Saab connects Army and Navy C4I Systems
Saab Systems in Adelaide has recently completed a Concept Technology Demonstrator (CTD), successfully integrating a number of Australian Defence Force and coalition command and control systems.
CTDs are joint industry / Defence initiatives designed to demonstrate how technology might enhance Defence capability in a previously unexplored manner.
Saab’s Program Manager, Mr Matt Opie reported the successful completion of the ‘C4I Connector’¹ CTD which aimed to integrate the following systems:
a. Army’s main planning system, Battlefield Command Support System (BCSS), |
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b. Army’s ground based air defence Tactical Command and Control System (TaCCS), |
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c. Navy’s ANZAC frigate Combat Management System (9LV CMS), and |
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d. a coalition force’s battle management system. |
The CTD was sponsored by the Department of Defence Capability Development Group and was conducted in close conjunction with the Defence Science Technology Organisation.
“At the heart of the capability is an innovative software tool from Saab in Sweden called the Widely Integrated Systems Environment or WISE. WISE permits the rapid interconnection of military computer systems into a common environment and enables information flows between them regardless of architecture, communication standards and protocols.” Mr Opie said. “WISE is essentially a ‘computer communications protocol converter’.”
By using WISE software to convert protocols, the CTD successfully demonstrated:
1. A naval gunfire mission against an enemy position where a Forward Observer (BCSS) send the target position to an ANZAC frigate (9LV CMS). The BCSS data was converted by WISE software and sent to the ship via the Link 11 communications link so that the ship was able to engage the target automatically. |
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2. The radar detection of an enemy aircraft by the ANZAC ship (9LV CMS) and the forwarding of this track data to all participating ground based air defence units (TaCCS) for engagement by RBS70 missiles. |
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3. Data exchange with a coalition force using a foreign battle management system (Swedish SLB) so that systems of both forces could coordinate data and fire power. |
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4. Inclusion of a training force using a virtual training and simulation environment to demonstrate that personnel in training can collaborate with deployed forces and systems to significantly enhance training. |
Mr Opie concluded, “The CTD successfully demonstrated that WISE enables the interaction of legacy systems to achieve interoperability across the battlefield at minimal cost and effort and improves situational awareness and defence capability.”
“Furthermore, by allowing integration between existing and new systems, the WISE approach saves money by extending the life and capability of current systems.”
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¹ C4I stands for Command, Control, Communications, Computers & Intelligence
For further information, please contact:
Mark Proctor, Marketing Manager Matt Opie, Program Manager
+61 413 893 446 +61 411 455 811
mark.proctor@au.saabgroup.com matthew.opie@au.saabgroup.com
Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.
Saab demonstrated the C4I Connector CTD using the WISE computer communications protocol converter.