The Royal Navy has concluded Information Warrior 2018, a three-week exercise exploring the ‘adoption of emerging technologies to secure the information advantage at sea’.
QinetiQ, working at Portsdown Technology Park, created an advanced digital environment in which to test communications, understand future challenges, and identify opportunities to solve problems through use of modern technology.
The MoD say that the exercise sought ways to ‘overcome limitations imposed on communication by the nature of the maritime environment, such as bandwidth and legacy systems’. It examined the feasibility of utilising the capacity of existing information services to deliver increased capability for Royal Navy platforms, together with open-architecture to improve the pace and flexibility of system development.
Royal Navy Information Warrior 2018 lead Cdr Whitehall said:
“In the words of the First Sea Lord, ‘2018 will be a year of expanding maritime horizons for the Royal Navy’. Information Warrior sets out the vision for a modern approach to delivering information warfare and accelerates progress in addressing some of the shortfalls facing today’s frontline units.
Through the innovative use of current capability and exploring the utility of emerging technology, Information Warrior challenges the defence procurement cycle to adopt a more agile approach. Success depends upon embracing different thinking, challenging assumptions and collaborating closely and openly across government, industry and academia.”
Ray Briggs, Principal Engineer, QinetiQ, said:
“Information Warrior has shown that if you bring like-minded people together in the correct setting with the passion to solve problems, great things can be achieved. Our experienced engineers and unique facilities at Portsdown Technology Park help the Royal Navy by proving what is technically possible and answering the big questions in the complex information environment.”
