Space Industry and Business News  
GD UK, Rockwell And QinetiQ Improve SA In Battlespace

CIDS will use Link-16, Variable Message Format (VMF) and AFAPD networks, and eventually other tactical networks to redistribute blue-force tracking information. The Technical Demonstrator Programme's (TDP) capabilities will be tested against realistic CAS and Forward Air Controller (FAC) engagement scenarios.
by Staff Writers
London, UK (SPX) Feb 10, 2009
General Dynamics United Kingdom, in partnership with Rockwell Collins and QinetiQ, has won a competition for a GBP3 million contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to develop the Joint Data Network Combat Identification Server Technical Demonstrator.

The Combat Identification Server (CIDS) requirement will contribute to improving tactical situational awareness (SA) for UK forces involved in the delivery and control of indirect and direct fires to land operations; it will also assist in improving SA for forces working together on other joint fires operations.

The CIDS will provide military commanders and pilots with rapid and timely access to accurate near real-time force tracking and location information, improving mission effectiveness through increased accuracy and tempo of operations and assisting in reducing incidences of fratricide.

The CIDS will correlate blue-force tracking information from 15 different network sources including Link-16, Bowman and UK asset tracking systems as well as coalition network sources, and then, on receipt of requests, make it available to joint fires assets and Close Air Support (CAS)/Close Combat Air (CCA) aircraft.

CIDS will use Link-16, Variable Message Format (VMF) and AFAPD networks, and eventually other tactical networks to redistribute blue-force tracking information. The Technical Demonstrator Programme's (TDP) capabilities will be tested against realistic CAS and Forward Air Controller (FAC) engagement scenarios.

The programme will be managed by the Tactical Data Links (TDL) Integrated Product Team and will feed in to the Joint Data Network (JDN) Backbone programme, which focuses on linking tactical networks to support joint and coalition war fighting.

Work is due to commence in February 2009 and complete in June 2010. Prime contractor General Dynamics UK will lead on systems engineering and integration activity; Rockwell Collins' UK subsidiary on CIDS software development; and QinetiQ on the trials and demonstration activity, data fusion and provision of multiple-level security devices.

The CIDS will use both General Dynamics UK's NetLink multi-link tactical gateway and Rockwell Collins' Rosetta Technology(r) multi-link gateway to provide connectivity to the various tactical networks. All development and integration work will be conducted within the UK.

Dr Sandy Wilson, President and Managing Director of General Dynamics UK Limited, said "The Combat Identification Server will increase the effectiveness of UK and coalition forces on operations and should help to save lives. We are looking forward to demonstrating our innovative approach in delivering the best solution for the UK MoD with our UK partners. As a significant provider of tactical network solutions, the Company is committed to investing in the future of Networked Enabled Capability with UK (sovereign) solutions."

Related Links
General Dynamics United Kingdom
Military Space News at SpaceWar.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


NKorea Pursuing Space Program
Seoul (AFP) Feb 7, 2009
North Korea on Saturday said it was actively pursuing a space programme, amid reports from US and South Korean officials that Pyongyang is preparing to test fire a long-range missile.







  • Google brings e-books to mobiles
  • SKorea to build top-speed information highway
  • Wireless At WARP speed
  • SPTI-BOLDT Group Argentina Chooses Hughes Broadband Satellite System

  • ISRO Says It Is Not looking At Arianespace As A Competitor
  • Arianespace And Thales Announce Contract With Russian Operator Gazprom
  • New date set for European science satellite
  • Vandenberg Successfully Launches

  • Bank of China extends massive credit to state aircraft maker
  • Shanghai Airlines seeks capital injection
  • China Eastern may take three years to be profitable: chairman
  • First China-assembled Airbus set for May test flight: report

  • Major Test Of Second Advanced EHF MilComms Satellite Underway
  • DTECH Labs Offers Military Customer Sercure Comms
  • Communications And Power Industries Awarded Contract Supporting US Navy's NMT Program
  • Second Wideband Global SATCOM Satellite Shipped To Cape Canaveral

  • GeoEye Announces Start Of Commercial Ops For GeoEye-1 Earth-Imaging Satellite
  • $350-Million Spacecraft - Unload Carefully
  • State-Of-The-Art Grating For Gaia
  • ISRO-Built Satellite Fails After Five Weeks

  • Raytheon Makes Executive Changes In Space Business
  • George Preston Chosen For 2009 Henry Norris Russell Lectureship
  • Stevens New Director Of Communications And Public Outreach For Space Foundation
  • ATK Appoints Blake Larson To Lead Space Systems Group

  • Raytheon Submits Final Proposal For NOAA's Environmental Satellite Ground Segment
  • NOAA-N Prime Environmental Satellite Launched
  • NASA Satellites Capture Sea Surface Heights Around The World
  • NOAA-N Launch Rescheduled

  • Key Patent Obtained For GPS-Driven Utility Asset Management System
  • Map World Forum: A Global Confluence Of Geospatial Thought
  • GIS Software Helps Investigative Reporters And Editors
  • Making Digital Maps More Current And Accurate

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement