Supporting UK and allied interests
These capabilities will also support future multi-domain and forward presence operations such as the US Navy and US Marine Corps’ Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) and Enhanced Expeditionary Advanced Operations (EABO), and international and national task groups to meet the challenges of Anti-Access Area Denial (A2AD) and Command and Control in and Denied or Degraded Environment (C2D2E).
The Royal Navy ‘Protean Force’ concept chimes with the USN DMO; hard to find, independent operating, hard to kill and lethal; a combination of distributed forces integrated to synchronise effects, generate opportunities to surprise, neutralise and overwhelm an adversary, and impose operational dilemmas.
Both concepts have a focus on decision superiority and information advantage, prompting the need for effective and timely C5ISR to generate faster decision making. Deciders, sensors and effectors must be resiliently connected and supported by rapid data processing, exploitation and distribution (PED). Uncrewed systems become a core element of the force operating in high threat environments delivering effect and sensing the environment, consequently reducing the risk to high value mission critical platforms. Ultimately, both recognise the need to be ready to warfight; to surge and aggregate rapidly a force equipped with leading edge technology that is agile and integrated with a volume of fires that will defeat an adversary.
Leonardo Value Proposition
The diagram below (see ‘Maritime Capabilities’ slide) illustrates a RN TG operating in a high threat littoral environment. It retains information advantage through rapid, effective and bandwidth ‘savvy’ long haul and intra TG communications enabled through Smart Information Distribution and Management (S-IDMS) and High Data Rate Line of Sight (HDRLOS). Cognitive bearers access a shared cloud environment where machine speed processing delivers high quality analysed data to decision makers. A strike network connects all platforms; the tactical level through operational via a defence digital backbone and into the strategic level.
FORCE SENSING
The TG utilises a range of sensing capabilities. EO/IR is fitted to all surface platforms, helicopters and UAVs. The Osprey AESA radar can be fitted to a large RUAS as well as helicopters; an ‘Osprey in a suitcase’ solution can be rapidly fitted to smaller surface platforms such as Batch 2 OPV.
These capabilities combined with EO/IR sensors can be used to support Persistent Wide Area Surveillance needs.
Mode 5 IFF has been upgraded to the latest standards across all air platforms, ships and submarines.
FORCE PROTECTION
Air assets are protected with world leading LAIRCM and DIRCM systems (MYSIS) with improvements via the modular air platform protection system (MAPPS). Counter-UAS systems can be fitted to ships to add to organic self-defence capability.
EW Operational Support provides EW mission data that enables systems to operate to their full potential to provide sensing, attack and protection options. It also forms a key part of Intelligence Mission Data for all force elements which underpins full use of capabilities in modern units.
Upgraded launchers and decoys provide ship protection from RF missile threats whilst air assets are fitted with BRITE CLOUD to defeat RF missiles. SPEAR EW provides a vehicle which can be sent deep into adversary airspace to deliver jamming effects.
Counter-UAS systems can be used ashore and afloat to defeat the threat in this littoral environment. All units are fitted with updated Mode 5 IFF.
CAPABILITY DESIGN
Open systems design and Modular Based System Engineering delivers modern capabilities across the operational sphere (command systems, radar, EW, communications and bearers) and enables spectrum sensing and protection. This underpins spectrum control/dominance which is critical to multi-domain integration and exploitation of clouds to increase the decision cycle speed to deliver information and decision advantage. Understanding such capabilities to component level enables digital twin technology to be used to open more detailed understanding that allows quicker repair and return to full operational effectiveness. This technology will assist with exploitation of ‘podularity’ technology as well as Mission Data for Information Advantage. Pull through from TEMPEST technology (Integrated Sensing and Non Kinetic Effect – ISANKE) will provide improvements across areas such as EW, EO, IRCM, communications and integrated mission systems
