General Dynamics UK [GD] is demonstrating the latest capability for allied forces at the 2008 Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstrator (CWID) at Portsdown that runs from June 13-20.
CWID 2008 will showcase technologies that are likely to benefit allied operations in Afghanistan in 2011. General Dynamics is the 2008 CWID System of Systems Integrator (SOSI) for the Land Environment.
“CWID provides an environment in which the defence industry and Britain’s military can show and develop key capabilities for the future,” Jim Ironside, chief scientist of General Dynamics UK, said.
General Dynamics UK technologies on display at CWID include: Bowman CIP–The latest increment of the tactical communications and data system currently rolling out to the UK Armed Forces, known as BCIP5 (ComBAT, Infrastructure and Platform Battlefield Information Systems Application [BISA]) Also demonstrated will be potential capabilities for future Bowman increments. OSIRISr–a tool derived from the Defence Technology Centre in Data and Information Fusion that enables the harvesting of information from open, unstructured text sources. It allows users to map information that helps in planning for military and civil reconstruction operations. Also on view will be BlaDEr–a capability that simulates a virtual environment for test and training purposes that links into General Dynamics UK’s developing innovation centre, The EDGETM UK. BlaDE provides realistic synthetic forces to play in live exercises, enhancing realism and scale.
Additionally General Dynamics UK will lead several experiments to demonstrate interoperability between joint and coalition forces, among them: Secure exchange of Blue Force (friendly forces) Situational Awareness with both Coalition and UK units; End-to-End ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance); and Full-motion video across the General Dynamics Bowman System.
CWID UK is a unique, self-funding annual research partnership between MoD and industry. Run as part of a wider US-led Coalition event, CWID UK aims to demonstrate, assess and leverage the interoperability of new and emerging C4IL technology to enable secure single service, joint, and coalition interoperability, including links with UK rear based assets and other government departments.