15 November 2005

EDDYSTONE COMPLETES FINAL SYSTEM CALIBRATIONS ON INITIAL TWO PLATFORMS

The ground-breaking Eddystone Communications Electronic Support Measures (CESM) system, designed, developed, installed and supported by the defence support specialist DML Group for Trafalgar class submarines, has successfully completed final system calibrations on the initial two platforms. This finalises DML's test and trials programme, leading to acceptance into naval service and availability to support operational deployment.

DML as prime contractor for Eddystone is supported by the US company Argon ST, which has led the way in the CESM field.

A software-intensive programme, Eddystone is at the forefront of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS)-based capability system insertion for the submarine flotilla, its core function being to add breadth and strength to the Royal Navy's electronic communications capability, and maintain that capability through-life. Importantly, all systems have been delivered to time, quality and budget - a notable achievement for both CESM equipment and software intensive projects generally, making Eddystone a particular success story. Furthermore, an initial technology upgrade was accomplished, as scheduled, at approximately half the predicted cost.

The first Eddystone system underwent sea trials and system calibration in mid-December 2004, with the second system successfully completing similar trials in September 2005. Installation inspection of the third Eddystone system has recently been completed, with the fourth system having successfully completed factory acceptance trials in the United States, and now undergoing final checks in the UK prior to installation later this year. The fifth and final system, due to become operational in 2006, will be land-based and used as an aid for maintainer and operator training.

Strong progress means that Eddystone is now deemed 'in service' and is operationally deployed on the first two platforms with a further two systems being installed and accepted by early 2006. This is a considerable feat for a complex project of this type, comparing extremely well against other such high tech and software-intensive military programmes.
"Technology maturity has been a progressive evolution, with some 95% of the system capability being attained and proven prior to the first system going operational. That's an achievement that outstrips virtually all other software intensive programmes of similar complexity," DML Eddystone project manager Clive Llewellyn points out.

Through-life support requirements are a key feature of the Eddystone system, which makes full use of technology at the forefront of the commercial sector. A COTS-based open architecture design ensures that the system will be fully supported, with the latest available technology, enabling hardware obsolescence issues to be addressed cost-effectively through life. Similarly, the system software can be readily updated through technology refresh or to achieve capability insertion, allowing leading-edge performance to be retained through-life, at minimum cost. These COTS units and racks have been selected and designed for ease of maintenance, with a full reliability-centred maintenance analysis having been completed early in the programme, allowing the Eddystone repair loop to be established significantly in advance of the first platform deployment.

DML has commissioned (through capital expenditure) a Communications Shore Integration Facility (CSIF), which incorporates a fully accredited Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), enabling top level fault diagnosis and rectification of Eddystone equipment - a unique facility in the UK which will significantly enhance the DML Contractor Logistic Support (CLS) capability.

Training is another key feature of the Eddystone contract. Initial maintainer and operator training has already been achieved, utilising the system prototype developed at the Argon ST facility. For the in-service solution DML has developed the highly acclaimed Visual Interactive Simulation Training Application (VISTA) software package for the maintainers, now installed in the purpose-built facility within HMS Collingwood, soon to be followed by installation of an Eddystone system that will satisfy the operator training requirement. This combined facility will fully meet the through-life Eddystone training criteria.

DML's role as prime contractor for Eddystone is representative of the company's increasing strength and capabilities in prime contracting and naval support. The significant success of the Eddystone programme provides a sound basis for DML's drive to expand its high tech project management role and underpins its future capability to offer the now established Eddystone technology to the wider naval community.

Commenting on the Eddystone project, naval support business manager Ben Dobson said: "We're delighted to have been able to prove our capabilities as a prime contractor and support services provider, and are proud of our success in delivering well within time, quality and budget parameters, making ours a reliable and valuable contribution to the MoD. We now look forward to the opportunity to expand our CESM capability and provide the technology to a wider range of platform types."