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Bremen. Interoperability is crucial to the success of
modern-day armed forces. The challenge now is to develop
new capabilities by networking individual military
services. New mission scenarios such as peacekeeping
missions demand such new capabilities
through networked communication, capabilities that
are having a decisive effect on force transformation.
The armed forces of the USA and Nato are currently being
restructured and re-equipped within the framework
Newsline
RDE in Bremen uses NEC experimental environment to test new capabilities
Combined and networked operations
n an experimental NEC environment
Rheinmetall Defence Electronics
GmbH (RDE) of Bremen is
testing how the interoperation of
very different systems could work.
Mission scenarios in which more
extensively automated processes
support the communication between
sensor and weapon systems are being
developed and tried out. At present, it
is often necessary to transfer the data
from various systems manually because
the system interfaces are incompatible.
Network-enabled systems will
help overcome such incompatibilities
in communication.
An attack on a terrorist camp is one
particularly realistic scenario for Network
Enabled Capabilities. One conceivable
solution in future could be that
the reconnaissance data – possibly
coming from an AWACS aircraft – 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 because all the information is
already available to all the stations.
Similarly, air surveillance could be
achieved by interlinking airborne and
ground reconnaissance functions in order
to transmit an up-to-date tactical
image to all systems and stations involved
so that an air defence post can
then engage an approaching airborne
target, again largely based on automated
processes. The open architecture of
interfaces including those from other
manufacturers is crucial to the success
of such scenarios.
Communication in a network of this
type can be demonstrated in such an
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of the force transformation process. In future, armed
forces will operate multi-nationally and in combined
arms, meaning that the armies, navies and air forces
of various nations will increasingly conduct combined
operations in a network. Special new capabilities – socalled
Network Enabled Capabilities (NEC) – play a
critical role in this context: at every echelon sensors,
effectors as well as C3I and support systems will be woven
into a network via an appropriate IT architecture.
experiment and in another much more
sophisticated environment: In this
case, the self-propelled howitzer M109
A2, the Tares combat drone, the Fennek
reconnaissance vehicle with the
observation and reconnaissance
equipment and the unmanned KZO reconnaissance
air vehicle are interlinked.
Additionally, RDE’s TacSi tactical simulation
system (providing the necessary
virtual real-time simulation and a
realistic environment) has been connected.
Like in real life, this shows vehicle
positions, speeds, reconnoitered
targets and weapon effects – in a combined
network of the type to be employed
in future. The experimental environment
is used to identify deficits
and obstacles and to demonstrate the
capabilities of such a configuration.
The results of such experiments are
taken into account for the design of
network systems that will support the
transformation of forces.
Composing: Thorsten Ohmes/RDE