Setting new standards for sharing information on the battlefield
Surrey based small business 2iC, through funding from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s (Dstl) Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE), has developed an innovative way of linking different systems in the battle-space. This proof of concept is intended to allow troops to reduce their kit burden, while also increasing tempo of operation and overall battlefield effectiveness.
Designed to coordinate distributed systems supplied by multiple vendors in challenging technical environments, 2iC has created solutions to provide comprehensive, rapid and low-risk systems interoperability.
The success of this project also resulted in 2iC being contracted by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to create the completely new Lean Services Architecture as part of the MOD Land Open Systems Architecture (LOSA) programme.
In the past it has been difficult to link and control the large number of different systems needed in the battle-space and share information intelligently between each of them. The LOSA programme aims to tackle this by enabling systems integration and interoperability.
Recently the interface specification of the Lean Services Architecture was published as an open standard using the Open Government Licence, which means that any party can now freely use this innovative technology. It is a demonstrable step towards achieving the Defence White Paper open standards objectives.
Graham Booth, CEO, 2iC says: “2iC has been able to connect and then coordinate previously standalone systems anywhere; whether on soldiers, vehicles and bases or distributed systems in the civil world. We believe that this, along with the availability of the open standard, could have significant benefits on future interoperability for both UK forces and allies. Working with CDE has not only allowed us to achieve this but given us credibility amongst investors and the wider defence industry to ultimately grow our business.”
Jim Pennycook, Head of Operations, CDE says: “The creation of a new government licenced open standard that MOD will use as the backbone of the Lean Services Architecture is a very significant step and it is a fundamental change in the way MOD will integrate technology into capability. We are proud that by supporting 2iC, CDE has been instrumental in helping to achieve this.”
About Dstl
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) maximises the impact of science and technology (S&T) for the defence and security of the UK, supplying sensitive and specialist S&T services for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and wider government.
Dstl is a trading fund of the MOD, run along commercial lines. It is one of the principal government organisations dedicated to S&T in the defence and security field, with three main sites at Porton Down, near Salisbury, Portsdown West, near Portsmouth, and Fort Halstead, near Sevenoaks.
Dstl works with a wide range of partners and suppliers in industry, in academia and overseas. Around 60% of the Defence Science and Technology Programme is delivered by these external partners and suppliers.
About The Centre for Defence Enterprise
The Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE), part of MOD’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), funds research into novel, high-risk, high-potential benefit innovations. It offers two routes to funding – the enduring challenge competition and a series of themed competitions for proposals that address particular defence and security challenges. Working with the broadest possible range of science and technology providers, and often providing an entry point into MOD for those new to defence, CDE aims to remove barriers for SMEs to enter the defence supply chain providing a vital mechanism for defence to access their fresh thinking and capabilities.
About 2iC
2iC firmly believe that in the 21st century tactical computer systems should be able to easily interoperate. Further, these systems should be flexible to adapt to changing circumstances, with significant system changes made in hours and days, not months and years.
2iC is an award-winning, innovative UK software company setting the standards for future defence systems. 2iC’s off-the-shelf software is designed and proven to enable flexible interoperability in technology lean environments, faster, cheaper and with less risk than previously possible.
