Case Study: Remote Viewing Terminal Capability Investigation (RVT CI)

Client: UK MoD
Contract Date: 2010 – Present

Contract Type:

Ongoing Capability Investigation with the UK MoD that aims to rationalise UK Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting, Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) RVT in order to enhance operational effectiveness, promote UK Joint and Coalition interoperability and minimise long-term equipment sustainment costs.

Needs and Benefits:

There are a range of ISTAR RVT technical solutions and capabilities that have both been procured and are available for procurement by the UK MoD. This proliferation of fielded capabilities has lead to a situation of multiple technical solutions, varied equipment capabilities and limited interoperability.

In 2010 UK MoD selected 3SDL to work with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) in order to investigate how future UK MoD RVT acquisition can be improved and a strategy developed for through life capability management.

An element of the work was the production of an RVT stocktake which not only demonstrates and articulates the range of capabilities but also graphically shows the scale of the interoperability challenge. This information is critical in supporting the planning of current ISTAR supported operations but also in helping to shape the main focus of the rationalisation process.

Overview:

An RVT is but one element of an integrated ISTAR system that provides a capability to an operational user. The CI is focussed at understanding the ISTAR data link capability space in terms of the operational scenarios and requirements that such a capability supports, the current and future technology that can be implemented to effect the capability as well as the all important policy and governance framework and processes which enhance the procurement decision making and maintain and improve operational interoperability.

The output of the CI is a roadmap which encapsulates the information gathered from a wide range of stakeholders and sources, provides a structure and entry point to the problem space and presents solutions and recommendations for achieving the goal that is rationalisation. As with all multi faceted, complex defence capabilities there is no genuine single answer to the problem, nor should we expect one.

This CI has however, in a short space of time, been able to provide a roadmap which identifies a route towards an operational focussed intervention and evolutionary approach to achieving our goals, providing guidance and direction and fulfilling the real needs of the operational user.

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