The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) must focus on six critical areas in its forthcoming Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR), Northrop Grumman’s Chief Executive for the UK and Europe, Andrew Tyler, has requested.
Addressing a media roundtable ahead of DSEI 2015, Andrew Tyler described how the UK could follow a similar strategy currently being undertaken by the US ‘Third Offset Strategy,” which is currently being considered by the Department of Defense (DoD). This, he said, could be translated into UK and European strategies moving forward.
“The threat environment has changed. It has never been so unpredictable, diverse and fast moving. Who could have predicted such a spectrum of defence capability five to ten years ago?” Tyler asked while describing a technically ambitious China; the Islamic State which has achieved “Statehood” in a very short time; and multiple issues surrounding migration.
“The US Offset Strategy will provide [it] an ability to maintain military superiority,” he said while emphasising a report published by the Center for Strategic and Budget Assessments in earlier in the year, entitled: “Toward a New Offset Strategy: Exploiting US Long Term Advantages to Restore US Global Power Projection Capability”.
The document described how the US is facing uncertain global security challenges while at the same time, traditional sources of the US military advantage are being undermined by the maturation and proliferation of disruptive technologies- most notably- anti access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities.
According to the report, this traditional US advantage on the battlefield is beginning to “slip away,” with prospective adversaries fielding their own, “reconnaissance strike networks to challenge the post cold war US approach to power projection. more specifically, the US military now faces four core operational problems.”
Such a threat, the report reads, could result in forward mounting bases becoming increasingly vuinerable to attack; large surface combatants including aircraft carriers becoming easier to detect, track and engage at extended range from an adversary’s coast; non-stealthy aircraft becoming more vulnerable to modern integrated air defence systems; and the “day without space” when high-altitude electromagnetic pulse weapons could knock out GPS and satellite communications.
The report also called for the leveraging of technology to form a Global Surveillance and Strike (GSS) network, before explaining: “A third offset strategy could counter adversarial investments in A2/AD capabilities in general and ever expanding missile inventories in particular, by leveraging US core competencies in unmanned systems and automation, extended range and low observable air operations, undersea warfare and complex system engineering and integration in order to power differently.”
Stressing the importance of such considerations, Tyler highlighted six specialist areas which he would like to see covered in the UK’s SDSR announcement, which is expected to be published in October.
First, Tyler called for the strategic deployment of airborne ISR platforms to perform persistent coverage over areas of interest from forward deployed bases as well as support of Civilian/Military Cooperation (CIMIC) tasks and Humanitarian Aid/Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
Secondly, Tyler stressed the importance of utilising the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) as a networking information node across the battlespace as well as being used as the main weapon system available to a carrier strike group.
Third, he described data and communications as the UK MoD’s “achilles heel,” before stressing how much time and effort would be required to deal with “Risk of Space Denial.” Tyler explained how further emphasis should be made to protected SATCOM systems as well as mezzanine airborne networks and finally pervasive and resilient networks. However, he described how the formation of the Joint Forces Command had given prominence to such requirements.
In his fourth area of interest, Tyler described the underwater domain as the last area where it was possible to operate in a stealthy capacity but criticised how this particular area had been neglected with a “dearth” in investment over recent years. Referring to Anglo-French programmes including Mine Countermeasure (MCM) programmes, Tyler proclaimed: “We should be spending more time thinking about this [domain].”
Tyler also explained his desire to see more cooperation across Europe while highlighting how the continent had proven “inefficient” in investing in this particular sector. It was also revealed that Northrop Grumman would be announcing a first strategic partnership with an undisclosed university before the end of the year as part of a plan to reinforce its underwater strategy.
Fifth, Tyler called for more investment to be injected into the Cyber domain and finally, criticised decreasing investment in Research & Development (R&D) around the world. He also called for more emphasis to be paid to capability demonstrations, which he described as an expensive part of procurement programmes.
Elsewhere, Tyler pointed to increasing investment and interest in synthetic biology, which focuses on the development of biological projects ranging from implants and bionic limbs through to artificial drugs and biofuels.
Northrop Grumman’s Synoptics business already specialises in the production of synthetic crystals and optical components used in the solid-state laser industry. Materials can be used to cover wavelength ranges 500-3,000nm for use in, “medical, industrial, military and scientific laser markets,” a company spokesperson explained.
