Systematic Sitaware – OFF-THE- SHELF BATTLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
10 Nov 08. When Michael Holm, President and CEO of Systematic, thinks about his company’s Battle Management Product, he can’t help but think of the song “Born to be wild”.
The song conjures up images of tanks and armoured vehicles tracking through all manner of terrain. The song typifies an attitude; it describes a feeling, and it could be the anthem for any soldier out in the action. It is precisely this situation where one can expect to find Systematic SitaWare Battle Management.
Understanding the modern soldier
Today’s soldier has typically grown up in an age of video gaming, mobile phones and the pervasive internet. The modern soldier is computer literate and is used to having intuitive computer software.
While many computer gaming companies try to emulate real life battle scenario in their games, many software vendors are trying to incorporate the intuitive design of computer gaming into their solutions.
Systematic is a strong believer in getting to know the end user and having a clear mental picture of where its software will be used. The reasoning is: “understanding the end user allows you to understand their needs”. It is only when a company grasps the pressures and dangers a user is facing on a daily basis that they can begin to truly build intuitive software.
The term “Mission critical”, takes on a whole new meaning at the tactical level. It is in theatre that battles are lost or won. Best made plans can come unstuck at the first hurdle, each turn is unpredictable, danger is never far away and tension is always high.
An IT solution will not miraculously remove the danger, but a reliable, robust and comprehensive tool that is easy to use in the heat of battle can provide a competitive edge.
Standard-based, off-the-shelf products
With the end-user scenario firmly entrenched in the psyche of its developers; Systematic has built a suite of products that are set to change the mindset for defence-specific software procurement.
Gone are the days of large, costly bespoke systems which can take years to specify, even longer to develop and that have a very real probability of being obsolete before they’re even completed. In its place comes a range of off-the-shelf products that are built on international standards and open architecture.
By utilizing the standards and adopting an open architecture in system’s design, vendors like Systematic have been able to create products lines that can be used as “building blocks” to create a very specific national system that are based on international standards.
The shift in design gives nations the best of both worlds. It provides the majority of the functionality that one would normally expect from a bespoke development and the interoperability that one can expect from the use of international standards.
Moving from bespoke development to off-the-shelf products also gives a range of “extra” benefits. Upgrading and maintenance of the system is significantly easier than with bespoke solutions; nations receive the benefit of others’ experience in that all development ends up expanding the base of core functionality of the product; and, off-the-shelf products are thoroughly tested to ensure that they are readily deployable.
SitaWare Battle Management Capabilities
SitaWare Battle Management contains all the essential functionality that one would expect from a command and control solution. Situational awareness that allows a common operating picture to be shared throughout the entire chain of command; blue force tracking that assists in reducing the incidence of friendly fire, especially on coalition missions; sensors integrations that integrate information from weapon systems, vehicles, laser range finders, etc. to provide one of the most comprehensive overviews of all elements within the battlespace; and, much more.
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