The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is planning to extend the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in the supply chain to conflict zones such as Afghanistan.

The Total Asset Visibility (Tav) tagging system has been in use since 2002 and is used to track military shipments around the world. A trial starting in June will investigate the potential for extending the system.

‘The MoD is reviewing existing capability in this area and is increasing the use of Tav in Afghanistan to support the developing operational requirement there,’ armed forces minister Adam Ingram told MPs.

The pilots will focus on increasing the range of the existing technology, says the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO).