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Thales UK participates in CWID 09

18 June 2009

Thales UK is again participating at this year’s CoalitionWarrior Interoperability Dem­onstra­tion (CWID), adding one ofits own demonstrations to the many trials running over the course of the exercise.

CWID - an on-line virtual battlefield exercise - is a uniqueevent that brings together the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and UK industry. Itdemonstrates groundbreaking tech­nological solutions that could fill MoDcapability gaps, while reducing risk in current procurement projects andsupporting innovation.

This year’s exercise runs between 8-26June at the Defence Science and Technology Lab­oratory’s (Dstl) Porton Down site in Salisbury,Wiltshire, and connects more than 20 countries around the globe, usingreal data and security constraints in a realistic military scenario. The goalis to prove the interoperability of advanced military communications,intelligence and surveillance systems.

To ensure thatCWID 09 is relevant, coherent and realistic Deputy Chief of Defence Staff(Capability) Lt Gen Andrew Figgures wishes to focus the UK element of CWID 09on an Afghanistan scenario against a 2012 timeframe.

CWID 09 is aimed atdemonstrating new technologies and approaches to improving the currentcapabilities fielded in Afghanistan,

2009 will be the 15thconsecutive year of UK MoD participation in CWID, and the 8th yearthat Thales UK has taken part. This testifies to Thales UK’s commitment to CWID, andto working alongside our customers to develop new and innovative solutions.

Alex Dorrian,Thales UK CEO, says: "There is a clear operational imperative to improvecommunications, intelligence and surveillance capabilities for futureoperations. The 'real-life' evalua­tions undertaken at CWID 09 enable Thales UKto help the MoD reduce risk on current and future programmes with the ultimategoal of providing greater value for defence.

"Thales is once again privileged to be an integral partof the CWID MoD-Industry Inter­op­erability partnership and we're convincedthat our resources invested will accelerate the drive towards Network EnabledCapability

- ends –

AboutThales UK’s demonstrations:

Demoone: Secure Enterprise Delivery

• directresponse to the objective set by the MoD to improve the overall capabilities tosupport projected operations in Afghanistan in 2012

• SeEDwill address the issue of air information services through the provision ofcommand and control tools within a joint force Air Component CommandInfrastructure

• introducesenhanced capabilities to support the joint operations picture through advancedweb and enterprise services

Description

The SecureEnterprise Delivery (SeED) trial was first demonstrated at CWID 2008 as a proofof concept. The trail highlighted the benefits that could be realised ifexisting in-service systems could be integrated into a Service Oriented Architecturemodel. The trial demonstrates the provision of integrated services that adhereto open standards specifically designed to work within the Defence Informationinfrastructure (DII).

This yearThales UK has extended the SeED concept by connecting it to the in-serviceISTAR Mission Support System (ISTAR MSS), therefore making available much of the air vehicle missionsupport data used in today’s military operations. This integration enables theISTAR MSS data to be accessed via web services and integrated into industrystandard portals. The ISTAR MSS is protected by an EAL3 security multi-levelsecurity system and additionally protected on SeED using secure web services.

The trialdemonstrates the reach back capability of the ISTAR MSS over a low bandwidthlink to provide information services using live operational data to a pseudoDII network. This approach demonstrates the benefits of expanding currentin-service systems with a evolving technology to greatly enhance theaccessibility of information thus improving decision making progress anddelivery of effects in current and future military operations.

Security

The informationservices are provided as both insecure and secure web services. The secureservices are protected using the industry standard WS-Security standard,demonstrating a future roadmap to authenticated services. All of these servicesimplement the MOD XML security Header/Body as defined in HJSP 329. Building onthis SeEd uses the multi level and compartmented security architecture that isembedded into the ISTAR MSS. This allows fine grain access control to the dataprovided as services to individual users/systems

Validation

In order toallow the fast integration of these services into 3rd party portalsthe SeED demonstration provides a suite of visualisation components, adheringto industry standards. These can be easily integrated into industry standardportals for a common user interface to the services.

ISTARMSS

The ISTARMSS is entering its 28th year of service. The system providescomprehensive support to the RAF’s offensive, defensive, ISTAR, airborne earlywarning and maritime operations. The system is integrated, flexible, networked,secure, scalable and mobile. It currently supports the following air platforms Sentry AEW Mk1, NimrodMR2, Nimrod R1, Nimrod MRA4, Sentinel R1 (ASTOR), Typhoon, Tornado GR4, HarrierGR9 and the Sea King Mk3. In addition ISTAR MSS is now being installed at twoUK ASACS control and reporting units to support command and control functions.

ISTAR MSS is deployable and supports current operations,including those in Afghanistan.

Notesto editors: CWID

CWID is the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff(Capability)’s annual technology demonstration and field trial to identify anddeliver future military capabilities made possible by Networked EnabledCapability (NEC).

Funded through the Equipment Programme by Head of CommandControl and Information Infrastructure Capability, it supports a uniquerelationship between the MoD and industry. It provides a realistic national,joint and coalition environment; working with the United States, Canada, NewZealand and NATO partners. The event is used to identify capability gapsolutions, de-risk Equipment Programme projects, identify innovative opportunitiesand to inform future research and development projects and initiatives.

The UK participates in three levels of CWID; our ownevent, the US and the NATO events. NATO provides coalition objectives for CWIDand the UK also sets its own objectives to ensure it meets our own nationalrequirements. For more information, please visit www.cwid.org.uk

About Thales and Thales UK

Thales is aglobal technology leader for the Aerospace, Space, Defence, Security andTransportation markets. In 2008 the company generated revenues of £10.2 billion, with 68,000 employees in 50countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a uniquecapability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services thatmeet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptionalinternational footprint, with operations around the world working withcustomers as local partners.

Thales UK employs 8,500 staff based at morethan 40 locations. In 2008 Thales UK's revenues were over £1.4 bn