Memorandum from Thales
INTRODUCTION
1. Thales is a global business that operates
in aerospace, defence and security markets. We are a world leader
in Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance
(ISTAR) systems, covering a broad range of capabilities from space
surveillance, unmanned air vehicle based systems, airborne radar
systems (eg Nimrod MRA4 and Sea King Mk7), electronic intelligence
systems to tactical land systems (eg man-portable radars, handheld
and vehicle mounted cameras and communications devices). These
capabilities led to the competitive selection of Thales as the
Prime Contractor for the UK's WATCHKEEPER programme, which is
currently the largest tactical ISTAR unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
programme in Europe.
2. This submission is based on the experience
that Thales has developed in supplying ISTAR assets to the UK
and overseas. We also draw on significant operational experience
of providing ISTAR as a service to the military in both Iraq and
Afghanistan. In addition to our technical expertise, in recent
years Thales has also worked closely with both the Capability
Area (ISTAR) and with MoD's Defence Equipment & Support to
help to mature the ISTAR doctrine for the Direct, Collect, Process
& Disseminate (DCPD) areas. This has often involved the use
of Thales simulated environments to refine the efficient and coordinated
use of a variety of ISTAR feeds in each of these functions.
3. Thales supplies the MoD with a wide variety
of ISTAR systems across all military domains, which has given
us a unique perspective on the requirements of different military
customers. Our experience as prime contractor and systems integrator
on major ISTAR programmes, including WATCHKEEPER, has required
us to develop a particular expertise in integrating information
from a range of ISTAR assets. The right mix and quality of ISTAR
collection assets certainly remains very important. But in our
experience, increasingly it is the ability to fuse information
together from different ISTAR collection assets, with sufficient
speed and accuracy to support real-time decision-making, which
provides the critical battle-winning capability.
4. Thales is very proud to support the UK
forces on current operations, through the timely delivery of new
capabilities and through our rapid response to new requirements
raised through the Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR) process.
We continue to develop our ISTAR assets and to improve the support
that we give intelligence analysts in exploiting existing ISTAR
capabilities. The threat faced by our armed forces is continually
evolving and we must continually develop our ISTAR capabilities,
to ensure that they continue to receive the best possible protection.
SUMMARY
5. Every day in Afghanistan, ISTAR capabilities
help the military to win battles and to reduce casualties. For
example, the Thales Hermes 450 UAV based ISTAR system, acquired
as a UOR, has revolutionised the way in which UK Armed Forces
search for and track the enemy. This 24-hour system allows the
early detection and interdiction of enemy threats, leading to
much improved force protection. It is clear that the early visibility
of threats provided by today's ISTAR systems saves lives.
6. The broad similarities in the use of ISTAR
between Iraq and Afghanistan have allowed the military to develop
and to refine the use and integration of ISTAR capabilities. But
ISTAR requirements do not stand still. Technology is continually
being matured that improves the quality, and often quantity, of
ISTAR collection. As the number of systems and quantity of data
increases, so does the need to integrate different feeds together
into a single intelligence picture for human analysis. Innovation
is continually applied to current ISTAR systems to allow the military
to get more out of the systems that are currently deployed. In
addition, as threats evolve this requires a continual evolution
of requirements for future ISTAR systems.
7. In particular in asymmetric conflicts
such as Afghanistan and Iraq, potential threats only appear visually
and electronically on an intermittent and transitory basis. This
means that it is important not just to detect them, but also to
rapidly and securely pass the information to operational units
so that they can respond by tracking or engaging the threat immediately.
8. Consequently, it is important that the
MoD continues to invest in systems that quickly and accurately
cross-reference and analyse the different sources of information
available, and also provides secure communications networks that
can rapidly pass that information and intelligence to those force
elements on the battlefield directly facing the detected threat.
Such investment in integrated ISTAR will ensure that MoD secures
the maximum return from the considerable investment that has already
been made in procuring sophisticated surveillance and reconnaissance
platforms. For many years, Thales has been working with the British
military and with other nations in Afghanistan to improve existing
ISTAR capabilities and to help to make intelligence analysis more
effective by fusing together multiple information and intelligence
sources and then distribute it to the front line.
9. Often, given the nature of current operations,
this support has been provided through UORs. But it is important
to recognise that major equipment programmes are also in development
that will transform the ISTAR capabilities of our Armed Forces.
