JETTS ACHIEVES CRITICAL DESIGN REVIEW
By Julian Nettlefold, Editor, BATTLESPACE
The UK’s Joint Effects Tactical Target System (JETTS) BISA (Battlefield Information Systems Application) programme is expected to pass its Critical Design Review in the next two months, George McFarlane Raytheon Systems Limited JETTS Business Development Director, told BATTLESPASCE editor, Julian Nettlefold
The Assessment Phase will end in February 2007, Main Gate is expected in October 2006 with Design and Maintenance Phase (D&M) slated for February 2007 – December 2026. The total contract value could exceed £100m. A Full Operating Capability will be achieved in four incremental packages until the last is declared operational in March 2015. Three consortia: LogicaCMG, AMS and Raytheon: received concept development phase contracts. LogicaCMG was the prime contractor for the Fire Control (FC) BISA awarded in 2002. Raytheon won the award and formed a tem that includes EDS, GDUK, SCISYS, SCS and Raytheon E/BMS.
If the Raytheon Team fulfils all the requirements in bringing the system up to its full required capability the contract will not be competed.
JETTS requirements
The programme enables joint effect delivery, providing a greater capability over a larger area with less manpower and resources. It will support a manoeuvreist approach to operations that exploits information age opportunities in the land battle.
The timetable to complete land tactical targeting will be reduced with JETTS. A reduced delivery system and weapon utilization to service more targets will contribute further. JETTS will increase the combat effects by fusing the functions of a number of Land CBM applications [such as] ComBAT, G2 ISTAR and other land BISAs thus reducing response times, getting inside the enemies decision cycle and achieving surprise – all good things.
JETTS will impact upon and optimise a number of battlefield functions via better synchronisation, enabling optimal effects to be achieved within a given timeframe. These functions are achieved by pulling from areas such as: air manoeuvre, indirect fire, naval fires, air interdiction, CAS, information operations, offensive Electronic Warfare and air defence.
As part of the implementation of the JETTS programme a dedicated BATTLELAB has been built at Warminster. “The BATTLELAB enables the JETTS team to integrate with other arms of the Army and its overseas allies through a networked capability,” McFarlane told BATTLESPACE.
Embedded training is an integral part of JETTS. As an intuitive, role based HCI (Human Computer Interface), it will be used to improve resource management and lead to a consequent reduction in manpower and staffing requirements. JETTS requires an embedded individual, team and collective training capability incorporating system validation, mission rehearsal and wargaming. It will have a training mode and the capability to toggle backwards and forwards from the training mode to the operational mode – which will be running behind it. Collective synthetic training facilities will also support and represent JETTS and its effects.
In supporting indirect fires, JETTS will arguably become the Offensive Support Group (OSG) commander’s function-specific BMS. Jetts WILL Draw from Joint Level Applications and capabilities to provide its targeted functionality, in particular to enable battle/airspace deconfliction.
A number of C4I systems will host JETTS over its lifetime, these will include JOCS and BOWMAN in particular. The programme will utilise communications provided by these systems. Initial integration will be on to Land CBM (Command and Battlespace Management) infrastructure, but after 2010 JETTS will operate over an enhanced, network enabled system.
Each HQ will employ a targeting cycle tailored to its organisation and battlefield role, according to the particular mission and the operational situation. JETTS must be flexible and responsive enough to accommodate th