Finally, Tyler highlighted growing impetus in nanocomputing for miniaturised end user devices for a variety of applications.
Addressing a media roundtable ahead of DSEI 2015, Andrew Tyler described how the UK could follow a similar strategy currently being undertaken by the US ‘Third Offset Strategy,” which is currently being considered by the Department of Defense (DoD). This, he said, could be translated into UK and European strategies moving forward.
“The threat environment has changed. It has never been so unpredictable, diverse and fast moving. Who could have predicted such a spectrum of defence capability five to ten years ago?” Tyler asked while describing a technically ambitious China; the Islamic State which has achieved “Statehood” in a very short time; and multiple issues surrounding migration.
“The US Offset Strategy will provide [it] an ability to maintain military superiority,” he said while emphasising a report published by the Center for Strategic and Budget Assessments in earlier in the year, entitled: “Toward a New Offset Strategy: Exploiting US Long Term Advantages to Restore US Global Power Projection Capability”.
The document described how the US is facing uncertain global security challenges while at the same time, traditional sources of the US military advantage are being undermined by the maturation and proliferation of disruptive technologies- most notably- anti access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities.
According to the report, this traditional US advantage on the battlefield is beginning to “slip away,” with prospective adversaries fielding their own, “reconnaissance strike networks to challenge the post cold war US approach to power projection. more specifically, the US military now faces four core operational problems.”
Such a threat, the report reads, could result in forward mounting bases becoming increasingly vuinerable to attack; large surface combatants including aircraft carriers becoming easier to detect, track and engage at extended range from an adversary’s coast; non-stealthy aircraft becoming more vulnerable to modern integrated air defence systems; and the “day without space” when high-altitude electromagnetic pulse weapons could knock out GPS and satellite communications.
The report also called for the leveraging of technology to form a Global Surveillance and Strike (GSS) network, before explaining: “A third offset strategy could counter adversarial investments in A2/AD capabilities in general and ever expanding missile inventories in particular, by leveraging US core competencies in unmanned systems and automation, extended range and low observable air operations, undersea warfare and complex system engineering and integration in order to power differently.”
Stressing the importance of such considerations, Tyler highlighted six specialist areas which he would like to see covered in the UK’s SDSR announcement, which is expected to be published in October.
First, Tyler called for the strategic deployment of airborne ISR platforms to perform persistent coverage over areas of interest from forward deployed bases as well as support of Civilian/Military Cooperation (CIMIC) tasks and Humanitarian Aid/Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
Secondly, Tyler stressed the importance of utilising the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) as a networking information node across the battlespace as well as being used as the main weapon system available to a carrier strike group.
Third, he described data and communications as the UK MoD’s “achilles heel,” before stressing how much time and effort would be required to deal with “Risk of Space Denial.” Tyler explained how further emphasis should be made to protected SATCOM systems as well as mezzanine airborne networks and finally pervasive and resilient networks. However, he described how the formation of the Joint Forces Command had given prominence to such requirements.
In his fourth area of interest, Tyler described the underwater domain as the last area where it was possible to operate in a stealthy capacity but criticised how this particular area had been neglected with a “dearth” in investment over recent years. Referring to Anglo-French programmes including Mine Countermeasure (MCM) programmes, Tyler proclaimed: “We should be spending more time thinking about this [domain].”
Tyler also explained his desire to see more cooperation across Europe while highlighting how the continent had proven “inefficient” in investing in this particular sector. It was also revealed that Northrop Grumman would be announcing a first strategic partnership with an undisclosed university before the end of the year as part of a plan to reinforce its underwater strategy.
Fifth, Tyler called for more investment to be injected into the Cyber domain and finally, criticised decreasing investment in Research & Development (R&D) around the world. He also called for more emphasis to be paid to capability demonstrations, which he described as an expensive part of procurement programmes.
Elsewhere, Tyler pointed to increasing investment and interest in synthetic biology, which focuses on the development of biological projects ranging from implants and bionic limbs through to artificial drugs and biofuels.
Northrop Grumman’s Synoptics business already specialises in the production of synthetic crystals and optical components used in the solid-state laser industry. Materials can be used to cover wavelength ranges 500-3,000nm for use in, “medical, industrial, military and scientific laser markets,” a company spokesperson explained.
Finally, Tyler highlighted growing impetus in nanocomputing for miniaturised end user devices for a variety of applications.
Andrew White
No comments:
Post a Comment