BAE SYSTEMS AND LOGICA TEAM WIN FOAS C4ISTAR STUDY CONTRACT
19 Sep 02. Teams from BAE SYSTEMS and Logica, (as reported earlier in BATTLESPACE, 19 Aug 02. ), which includes Raytheon Systems and QinetiQ have each been awarded a contract worth £700,000 by the UK’s Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) to develop the definition of the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Information/Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting Acquisition and Reconnaissance (C4ISTAR) architecture for the Future Offensive Air System (FOAS) programme.
FOAS will supply the UK with a significantly expanded long-range offensive air capability to replace that currently provided by the Tornado GR4. The programme is addressing a number of current and future platforms, weapon systems and capabilities that need to be harnessed and integrated into the wider battlespace, in order to achieve best results. This study will understand and analyse the role that C4ISTAR systems and architectures will contribute to enabling a Network Enabled Capability approach to satisfying the FOAS requirements.
Commenting on the award, Kevin Gorman, Director, Logica Space and Defence Division said, “This is a significant win for Logica and our team, which builds upon our extensive C4ISTAR capability. We look forward to working together with the Ministry of Defence in developing the necessary capability to enable future offensive air operations to be conducted within a network centric environment”.
Recognising the breadth of skills required to deliver integrated C4ISTAR architectures, BAE SYSTEMS has formed a broad-based team focused on delivering the study requirements and capable of implementing solutions in the longer term.
The FOAS Team within Air Systems New Business group will work collaboratively with the C4ISR Business Unit within BAE SYSTEMS, who will lead and discharge this element of the FOAS activity. This has been an early opportunity for the Air Systems and C4ISR Business Units to demonstrate the potential of an integrated approach in the field of C4I and ISTAR that will be required to ensure a successful programme.
BAE SYSTEMS in partnership with EDS Defence, AMS, Lockheed Martin, Aerosystems International, Northrop Grumman IT Europe Limited, Systems Consultants Services Ltd., apama, The Royal Military College of Science, MBDA and Astrium. Collectively, this strong international team fully understands C4ISTAR architectures, air and weapon systems and capabilities combined with commercial sector capability and culture, specifically in the key domains of information management and communications. The team will build on the extensive knowledge gained by BAE SYSTEMS during previous FOAS concept engineering studies.
Commenting on the award Mark Kane, Managing Director Air Systems New Business for BAE SYSTEMS, said: “The integrated development of C4I and ISTAR is central to the success of the FOAS solution. In addition to being a force multiplier, it will provide those in the battlespace with the Network Enhanced Capability to find and classify targets, while remaining under the positive control of decision-makers, and being able to confirm the achievement of the required mission. Bringing the combined strengths of the Air Systems and C4ISR Groups within BAE SYSTEMS to bear on this study should ensure that C4ISTAR concepts remain focused on real operational issues and reflect likely FOAS solution constraints.”
Phil Blundell, Group Managing Director C4ISR for BAE SYSTEMS, added “An effective C4ISTAR architecture is a critical enabler for the use of modern weapon systems, enhancing the precision attack capabilities of platforms such as the Typhoon, JSF/F-35, current and next generation cruise missiles, and any future combat UAVs. FOAS will be central to the UK’s future network centric operations in a strike environment and we look forward to working with the DPA to developing the optimum C4ISTAR solutions to support its success.”
Jonathan Lyle, FOAS Integ