The WATCHKEEPER ISTAR programme, which we anticipate bringing
into service in 2010, will for the first time provide a comprehensive
network enabled ISTAR capability through the integration of a
sophisticated suite of sensors, communications, imagery exploitation
and dissemination systems. In an excellent example of current
operations informing major equipment programmes, WATCHKEEPER is
building on the lessons learnt from the Hermes 450 programme.
The WATCHKEEPER system will not only provide a significant part
of the deployed UK ISTAR capability, but will also have the capability
to provide the management, exploitation and dissemination of other
ISTAR assets.
10. Thales makes an essential contribution
to the delivery of current operational ISTAR and UAV systems capability.
Thales also supports many of our ISTAR systems using our own people
deployed into the operational theatre. As a result, at any one
time, Thales currently has personnel deployed in Afghanistan,
supporting our equipment and providing Hermes 450 UAV capabilities
to the military as a service. This very serious commitment illustrates
the specialist skills that are required to support ISTAR systems.
It also illustrates how industry is increasingly an integrated
part of military capability and shares in the risk of delivering
ISTAR support to the front line.
What contribution have existing systems in Afghanistan
made to ISTAR capability?
11. Thales provides ISTAR systems to the
MoD in the maritime, land and air domains; these systems have
been extensively been used both in Afghanistan and in support
of Afghanistan missions. Many of these capabilities have been
found additional new roles supporting the specific counter-insurgency
tasks as a result of Thales working very closely with the MoD
to adapt to the updated Tactics, Techniques and Procedures; this
ensures that the users are able to operate our equipment to best
meet operational demands. Whilst the majority of this equipment
was initially procured from the long term Equipment Plan, Thales
has also played a full role in providing new ISTAR capabilities
through the UOR process. In Afghanistan Thales is providing the
following ISTAR capabilities:
Hermes 450 Tactical UAV UOR (Thales
Crawley, Basingstoke and Leicester facilities)
12. In June 2007, Thales was awarded a UOR
contract by the UK MoD to provide UAV systems to support UK forces
on current operations and provide an urgently needed ISTAR capability
for UK forces. This UOR is being fulfilled by Thales through a
highly innovative service provision contract, "ISTAR by the
hour", and is today delivering high-quality imagery, to enable
the delivery of imagery intelligence to the Land Component Commander.
Typical missions are to support convoy surveillance, battle damage
assessment, tracking ground targets, forward reconnaissance and
overwatch of own troop movements.
13. The contract includes the provision of Hermes
450 UAV systems, as well as training of the MoD staff in the use
and maintenance of the system, and the provision of deployed Contractor
Logistic Support (CLS) and programme management services. This
UOR was delivered into service against an aggressive timescale.
The capability has been delivered in several tranches, and Thales'
swift response enabled the first in-theatre delivery to be achieved
on 14 June 2007. First flight was on 20 June 2007 and Initial
Operating Capability (IOC) was declared on 5 July 2007. Since
then the Hermes 450 has been flying regularly in support of operations,
providing persistent ISTAR coverage, delivering very high quality
visual and infra-red imagery, day and night. It has made a considerable
difference to the UK capability enabling persistent surveillance
and targeting. Since entering service in June 2007, the systems
have flown more than 11,000 hours in Afghanistan (and a combined
20,000 operational hours with Iraq), with maximum continuous mission
durations of up to 110 hours; this has been achieved through extremely
high system reliability and availability.
14. The Hermes 450 systems are called upon
to provide consistent and reliable ISTAR coverage over extended
periods, and in-theatre Commanders have highlighted Hermes 450
as delivering truly reliable and outstanding performance for the
UK Armed Forces. The Hermes 450 ISTAR capability allows immediate
and rapid reaction to a threat, with unmatched flexibility and
minimum maintenance to support UK forces in adverse conditions,
eg temperature and terrain. Through a combination of sensors and
persistence, the Hermes 450 system provides day and night support
to all aspects of ISTAR, and has capability in each of the Direct,
Collect, Process and Disseminate areas.
15. Thales is the only UK-based provider
of UAVs currently offering UK ISTAR operational capability. Key
benefits from this Thales system include: rapid entry into service;
a "step increase" in dedicated ISTAR capability; enabling
more efficient war fighting through safer, more timely and clear
situational awareness for active operations and improved force
protection and counter fires leading to reduced numbers of UK
casualties.
