01 Dec 06. The French armaments directorate (DGA) is launching the complete restructuring of the information and communication systems of the Paris Strategy Centre, a project known by the abbreviation OE SIC PSP. The associated contract worth about €70m has been awarded to EADS Defence & Security Systems and THALES as well as to their partners INEO and Cegelec and covers the implementation of a programme for remodelling the information and communication systems of the French High Command of the Paris Strategy Centre (PSP).
Under the prime contractorship of the Observation, Telecommunication and Information Programmes Office (SPOTI), this project is destined for the General Staff of the French Armed Forces (EMA) and Directorate for Military Intelligence (DRM) in their capacities as definers of requirements and end users. The project is due to be realized over six years, with a potential five-year contract extension for maintenance.
The PSP system will be deployed on the Ilot Saint-Germain (ISG) in Paris and have about 2,000 users. It will also be used in the DRM at Creil. The task of the PSP system comprises, on the one hand, refurbishment and extension of the network infrastructure of the Ilot Saint-German (protection against risks and installation of new networks to cope with multiple security levels) and, on the other hand, a remodelling of the information system all with the aim of optimizing the data exchange flow and enabling a new approach to the ways in which staff work together and information is distributed.
The users will be officers of the General Staff, members of military intelligence and allied officers acting within the scope of joint operations. The new system will offer a combined and open command centre for the military and the secret services and be capable of implementing an Information Management (IM) policy that promotes the transmission of information and operational efficiency.
The PSP system, the purpose of which is to replace the current French Armed Forces Information and Command System (SICA), will have to fit in with the other ongoing operations launched by the Ministry of Defence relating to convergence and interoperability. In addition, the PSP system will meet the new EMA requirements arising in the course of reorganization, notably by speeding the distribution of information up to the classification Secret while strictly maintaining security.
The PSP system will enable France to supply a joint staff OHQ (operational headquarters), thus meeting the aims of the European Union. From 2007 on, the new system will provide a highly reconfigurable network architecture and enable the command centre of the PSP to have an initial capacity level at its disposal that will promote cooperation using a modernized and attractive information system that synergizes with the existing one.
From 2010 on, a second capacity level with a unified information system will be brought into service, which will enable the data flow between the general staff, military intelligence and the allied countries to grow and the performance of the tailored applications answering the special operational needs to be increased. This will be achieved by following the “base” logic initiated within the frame of the complete restructuring of the ground forces information and communication systems (OE SIC Terre).