It is said that the only constant in life is evolution. Like many spheres of life, electronic warfare (EW) has had to evolve in line with technology. In the 1980s and 1990s, the electromagnetic battlespace was an entirely different landscape to what we see today. HF, VHF and UHF voice and low-level data target sets were predominantly analogue, low-tech communications systems, in many cases using basic encryption techniques or the use of voice speller traffic to mask traffic content. Radar bands have expanded, moving steadily past 40 gigahertz (GHz), many legacy systems have been retrofitted to become digitised and network capable resulting in a more potent threat.
In the case of radio controlled improvised explosive device (RCIED) threats, many were relatively easy to counter and utilised commercially available components. This is in stark contrast to today’s multi threat environment which poses a myriad of issues for modern war fighters concurrently engaged in ensuring that detection is limited while attempting to prevent adversary use of the same frequencies. Therefore, battlespace spectrum management (BSM) and spectrum visualisation are key to successful contemporary operations.
At MASS, we’ve certainly played our part in this evolution, dating as far back as the 1990s (DART – harnessing and manoeuvring data collected from radar sensors), early 2000s (ATTRACKS – creating an encrypted data communications system for the Royal Marines Commando Sea King helicopter fleet) and 2010s (THURBON, NEWTS and CounterWorX). We’ve developed sophisticated user centric software tools that provide customers with the ability to collect, process, analyse and exploit intelligence from a variety of data sources, such as radar sensors, radio frequency emissions as well as network system communications.
Evolution through modernisation
As you can imagine we’ve made great strides, and the latest phase of our evolution has brought us to a newly upgraded version of THURBON – THURBON CEMA (2024). By Leveraging THURBON’s underlying data model which was designed to be evolved from the outset, we’ve delivered a more comprehensive version with the capability of accessing and processing CEMA data into a single repository. By applying the principles of smart connected technology to the execution of CEMA, we are transforming how our customers operate within a contemporary battlespace, giving them accurate, assured and timely data and spectrum visualisation to support the synchronisation and coordination of intelligence products. This capability is critical to decision making and inform activities. With the advancement in technology and connectivity there is an expectation for faster situational awareness at all levels. THURBON CEMA (2024) supports this need. This not only increases the availability of mission data, but also its accuracy, which most importantly helps to protect and improve the safety of service personnel.
Pushing the boundaries of possibilities
By exploring the benefits of cognitive computing and artificial intelligence (AI) within the defence sector, we are perhaps beginning to push the boundaries of possibility and the role AI can have now, and, in the future, supporting multi-domain integration.
Find out more about our defence services here