Digital Joint Reconnaissance Pod (DJRP) (Thales
Bury St Edmunds facility)
16. The DJRP is performing daily missions
in Afghanistan on the Harrier Fast Jet; currently 85% of all Harrier
missions are ISTAR focussed with the DJRP supporting Current Operations
and Force Protection. This ISTAR requirement is anticipated to
continue as the Tornado aircraft also are to be re-deployed to
this theatre. The DJRP is providing imagery to support collection
requests raised by both the UK and International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF). Additionally the DJRP can respond to ad-hoc tasking
in support of UK interests, including land based forces, troops
in contact and the location of Improvised Explosive Devices. The
DJRP imagery is analysed using the Thales provided Ground Imagery
Exploitation System (GIES); which has recently been upgraded to
analyse imagery from additional MoD sensors.
Sea King Mk7 Airborne Surveillance and Control
(ASaC) (Thales Crawley and Leicester facilities)
17. Building on its success in the Al Faw
Peninsular of Iraq during Operation Telic, the Sea King Mk7 ASaC
has been deployed to Afghanistan to support troops on the ground
through the use of its Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) radar
capability with Thales providing the radar and mission system.
This capability enhances Force Protection by allowing Commanders
and Troops on the ground to be aware of movement in their areas
of interest/responsibility in order to prioritise protection activities.
Catherine Thermal Imager (TI)/Battlegroup Thermal
Imager (BGTI) (Thales Glasgow facility)
18. Through the ESPIRE programme, the Scimitar
Formation Recce vehicle has been upgraded with the Thales third
generation Catherine MegaPixel (MP) Thermal Imager into the vehicle
gunner's sight. The design includes the integration of the Battlegroup
Thermal Imager (BGTI) displays and fire control computer that
enables the upgraded gunner's sight to resemble a BGTI configuration
benefiting from the BGTI support infrastructure. The reliability
and high resolution imagery of the Catherine MP has received plaudits
and is making a significant contribution to surveillance operations,
providing longer range target identification and aiding the identification
of IEDs.
19. Short-term support has involved Thales taking
responsibility for the installation as part of Contractors on
Deployed Operations (CONDO) whilst the longer term support is
being addressed by Thales offering to incorporate the upgraded
ESPIRE (enhanced sight periscope infra red equipment—the
existing thermal imager gunners sight in the Scimitar Formation
Recce vehicle), capabilities into the existing BGTI CLS contract.
Surveillance Target Location Systems (STLS) (Thales
Glasgow facility)
20. Under a UOR, Thales has provided the
Surveillance Target Location System (STLS) for deployment in Afghanistan
in advance of the full Surveillance System & Range Finder
(SSARF) requirement. The system allows troops on the ground to
quickly establish the exact location and distance of enemy forces
and determine the most appropriate and accurate mortar or artillery
firepower to use. The first batch was delivered in January 2008
and immediately deployed in Afghanistan. Usage has grown since
deployment and feedback has been excellent. One user commented:
"The asset provided capable thermal STAR [Surveillance, Target
Acquisition & Reconnaissance] to MFC [Mortar Fire Controllers]
and snipers".
Man-portable Surveillance and Target Acquisition
Radar (MSTAR) (Thales Crawley facility)
21. The Thales MSTAR radar, which is issued
to Battlegroups, provides indicators and warnings of approaching
entities to enhance base and patrol security; the equipment is
ideally suited to covering dead ground/blind spots and areas that
are difficult to patrol. MSTAR is also issued to artillery Forward
Observation Officers for target acquisition.
Nimrod R1 & MR2 (Thales
Crawley and Wells facilities)
22. Thales provides ISTAR capabilities for
both the Nimrod R1 and the MR2, with the Thales provided ISTAR
Mission Support System (MSS) orchestrating a coordination role.
These strategic assets support current operations across all ISTAR
areas with intelligence being disseminated to lower levels than
previously was achievable. ISTAR MSS allows the fusion of information
and intelligence from different sources to allow the best assessment
to be made.
What difference has ISTAR made to the security
of UK deployed troops, for example in reducing the number of IED
casualties?
