|
The Air
Command and Control Systems IPT is part of the ISTAR Cluster in DE&S at
the MoD’s Abbey Wood site in Bristol. It is a through-life IPT, managing
systems from concept to disposal.
The main areas of
work within the team are as follows:
UK Backbone The
UK Air Surveillance Command and Control System (ASCACS) will support the
early detection of, and response to, air vehicles representing a
potential threat or meriting special interest in the airspace around the
UK.
It will replace the United Kingdom Air Defence Ground Environment
Command and Control Systems (UCCS) as a component of the NATO Integrated
Air Defence System (NATINADS). UKASCACS will utilise existing radar
sensors, voice and data communications equipment.
The project is currently in the Assessment phase.
Expeditionary Air Expeditionary operations are currently
supported by a number of separate systems, and the current planning
assumption is that these will be replaced by a new system from around
2013. Key objectives for this new system include interoperability with
UK and NATO forces, the ability to scale the facility to match the
operational need, and the exploitation of software common to both
deployed and backbone systems.
Support The team currently supports a number of static and
deployable systems providing ASCACS facilities to the Armed Forces.
These include the United Kingdom Air Defence Ground Environment Command
and Control Systems (UCCS), the Tactical Air Control Centre, and the
Joint Forces Air Component Headquarters (JFACHQ).
Air Traffic Control (ATC) Much of the equipment that supports
military ATC will reach the end of its life in the next decade. The
Joint Military Air Traffic Services (JMATS) project will provide
cost-effective replacements at a wide range of MOD-operated airbases and
training ranges within the UK. The project is currently in the Concept
phase, and is exploring the possibility of adopting a service-based
approach, possibly using a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) or Public
Private Partnership (PPP) contract.
PROJECTS SUPPORTED
UK Air
Surveillance Command and Control System (UKASCACS)
UKASCACS is expected to support the early detection and response to air
vehicles representing either a potential threat or special interest in
the airspace above and around the UK.
It is projected to replace the UKADGE Command and Control System (UCCS)
as a component of the NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION (NATO)
Integrated Air Defence System (NATINADS). The UKASCACS equipment will
utilise existing radar sensors, voice and data communications where
necessary.
It is expected to play a key role in the support of training for the UK
air and maritime forces prior to deployments to operational theatres.
General characteristic/technical performance
UKASCACS will provide a computer based static capability for early
warning, air policing and operational training.
International Collaboration
Collaboration will be through involvement with NATO.
United
Kingdom Air Defence Ground Environment Capability Maintenance Programme
(UCMP)
Delivered to Strike Command, HQ 3 group and Director of Air Operations
Description
UCMP is the United Kingdom Air Defence Ground Environment Capability
Maintenance Programme. The programme had the task of replacing the
ageing Integrated Command and Control System (ICCS). UCCS (UK ASCACS
Command & Control System) forms the backbone of UK ground-based,
permanent, static air command & control installations.
General characteristics / technical performance
UCCS is concerned with The UKADR (UK Air Defence Region), the region of
air space, around the United Kingdom. In covering this the system
monitors 2048 square miles of airspace for all potential incursions.
Commercial Aspects
The Prime contractor is IBM.
JOINT MILITARY AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES (JMATS) PROJECT
The MoD owns, operates
and maintains a broad spectrum of equipments to provide Air Traffic
Management (ATM) services at its airfields, weapons ranges and exercise
areas, both in the UK and overseas. This encompasses surveillance
radars, navigation aids, landing aids, communications equipment and
other elements that contribute to the overall provision of the ATM
capability. Studies carried out in 2004 revealed that many of these
equipments were approaching obsolescence and that significant capital
expenditure was needed to sustain the capability for the future.
Filling the Capability Gap
The Joint Military Air Traffic Services (JMATS) project was initiated in
November 2005 to identify and evaluate options for the future delivery
of the military Terminal ATM capability. Early discussions with Industry
indicated much support for a service based solution and a belief that
there were significant opportunities to deliver a more coherent and cost
effective solution.
Current Situation - 17 January 2008 Initial Gate Approval
Minister for Defence Equipment & Support (Min (DES)) and the Investment
Approvals Board have approved the JMATS Initial Gate Business Case. The
Assessment Phase will now commence, evaluating a range of Partnering
options. PFI will no longer be considered as a procurement option for
JMATS.
Crown Copyright -
www.mod.uk
|
