Technology on the front lines

In the world of business, technology is often associated with spreading efficiencies or generating cost-savings of some kind. In the theatre of war, technology saves lives every day and is transforming military operations. Network-Enabled Capability – or NEC as it is commonly referred to – is alive and well, and making a real impact in the battlespace.

Intellect’s Battlespace Systems Council embedded itself in the operational use of NEC last week, meeting with Major Tom Crapper of 52 Infantry Brigade HQ and Signals Squadron to explore how information exploitation is supporting UK Forces in Afghanistan.

The group’s discussion of operational IT ran from top level system considerations to the technical complexities of integrating all the different applications and comms channels used by a Brigade HQ. Harnessing information on the front lines is no easy task: military units are constantly transmitting huge amounts of data back and forth to report their positioning, generate situational awareness and share information on enemy tactics. Processing this information requires substantial resource, including an operations room of 20-30 differently classified terminals manned around the clock by fully trained staff.

Three key themes emerged from the session:

First, the benefits are striking. Managing real-time information enables rapid decision making, meaning that military operations can proceed quicker than ever before. Every soldier reporting back via laptop or radio is a sensor and information gatherer; processing this information gives the Armed Forces a significant advantage in the tactical domain, whether this relates to poppy harvests or trends on enemy activity.

Secondly, sharing and indexing information helps UK Forces “future proof” – in practical terms this means preventing loss of life.  Tom gave us examples of British and coalition troops coming across new types of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) – the discovery was reported straight to headquarters and from there disseminated to all other units, thus ensuring that everyone was alerted to the threat.

Thirdly, challenges to optimal information management remain, and in this sense NEC is a work-in-progress. Technical systems are still stove-piped in places, and the military will have to follow the lead of blue chip companies in the private sector, where information governance has matured over time. Another major challenge is military personnel’s relative lack of familiarity with the complex and unique technology used in theatre, and require extensive training to maximise its potential. Developing more user friendly technologies will be a big part of this.

“If knowledge is the goal, then information is the currency”. For NEC to maximise its nascent potential, the power of technology needs to be communicated effectively across all echelons of the military.  In theatre, information is not an ‘add-on’ but the lifeblood of a modern war-fighting capability.

By Sebastian Fox, Programme Executive.