23. ISTAR enhances the eyes and ears of the soldier
on the ground; the various ISTAR capabilities allow the soldier
to "see further" and to "look into blind spots";
it allows remote surveillance and the ability to covertly follow
activities. The fact that the commanders, troops and intelligence
staffs have access to more information allows better situational
awareness and longer response times—it provides their indicators
and warnings and cues military options. The specific detail of
this question is however for the Ministry of Defence and not industry
to answer, but it is clear from our work with the Ministry and
the deployed users that the following Thales capabilities have
assisted in enhancing security and locating IEDs, leading to reduced
casualties:
Hermes 450 Tactical UAV UOR
24. The Hermes 450, provided by Thales under
the Tactical UAV UOR, is regularly flying in support of Combat
and Force Protection operations, directly providing enhanced and
persistent ISTAR coverage with very high quality visual and IR
imagery, day and night direct in theatre to ground forces. In
the time since it entered service, the Hermes 450 has become an
essential asset in the Land Commanders' ISTAR toolbox enhancing
the security of troops on the ground. The Full Motion Video (FMV)
sensor and its derived intelligence is provided to Headquarters,
deployed commanders and Forward Air Controllers via ground control
stations and Remote Viewing Terminals (RVTs) allowing them to
see and track the enemy and determine patterns of life.
25. The MoD has stated that the quality and utility
of the Hermes 450 Tactical UAV System is far in excess of what
has been available previously and that UAVs are proving to deliver
an absolutely essential battle-winning equipment capability. The
flexibility of the system allows the Users to watch for patterns
in enemy activity and changes to those patterns as indicators
and warnings to expected activities.
26. Despite the very high quality visual
and infra-red imagery working in a congested communications network,
the system allows the MoD Headquarters to communicate with the
Ground Control Station to effect in-flight re-tasking. As a result,
the quality and stability of the sensors provide a unique ISTAR
capability in theatre. Hermes 450 is the FMV "platform of
choice" in Afghanistan and, as a result, additional capability
has been requested by the MoD and will be delivered by Thales.
Sea King Mk7 ASaC
27. Building on its success in the Al Faw
Peninsular of Iraq during Operation Telic to discover watchtowers,
minefields and routes, the Sea King Mark 7 Airborne Surveillance
and Control (ASaC) helicopter has been deployed to Afghanistan
to support troops on the ground through the use of its Ground
Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) Radar capability. This capability
enhances Force Protection by allowing Commanders and Troops on
the Ground to be aware of activity in and around their areas of
responsibility in order to prioritise protection activities. The
Mk7 additionally has the ability to perform a command and control
function and to cue other assets (especially UAVs).
The Thales Digital Joint Reconnaissance Pod (DJRP)
28. The DJRP, deployed under fast jet platforms,[1]
is tasked on a daily basis to image base locations, likely enemy
locations and attack sites and the locations where the Taleban
regularly plant Improvised Explosive Devices; many devices have
been identified and located using this asset in this manner. Thales
has been working with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories
(Dstl) to improve further the use of DJRP imagery in this area
across a number of platforms.
Man-portable Surveillance and Target Acquisition
Radar (MSTAR)
29. The MSTAR, which is issued to Battlegroups,
provides indicators and warnings about approaching entities to
enhance base and patrol security; the equipment is ideally suited
to covering dead ground/blind spots and areas that are difficult
to patrol—reducing the need for soldiers to have to enter
dangerous terrain. MSTAR is also issued to artillery observation
parties for target acquisition aiding in calling both direct-fire
and close air support.
Nimrod R1 & MR2
30. The Thales provided ISTAR capabilities
for both the Nimrod R1 and the MR2 have provided both the Commanders
and the troops on the ground with Indicators and Warnings with
respect to enemy activity; the Thales provided ISTAR Mission Support
System (MSS) has had a major role in orchestrating this support.
These strategic assets have been able to support operations to
much lower levels than previously have been achievable previously
with the intelligence being provided to those with the highest
priority.
To what extent has ISTAR increased the accuracy
of coalition targeting and reduced civilian casualties?
31. Through the collection, processing, exploitation,
analysis and dissemination of accurate and timely information
and intelligence, the ISTAR process integrates capabilities from
Coalition Joint Force Components to provide joint battlespace
awareness. This awareness is essential for the successful planning
and conduct of offensive and defensive operations, whilst minimising
the risks to civilians, and fratricide. ISTAR activities are reducing
the uncertainties in the decision-making process and in determining
the enemy's intentions, as well as details concerning the high-value
targets, which are important inputs to the planning, intelligence
collection and targeting processes.
32. Sensor-to-shooter times are being markedly
compressed and the accuracy of targeting data increased by the
integration of information from space-based, air-breathing and
ground based ISTAR systems. Access to intelligence from coalition
databases and the use of historical data, coupled with cross-cueing
information from collaborative sources and sensors are improving
the precision of geo-location data, and reducing target location
errors. The use of real time FMV for pre-engagement tracking and
post attack battle damage information is enabling accurate decisions
in order to achieve defined objectives. Collocating ISTAR sensor
systems with munitions on the same platform is minimising the
risks of misidentification error during any handover procedures
between the sensor and the shooter. In addition, the joint use
of ISTAR sensors with active targeting systems, (for example imaging
sensors with integrated laser target designation, is eliminating
the risk of targeting error from munition inaccuracies in its
terminal phase.
33. The prevention of collateral damage
is being achieved through an intelligence effort to identify the
civilian infrastructure, within the possible effective weapon
radii. Robust target analysis, comprising laws of armed conflict
compliance, collateral damage estimation, target aim-point and
attack direction selection, is being conducted to ensure the potential
for civilian casualties is eliminated.
34. Current ISTAR systems provided by Thales
and robust MoD practices are contributing to increased targeting
accuracy and the reduced potential for civilian casualties.
To what extent are the right personnel in place,
and trained, to deliver ISTAR in operations?
35. The training needs analysis that Thales
has completed for the many ISTAR systems that we provide highlights
the need for the correct resourcing and training of staff. Thales
considers the complete span of potential resources in these analyses
ranging from military staff through to Contractors Deployed on
Operations (CONDO). The specific detail of this question is best
answered by the MoD, however, it is clear from our work with the
MoD and the deployed users that Thales can highlight the following:
Hermes 450 Tactical UAV UOR & Catherine Thermal
Imager
36. For systems like the Hermes 450 Unmanned
Aerial Vehicle and the Catherine MegaPixel Thermal Imager, Thales
provides joint Military/Thales solutions to ensure that both the
appropriate number of military operators and support contractors
are trained. Thales reviews the training cycle with the user's
training development organisations to ensure that the training
is appropriate, up-to-date and of the correct duration. The system's
Concept of Employment earmarked the roles and responsibilities
of each actor in the system and the training ensures that each
role dovetails in with each other. In order to maximise the response
to MoD, Thales is deploying suitably skilled staff to Afghanistan
to provide both "help desk" support and maintenance;
these CONDO staff work closely with the military users.
WATCHKEEPER (Thales Crawley,
Leicester and Bury St Edmunds facilities)
37. When Watchkeeper comes into service
Thales will ensure that the right personnel are in place and trained
to deliver its full ISTAR capabilities. Experience is a key discriminator
when assessing information to create intelligence assessments
and products. Different levels of training and experience may
bring different and/or wrong answers, additionally the ability
to fuse multiple sources of information and intelligence is more
likely to lead to the correct assessment. It is essential therefore
that correctly trained analysts are provided to support major
and sensitive decisions; examples are targeting and battle damage
assessment.
Tactical Imagery Intelligence Wing (TIW)
38. Thales provides training to the Tactical
Imagery Intelligence Wing, who are the recognised specialists
in Tactical Imagery Analysis using the GIES. The MoD has recognised
that it can improve use of its deployed analytical capabilities
and that analysts need to have access to the available data, and
to this end the MoD has identified a number of small Urgent Operational
Requirements. These upgrades will take the current capability
a small step along the path towards the end-to-end ISTAR capability
that will be provided to the Land Component by WATCHKEEPER.
Thales Battlespace Transformation Centre (BTC)
(Thales Crawley facility)
39. The Thales BTC facility is a key capability,
allowing the evaluation of many aspects of warfare, across all
the Defence Lines of Development (DLODs). The BTC has provided
a significant contribution to the development of Thales' ISTAR
programmes, especially the maturing of the WATCHKEEPER solution
to a complete ISTAR system, with capabilities in each of the DCPD
elements. This will allow the MoD to build an integrated land
ISTAR capability. Thales has provided ISTAR Pre Deployment Training
to several Brigade Headquarters' ISTAR staffs prior to their deployments
to Afghanistan. This involved warfare experiments incorporating
all DCPD elements, but focussed on ISTAR planning, management
and tasking. This training was carried out using a Helmand Province
based synthetic environment to allow the ISTAR staffs to better
understand how to collectively use their ISTAR assets rather than
use them individually.
40. A side benefit of this training was to allow
the staff to gain an understanding of the terrain prior to deployment.
