAF since the late 1980's and remains today an important component of the ISTAR triad, that additionally includes the Sentinel R1 along with the Nimrod R1. The fleet of seven E-3Ds perform airborne and naval surveillance, command and control (C2) as well as communications functions.

 

14. The UK E-3Ds were produced in the AWACS standard configuration, with some system improvements, and are powered by GE/SNECMA CFM-56-2 high-efficiency, turbofan engines. Enhancements added to meet the United Kingdom's unique mission requirements include an enhanced maritime radar capability, a probe refuelling system to augment the existing boom receptacle for in-flight refuelling, a digital recorder for mission audio transmissions, improved radio equipment and United Kingdom provided Electronic Support Measures (ESM), for passive listening and detection capability.

 

Apache AH MK1

 

15. The Apache has been in service with the MoD for over four years and is making a major contribution to operations in Afghanistan. The aircraft's systems have the ability to take part in networked operations as well supporting troops on the ground in a close air support role.

 

16. The aircraft can operate in all weathers, day or night and can detect, classify and prioritise up to 256 potential targets at a time. Apart from the distinctive 'Longbow' mast-mounted radar, the aircraft is equipped with a 127x magnification TV system, 36x magnification thermal imaging, and 18x magnification direct view optics. Apache Longbow can carry 16 Hell-fire 'fire-and-forget' anti-armour missiles, 76 2.75in rockets and a 30mm chain gun. The latest Apaches are able to control ISTAR assets such as tactical UAVs from within the cockpit.

 

 

Multi-Mission Capabilities

 

17. Boeing's platforms are synonymous with multi mission capabilities and in the maritime surveillance and control domain, the P-8A Poseidon, combines long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. Capable of broad-area maritime and littoral operations, the P-8A will influence how the U.S. Navy's maritime patrol and reconnaissance forces train, operate and deploy. On board P-8A, all sensors contribute to a single fused tactical situation display, which is then shared over both military standard and internet protocol data links, allowing for seamless delivery of information amongst U.S. and coalition forces.

 

18. Boeing's team is developing the P-8A Poseidon for the U.S. Navy. The U.S. Navy plans to purchase 108 P-8As, with initial operational capability scheduled for 2013. In January 2009 Boeing was selected to provide eight P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the Indian navy. India is the first international customer for the P-8 and interest has been expressed by many countries.

 

Conclusion

 

19. This submission has sought to provide information on a range of Boeing ISTAR programmes and platforms. Boeing is committed to further developing ISTAR capabilities and is developing technologies on-shore in the UK through its own endeavour and also in collaboration with industry partners.

 

19 June 2009