21 May 03. LogicaCMG today announced it has signed a multi-million pound contract with the UK MoD to conduct a four-year technology demonstrator programme, which will investigate and demonstrate a broad range of communications-related technologies in support of the Future Offensive Air System (FOAS) programme.
The FOAS programme, which will be moving from concept to assessment phase later this year, will provide the UK with a long-range offensive air capability in succession to the Tornado GR4. The LogicaCMG team will research and demonstrate several key communications technologies related to covert, secure and robust intra-flight data links. These technologies include antennas, networking and data processing. The objective of the programme is to reduce technical risk, increasing Technology Readiness Levels in a platform independent manner, thereby enabling interoperability within a flexible mix of force elements.
Building on its ongoing work with respect to FOAS C4ISTAR concepts and architectures, LogicaCMG has continued its established partnership with QinetiQ and Raytheon to undertake this programme. This successful team has been expanded to include EADS Germany who will provide additional insight into European technology advances. The four companies combine extensive FOAS experience with an independent, wide perspective of the UK/European/US C4ISTAR domains and strong military and commercial communications expertise. Together, the team offers a unique balance of MoD research, commercial technology pull-through and worldwide prime systems integration experience, capable of delivering this challenging demonstration programme.
Commenting on the award, Peter Craig, managing director of Space and Defence at LogicaCMG said, “This win acknowledges the successes that have been achieved working on the FOAS programme to date. It demonstrates our ability to win major technology programmes, drawing on our system independence, flexible working practices and proven ability to deliver. We look forward to working together with the Ministry of Defence and our team partners to develop the communications capability of future offensive air operations and to provide a core element of the MoD’s network enabled capability.”
Air Commodore Andy Sweetman, FOAS Team Leader said, “This contract is extremely important to our programme. Secure, robust and covert intra-flight data links are fundamental to making the FOAS force mix work
effectively. I look forward to working with the LogicaCMG team.”