Can Open Standards for C4ISR Data Collaboration be Achieved?

Lower budgets resulting in smaller troops has lead to joint C4ISR being the most crucial asset in global MoDs reserve. NATO’s ideal is to establish open standards of data collaboration where all agencies information can be combined in one database to be accessed from all NATO nations.

Sounds simple …

Yet with mounting efforts to make this ideal a reality – the biggest hurdle appears to be getting agencies to move away from a system of complete secrecy. During a recent interview at the Future ISR conference, LT Gen (ret) Johan Kihl stated: “We are not used to sharing information. On the agencies we are used to building walls and not sharing information.”

An apt description to describe not only different countries policies but even agencies all operating within that country.

Peter Grogan, Head of C4ISR UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) - British Defence Staff Washington, said recently: “Few nations will have enough sovereign collect assets; hence the need to 'share' but those who have invested in their own collect platforms will understandably want those on task supporting their own troops, not someone else's!”

Bradley command post vehicle BCP

Bradley tracked command post vehicle BCP

BAE Systems

The Bradley BCP is a Command Post tracked armoured vehicle based on the chasis of the armoured infantry fighting vehicle Bradley. The Bradley BCP is manufactured and marketed by BAE Systems land and Armaments. The Bradley is the finest combat vehicle system in the world. Its firepower, mobility and survivability keeps our soldiers safe and able to dominate the enemy no matter the terrain, temperature or threat. The Bradley’s proven durability and commonality of design reduces the logistics burden, while enhancing battlefield performance to meet a variety of mission requirements in close-combat, urban scenarios and open-combat situations. The Bradley Command Post (BCP) features the latest digitized electronics for optimum situational awareness, network connectivity and communication within the Heavy Brigade Combat Team. The Bradley BCP provides an unmatched capability for Brigade and above Commanders to move to the decisive point on the battlefield under all conditions.

Italy Expands Airborne C4ISR Capabilities

The ministries of defense Israel and Italy have signed today two agreements formalizing several defense acquisition packages worth over two billion US$. The Government-to-Govenrment (G2G) agreements include the selling 30 Alenia Aermacchi M346 advanced jet trainers to Israel, as part of a €1.1 billion arms transfer. As part of the buyback agreement, the Italian MOD acquired two G550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft from IAI. Under a parallel transaction, the Italian company Telespazio has signed IAI as a main subcontractor providing a reconnaissance satellite to be operated by the Italian company for the Itailain MOD. The total value of the Italian acquisition is US$932 million.
The G550 CAEW is currently operational with the Israel and Singapore Air Forces. Once the deal is signed, the Italian Air Force will become the third operator of this type.
The aircraft is equipped with four-panel bi-spectral AESA radar, IFF and passive electronic support measures (ESM) covering 360 degrees, a NATO compatible communications system developed by Elta and SELEX-Elsag, and a central computing system. The aircraft is also equipped with self-protection system (SPS) utilizing passive and active sensors and countermeasure systems. The system relays all data to the ground operations center in real time, in addition, a crew of six operators can operate the systems on a stand-alone mission.

Ageon ISR - Real-time Video, Operations & Intelligence data for anyone, anywhere...