With this facility Thales provides the UK MoD and its Allies with
the ability to experiment concept of operation doctrine, training
needs, best practices and realistic operational scenarios for
ISTAR assets over the MoD's Joint Multi-National Information Assurance
Network. This cooperative and embracing approach with a wide dissemination
of information to all those that need it is key to overall success
in operations.
Have the benefits of Network Enabled Capability
been realised in permitting a greater variety of sensors and weapons
to be available on demand to commanders and troops on the ground?
41. Operations in Afghanistan have benefited
from significant network capabilities, provided over a wide variety
of infrastructures, compared with previous operations. This has
enabled Commanders and troops on the ground to have unprecedented
access to intelligence and ISTAR products from both UK and coalition
sources. While not all of the assets are directly connected to
the infrastructures, operators have developed Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs) to place the information on the correct infrastructure.
Thales has been involved in providing the following NEC benefits:
Hermes 450 Tactical UAV UOR
42. The provision of broadcast services
through Skynet, the in-country networks such as the microwave
link between Camp Bastion & Lashkar Gah and the Thales provided
ISAF wide area network, allow for the dissemination of relatively
large intelligence products—the key problem area remains
with the transmission of large raw data files. The Hermes 450
programme has made excellent use of the communications link between
Camp Bastion and Lashkar Gah to deliver the Full Motion Video
feed from the ground station to the Brigade Commander. As well
as accessing the Hermes 450 full motion video via the groundstation,
frontline troops on the ground can directly access the imagery
feed through Remote Viewing Terminals.
43. Across the theatre, ISAF is working to common
standards for Image Reference Libraries, Intelligence Product
Libraries and Dataservers. As part of this, Thales has provided
imagery storage and retrieval systems compliant with the Coalition
Shared Database standards. Thales programmes such as WATCHKEEPER
and ISTAR MSS are positioned to make the most of NEC once the
networks are fully connected, this will enable their analysts
to reach across systems to pull the best and most up-to-date data
to match their needs.
Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstrator
(CWID)
44. Thales has been demonstrating and de-risking
these standards with the MoD at the Coalition Warrior Interoperability
Demonstrator, where these have been experimented on and the issues
have been highlighted and identified. The intelligence libraries
must interface to and work with each other across defence infrastructures
in order to maximise the benefits of NEC; a key part of this is
the interoperability piece with coalition partners.
WATCHKEEPER
45. The WATCHKEEPER system as a deployed
collection and intelligence processing capability is enabled to
work with both the MoDs tactical and operational infrastructures.
WATCHKEEPER can provide a bridge between these infrastructures
and search and share data and products over both.
Nimrod MR2
46. The Nimrod MR2 has a level of NEC by
means of electronic transfer from the operational area of real
time imagery supported by Thales Wells provided MACAR full motion
video library (for imagery downloaded from the MR2). This capability
has supported Commanders and troops on the Ground through the
dissemination of video to remote viewing terminals.
Sea King Mk7 ASaC
47. Additionally Thales has been working
with the MoD to maximise the amount of intelligence that can be
passed over the Link 16 link from the Sea King Mk 7 (ASaC) to
the recognised maritime picture. The ultimate aim of this work
is to add the intelligence generated by the maritime domain to
the overall joint operational picture and the joint intelligence
picture, especially in littoral operations, through the benefits
of the NEC information infrastructure improvements.
What are the gaps in current ISTAR capabilities?
48. From the experience of Thales operations
in theatre, there are some areas of ISTAR exploitation that the
MoD is continuing to work on and Thales is supporting this ongoing
activity. These areas include the reliable and accurate detection
of a range of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in complex environments,
and ISTAR collection and exploitation across security boundaries.
Thales has recently formed a dedicated Force Protection Business
Unit which will act as a key portal for helping ISTAR to deliver
effective solutions against these new and disruptive threats.
Thales works closely with the Communications-Electronics Security
Group (CESG) to provide suitable cryptographic products and guards
to protect sensitive ISTAR sources, data and products. Thales
is currently also working with CESG to resolve the issues of electronic
working across the security domains within the information assurance
guidelines.
49. In addition ISTAR collection to maintain
persistent covert surveillance (both imagery and signals) which
will require a networked mix of persistent airborne and ground
based systems; Unmanned Air Systems will play an increasingly
important role in this area.
