WAVELL

WAVELL is a battlefield, automatic data-processing computer system, designed to accept information from all the battlefield intelligence agencies, and produce this information on request in hard copy or on a VDU. Information is then used to assist commanders and their staff with the analysis of intelligence and subsequent conduct of operations. 

Each headquarters from Corps down to Brigade level is equipped with its own WAVELL computers that are linked to the PTARMIGAN system.

SLIM      

SLIM is a new system using the personal computer equipment used in the Gulf War which is being developed to complement WAVELL.

BATES      

BATES is a battlefield artillery engagement system, which has been designed to centralise the command and control of artillery, with all fire missions being routed through a central control cell and then passed on to the appropriate fire units. 

Access to the system is available down to the level of artillery FOOs (Forward Observation Officers) who have their own digital entry devices. BATES will eventually replace FACE (Forward Artillery Computing Equipment).

Artillery intelligence entered in the system is available for commanders and their staff through the WAVELL interface and much of the routine and logistic tasks are processed by the equipment, thus freeing the staff for other tasks.

BATES is an important part of the MLRS - AS 90 - PHOENIX - COBRA series of battlefield fire support systems and when it is finally in service will provide valuable support to these equipments. However, there appear to have been serious delays in bringing BATES into service, and once in service there could be significant teething problems as BATES is integrated with other systems. 

We believe that some £50 million has been spent on BATES and that there will eventually be up to 200 systems in operation with the British Army.

 
 

 VIXEN    

Vixen has been designed to provide an automated system for processing of electronic intelligence. It is probably mounted in soft-skinned vehicles and deployed with the 14 Signal Regiment (EW) which amongst its many tasks listens to enemy signal traffic and passes vital intelligence to the operational staff.

Vixen became operational in late 1992 and it is probable that the system is linked to the existing electronic direction finding equipment subsequently feeding results into the battlefield artillery target engagement system (BATES) and Wavell ADP systems. The cost of the Vixen system was believed to be in the region of £36.5 million.


 

SCIMITAR 

SCIMITAR has been designed to provide a secure combat net communications system to include a frequency agile ability for use in areas where the ECM threat is high. Equipments are man portable or vehicle-mounted and the system has three basic equipments:

SCIMITAR H (HF radio) Freq 1.6 - 30MHz - 2840 channels - Weight 4.0kgs (manpack).

SCIMITAR V (VHF vehicle or manpack radio) Freq 30-88MHz - 2320 channels - Weight 4.8kgs (manpack)

SCIMITAR M (Pocket sized VHF radio) Freq 68 - 88MHz - 800 channels - Weight 0.5kg.

Some SCIMITAR units are in use with the British Army and it is known to be in use with Jordan, Portugal, Turkey and Sweden. Manufactured by GEC Marconi the average cost of a SCIMITAR radio is probably in the area of £8,000.

JAGUAR

JAGUAR is manufactured by Racal Tacticom and is a similar system to SCIMITAR with the ability to frequency hop in ECM environments. The radio can be used in both the vehicle and man-pack roles and the main characteristics are as follows:

Frequency Range

30-88MHz

Temperature Range

-40 to 70 degrees C

Weight

5 kgs

Channels

2,320

Spacing

25 kHz

JAGUAR is in service with the British Army and US Navy. Over 30 nations are currently using this equipment and sales to date are believed to be in excess of £130 million.

 
NCRS  

The NCRS HF communications system was accepted into service in 1995, and is known to be operated by 32 Signal Regiment (V) in Scotland. A total of 104 NCRS stations were made, consisting of 89 trailer mounted mobile stations and 15 static, transportable stations. All the stations are identical with the exception of five mobile stations which have high power radios.

NCRS can provide a powerful national network capable of operating in the most extreme circumstances. The network can be deployed at short notice to support a wide range of national operations. NCRS stations include a variety of mobile, static, high and low powered types. Each detachment has a crew of six.

MOULD

Mould is an insecure VHF radio system that uses hilltop sites to provide national radio coverage. The radios are normally grouped together to form regional radio nets.

 BRAHMS    

This is a voice encryption terminal equipment that provides secure speech over a civil or military phone system.

 DUST 

An encrypted telegraph system providing secure telegraph over a civil or military bearer system.

 ARMY FIXED TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS      

The peacetime management of the Army depends heavily on effective communications . The Royal Signals Army Fixed Telecommunication System (AFTS) provides all the telephone, telegraph, facsimile, data systems and radio and line links for the Army in the United Kingdom. 

AFTS is operated and maintained by 2 (National Communications) Brigade and the system serves over 40,000 subscribers. The staff required to operate the AFTS is approximately 1,100 of whom 40 per cent  are military personnel, who are located all over the UK in 6 (Fixed Service) Signal Squadrons supported by operational, engineering, planning and co-ordination staff at Headquarters 2 (NC) Brigade at Corsham in Wiltshire.

One of the ADP systems in the UK is MAPPER, which stands for Maintenance, Preparation and Presentation of Executive Reports. 

This system is used both as a peacetime management aid to staffs in major headquarters and for command and control of Military Home Defence. It was expanded for use in the Gulf War, when MAPPER stations were deployed to Saudi Arabia and linked back to the United Kingdom. Its success in the Gulf has led to the system being used in post Gulf War operations including the Balkans.

In Germany, the Telecommunications Group Headquarters based at Rheindahlen, provides a sophisticated fixed communications system, based on the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). 

Project Rodin, which is intended to modernise the fixed communications system for both the Army and the RAF in Germany, will, when introduced, use state of the art digital technology and will be able to interact with other German and British military and civilian networks.

The Communications Projects Division (CPD) provides engineering support for military fixed communications systems worldwide. CPD is part of the Royal School of Signals at Blandford in Dorset.