Case Study: UK Combat Identification Server (CIDS) Technology Demonstrator Programme (TDP)

Client: UK MoD
Contract Date: 2008 – Present

Contract Type:

A collaborative TDP between UK MOD, 3SDL, General Dynamics UK, QinetiQ, Rockwell Collins UK and SCS to develop and demonstrate a blue-force combat identification server. The project also uses the novel Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) project management approach to fix project time, cost and quality.

Needs and Benefits:

CIDS TDP is an element of the UK MOD’s research programme. It is tightly bounded to the following Single Statement of User Need (SSUN):

"{Develop a capability to} report Blue Force track information to authorised requesting entities on demand during the Close Air Support (CAS) mission."

The main aim of CIDS is to develop and demonstrate a solution to fill a perceived capability gap in the provision of Shared Situational Awareness (SSA) at the Air/Land interface.

Overview:

UK CIDS takes information from a wide range of allied military tactical data sources such as NATO Link 16, Variable Message Format (VMF), BOWMAN¹, UK Helicopter Asset Tracking System / Ground Asset Tracking System (HeATS/GrATS) and NATO Friendly Force Information (NFFI). Once a demanderr has made an information request, the composite picture (comprising of the 10 blue force entities closest to the centre of a pre-selected sphere of interest) is then distributed back to them over their original source network within a very tight time frame and to very high standards of fidelity and confidence.

Output:

UK CIDS was successfully demonstrated after only 18 months using real world platforms, equipment and networks. It proved that a composite friendly (‘blue’) force positional information picture could be shared between a range of land and air assets in a timely and secure manner. The solution could be made operationally available in less than 9 months.

Click here to watch a video clip showing how we employed novel acquisition techniques to assist the UK Ministry of Defence in developing its Combat Identification Server programme.

¹ UK Army's tactical radio system

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