PDF [1.1 MB] - KSPG AG

More documents

Recommendations

Info

The armed forces use a wide range of systems, standards and technologies. Just as different military services employ different systems, different nations apply a variety of communication systems. Open interfaces or standards – as common in the computer industry – are rarely found. Nonetheless, the call for interoperability Newsline Open Community advocates open interfaces for defence technology A strong community of competitors tos Origin, Diehl BGT Defence, CONET, CSC Ploenzke, ESG, IBM Deutschland, Thales Defence Deutschland, Unilog Systems and Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH (RDE) are all founding members of the Open Community. Although partly competitors on the market, the member companies of the community have agreed to implement interoperability on the basis of recognized, open commercial and military standards using an intra-company approach. The reason for this is the reorientation of the Bundeswehr which is also demanding improved internal communication. Whereas manufacturers used to have a strong interest in protecting their own developments, the task on hand now is to perform joint and combined operations. For the industry, this calls for closer coordination between the companies and their systems. The Open Community has no intention of becoming an official association but continues to be an open working group, as underlined by Joachim Dierig, the responsible spokesman at Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH: “Members of our community will naturally continue to compete with one another in future bids, besides an amalgamation would be ruled out for anti-trust reasons. Nonetheless, we need to stop protecting our technologies simply to win follow-on contracts.” Dierig be- lieves this will initially apply to systems that are already fielded due to the growing international demands being made on the Bundeswehr. Today, units are mixed across all branches of the military and need to be able to communicate on lower command levels as well. “Communication channels calling for the involvement of higher command levels such as brigades, divisions or corps are no longer acceptable,” says Dierig. Moreover, multinational missions are increasingly important. Whereas combat units used to be homogenous – for instance tank battalions – the very real difficulty encountered today is that, for instance, a German vehicle cannot communicate with a French vehicle. In reality, this can mean that information from a German unit has to be passed on to combat post level. Only then is it possible to exchange information either orally or in writing with allied units in order to transmit the information via their echelons and communications 12 is becoming very real in the light of multinational and combined forces. Open Community, an interest group actively supported by the Rheinmetall DeTec group, aims to support related efforts to have open standards for military system architectures. The Bundeswehr and other armed forces stand to benefit from the powerful technical solutions that are based on common standards and therefore network-enabled. The Open Community promotes open interfaces for defence applications. systems through to the field – a hugely complicated procedure. “Lots of the systems introduced with the armed forces do not have open interfaces. It hardly makes sense to use know-how protection as an excuse for this nowadays,” remarks Dierig. In the longer term, it would be shortsighted of a company to think that this will generate further orders. In future, the Open Community will also employ open standards that are familiar from the civilian sector. Technologies which definitely require protection will then have to be agreed on higher levels like NATO, says Dierig. Software Defined Radio is one concept along this route: Just like video recorders can be reproduced on PCs nowadays, special software can be used to reproduce a radio unit on the computer in an armored vehicle. The advantage is that the appropriate configuration of the radio set can be called up and simulated virtually by a software program to suit the requirements of the nations participating in a military unit. Communication between different radio units and their technologies can thus be adapted to different missions. As a supplier of command and control systems, Rheinmetall Defence Electronics is also affected by these developments. “If the radio interface is not open, data behind it cannot be communicated. This is what we want to achieve with the Open Community.” In future, a (Continued on page 13) Composing: frei-stil/Photos: IMZBw-Bildarchiv
(Continued from page 12) tank crew might no longer enter a reconnoitered enemy vehicle on its map by hand and then radio this information to other units, but might enter this into a computer so that the message automatically appears online on the systems of the entire unit and command post. The key word is transparency for all those in a combined unit. Experiments and simulations are being carried out to see how far existing systems can be networked by opening and adapting the interfaces. Additionally, the capabilities of new systems can be examined at an early stage. This principle known as Concept Development and Experimentation (CDE) makes it possible to explore different Newsline An attack on a terrorist camp is one particularly realistic scenario for NEC. One conceivable solution in future could be that the reconnaissance data is automatically transmitted by data link to a frigate sailing near the coastline. The frigate could send the information to an unmanned KZO reconnaissance air vehicle which can deliver more accurate images of a potential target. Again by data link, the UAV can then provide the data to all other units at the same time and online. Based on the evaluation in the operational headquarters, a decision as to whether the target should be engaged could then be reached very quickly. Open Community advocates open interfaces for defence technology A strong community of competitors SLS used to protect Pope Benedict XVI Düsseldorf/Cologne. Today, the detection of counter-observation and enemy sniper activities is essential for the protection of sensitive buildings and sites, VIP-protection, police operations and military operations. Even in areas that are not conflict-ridden, snipers with long-range rifles, antitank missiles and handheld air defence missiles all over the world represent a real threat to VIPs, build- possibilities before investing more money. For instance, this is how the Bundeswehr started the experimental series Common Umbrella. The Open Community prepared the relevant concept proposals for this purpose. In the words of Dierig: “We can tell very quickly whether the networkcapability of introduced systems can be lastingly improved or whether a new system has the desired capabilities simply by checking the scenarios.” One central issue will be to adapt existing older systems. This makes sense ings, sites and forces so that it is absolutely vital to localize the threat before the first round is fired. In times of terrorism, VIP-protection and protection of sensitive sites have top priority. A terrorist threat is nearly always preceded by an observation – the identification of such hazards well in advance gives the required advantage over the enemy. Rheinmetall’s Sniper Locating System (SLS) offers exactly this advantage providing new and reliable ways of detecting snipers before the first shot is fired by using the SLS in com- 13 – on an international level, too. Many standards are promoted by the US market and the NCOIC (Network Centric Operations Industry Consortium) of which Rheinmetall Defence is a member. Dierig emphasizes: “The Open Community has given us in Germany and throughout Europe the chance to carry our weight.” This also leaves room for creativity. Although open architectures mean that present-day competitors can bid against us on orders which used to be protected by our own developments, this should not stop related efforts. Dierig: “After all, there is always the chance that we could progress even further technically – if we cooperate more closely, even with our competitors.” Detlev Karg bination with established technologies. Optical devices can be localized inconspicuously by actively scanning with a laser system integrated in a handheld binocular. Secure and inconspicuous detection of optical devices saves lives. Rheinmetall’s SLS is already being used in Germany and the Netherlands and is, for instance, applied as a protective measure during major events. The SLS was part of the comprehensive security plan implemented during Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Cologne for the World Youth Day 2005. Composing: Thorsten Ohmes/RDE
Page 1 and 2: Appealing The Kolbenschmidt Pierbur
Page 3 and 4: Newsline Appealing IAA exhibits wit
Page 5 and 6: Photos (2): Airbus Industrie telero
Page 7 and 8: Rheinmetall in Düsseldorf and has
Page 9 and 10: Newsline WELL POISED: The Kolbensch
Page 11: Newsline Kolbenschmidt Pierburg in
Page 15 and 16: Bremen. Interoperability is crucial
Page 17 and 18: The new EOD Cutlass, representing t

PDF [1.1 MB] - KSPG AG

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?