50. WATCHKEEPER will bring an integrated
capability connecting to MoD Information Infrastructures and providing
a network of exploitation tools and imagery databases with the
ability to search and request previously collected imagery. Users
can then decide to use the existing imagery and allow the UAV
system to be made available for other tasks.
51. Thales is working with MoD agencies
to develop solutions for recognised gaps in operational ISTAR
capability. These include:
— Real time reconnaissance and targeting,
through the introduction of high performance data links within
reconnaissance pods and UAVs.
— Enhanced sensor technologies, including
advanced Infra red capability, multi sensor systems and fusion
techniques.
— Improved dissemination of imagery based
intelligence products, over existing tactical communications networks,
increasing situation awareness and supporting collaborative operations.
— Integration of "ISTAR Collectors"
on non ISTAR programmes, ie:
— Starstreak Air Defence Alerting Device
infrared scanner.
— Battlegroup Thermal Imager.
What more needs to be done for the full benefits
of ISTAR to be realised?
52. ISTAR is a support function to Commanders,
and must deliver an accurate and timely "ground truth"
of current and emerging situation. Combined with an educated and
trained staff, this assures the proper context and understanding
and gives the Commander sufficient time to make the right decisions
and take action to achieve the required effects. To deliver this,
ISTAR must not only provide the whom, what, where and when but
also the how and importantly why specific adversaries act in specific
ways. It is intimately linked to Command and Control and when
executed properly provides a predictive capability alerting Commanders
to most likely actions of the enemy and neutrals; remaining ahead
of their decision processes.
53. This process is in operation today, but is
somewhat limited by the ability to integrate in a timely manner
all of the data and information that is present within Defence,
Other Government Departments and Allies' systems. To realise fully
these benefits, a greater degree of sensor and information integration
is required. This will need to adopt more automated assistance
to analysts and supporting tools to better fuse vast amounts of
information from various traditional and non-traditional sources
into actionable intelligence.
54. Another key area that needs to be addressed
is the ability to move sensitive ISTAR data rapidly and seamlessly
across a network between different force elements from all three
Services and our coalition partners. Such data is invariably classified
and requires encryption. Current MoD encryption capabilities (technical
and distribution) are not optimal to meet the increasing demands
for rapid dissemination of ISTAR data. Unless this issue is addressed,
the full benefits of ISTAR and NEC are unlikely to be secured.
55. Delivering many of the benefits of an
end to end ISTAR capability can be technically easy to solve but
commercially difficult to implement under conventional acquisition
approaches. The systems that are required to cooperate to deliver
the improved capability have been procured individually with the
contractor with intellectual property (IP) vested within the supplier
companies.
56. To ensure future operational agility
and the best performance for the MoD will require collaboration
within and between MoD and the providers of the current systems
to work together to develop the first increment of a more open
system of systems and unlock the restraining IP boundaries. An
open ISTAR consortium could collaborate to fix today's problems
and create an open environment for future competition.
57. In addition, the policy on information
assurance and security could be reviewed to establish future evolutions
of requirements and constraints. A growing operational "need
to share" information, with the acceptance of greater risk
will test current policy guidance.
58. The early steps of understanding the
current "as is" situation and planning a route to an
integrated and open ISTAR architecture is underway. Thales believes
that the first increment of the DABINETT programme (providing
the operational and systems architecture to support the UK's ISTAR
in NEC) could be used to build this form of open framework, and
incrementally deliver the operational benefits from March 2012.
To what extent are existing ISTAR systems and
capabilities interoperable with coalition forces?
59. To date, interoperability even with
own forces has been an area diluted to achieve affordability or
timescale, as often interoperability requirements are undeliverable
within the scope of a single project as the other systems have
no reciprocal requirements or budget to uphold their end of the
interoperability "handshake". Implementation of common
standards on interoperability should avoid "air gaps"
and "swivel chair" interfaces. Thales has provided ground
exploitation systems that provide common processing and dissemination
for reconnaissance pods as well as for targeting pods, from different
legacy backgrounds, in order to share intelligence reports and
other end products, utilising NATO interoperability interface
standards.
60. Exercises such as CWID show that technical
interoperability with Coalition forces is feasible if MoD is able
to provide the policy and intent. For CWID 2008, DEC Command Control
Information Infrastructure funded Thales to provide the UK/US
interoperability for the exercise. Exercises such as CWID and
the NATO Multi-sensor Aerospace-ground Joint ISR (intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance) Interoperability Coalition (MAJIIC)
exercise show that industry can collaborate and demonstrate the
interoperability of their systems. These events are key to showing
the interoperability claims made by industrial parties. Also,
it is often neither the ISTAR System nor the process that is at
fault but the infrastructure and policy upon which operation of
the system is mandated. Exercising the target systems within a
suitable interoperability environment brings out these issues
and helps to change often ingrained culture preventing adoption
of new security solutions and processes to achieve the required
interoperability.
61. Thales has recently demonstrated to
MoD integration of capabilities from a number of leading ISTAR
players to prove interoperability between UK systems and the NATO
MAJIIC compliant coalition shared database, as well as a live
search of US resources. The demonstration included search and
retrieval of imagery and intelligence over live Skynet satellite
Information Dissemination System (IDS). Imagery products were
only pulled across the network if the required search criteria
was met; this allowed efficient use of bandwidth. Exploitation
of still images was undertaken on third party software that is
in-service with MoD and video was exploited by Thales FMV tools
from the Watchkeeper programme. On completion of the analytical
task the relevant imagery and imagery derived product would be
stored at the local node and the demander sent a hyperlink when
informed of the completion of their task. The operational demander
could now utilise the library client software, as a means of retrieving
their product.
62. At present, MoD via DG Info, does not
mandate standards for joint or coalition ISTAR interoperability
but the MoD's appetite to do this does appear to be changing.
If MoD wishes to own the ISTAR Architecture, it will need to mandate
a number of open standards to enable future interoperability.
Thales supports this approach and as a strong supporter of the
CWID and the NATO MAJIIC exercises, believes that these would
be good opportunities to explore the implementation of these standards.
What lessons can be drawn from current operations
for developing future capabilities?
63. Current operations have exposed a continued
and enduring need to adapt existing capabilities for application
to asymmetric warfare and for rapid acquisition via UOR of new
capabilities to fill operational gaps. A rapid evolving threat
and greater need to operate within coalition force structures
has also exposed the need to grow Thales capabilities within a
defined end-to-end architecture.
64. A clear lesson from the current operations
is in the need for agility to respond to changing threats. To
deliver this operational tempo demands a mix of acquisition agility
and agility in the development of new ways of working, training
and sustaining capability. The largest contributor to this is
an incremental approach that defines a need and rapidly establishes
a "good enough" initial capability that can be fielded
early and developed forward, or if appropriate replaced with more
suitable future increments. Important to note is the need for
these increments to be capabilities integrated across the Defence
Lines of Development and not merely new items of equipment.
65. To enable a number of ongoing capability
increments to retain interoperability and cohesion, a planned
target architecture is required. This will enable increments to
be developed within well understood boundaries and interfaces.
This will support capability growth in the right directions.
66. The adoption of these lessons for future
capabilities could be realised through an alternative acquisition
approach that establishes the overall architecture and open standards
and then identifies specific capability needs, develops prototypes
or concept capabilities, experiments with these capabilities and
then procures an initial increment for early entry into service.
Future increments will build upon the earlier work and operational
lessons to deliver the evolving capabilities under a through life
capability management process. This will eliminate the mindset
of old "legacy" capabilities and "big bang"
replacements and will encourage a better husbanded capability
and value for Defence approach to achieve agility ahead of emerging
threats. The early establishment of the target open architecture
is key to ensuring success of this approach.
67. Thales sees this approach in action
through the informing of the WATCHKEEPER programme by the successful
operation of the Hermes 450 Tactical UAV UOR. Lessons identified
on current operations are being used by Thales and the MoD to
improve the WATCHKEEPER capability and ensure successful entry
into service to meet the operational demands then pertaining,
rather than those perceived at the contract award. The learning
of lessons and building on the process of capability integration
is already underway, and ensures that WATCHKEEPER a solid platform
for future capability growth as a networked land ISTAR capability.
68. A through life capability approach is
also seen on the Sea King Mk7 ASaC, where six monthly enhancements
are provided through the integrated operational support programme,
with Augusta Westland and Selex, to ensure management of obsolescence
and delivery of the required capabilities. This approach in collaboration
with the user community over many years has enabled the rapid
implementation of the Ground Surveillance Modes that were so successful
in Operation TELIC and will be used to support the protection
of ground troops in the Afghanistan theatre later this year.
22 June 2009
1 85% of Harrier missions support ISTAR requirements. Back
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