29 June 2005

COMMUNICATIONS COHERENCY PROJECT COMPLETES INITIAL FIT

DML Group, the defence support specialist, has begun initial implementation of the Communications Coherency for Submarines (CCSM) contract issued by the MoD, to enable submarines to become fully network-enabled and ease future capability insertion. The first installation of CCSM in HMS Turbulent was successfully completed last month.

The CCSM project developed from previous studies into future communications office requirements and the need to address a Major Warfare Constraint, together with an urgent requirement to enable more effective capability insertion. It will provide nuclear submarines (SSNs) with increased capacity and capability to handle existing and future levels of message traffic and information, including the ability to use and share information efficiently as part of a joint or coalition task force - a reflection of their changing role. CCSM will also provide improved processes to enable rapid technology insertion for maximum efficiency and cost benefits, and to overcome inherent space constraints.

The need for CCSM arises from a number of issues DML combat systems group manager, Simon Moir, points out. "Submarines are now less likely to be operating in their traditional 'silent and alone' role and the volume of information they need to handle has begun to rise dramatically," he said. "The changing priorities on use of information, with an increasing requirement for co-operative planning and shared intelligence with surface units, brings a pressing need to revise the way information is presented, handled and distributed. Moreover, equipment upgrade and capability insertion needs to be handled quickly and efficiently, to maintain leading-edge communications capability."

Developed by DML in response to these drivers, CCSM aims to provide a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS)-based open architecture message handling and distribution environment, with a number of key features. Among these, the implementation of revised and improved layout arrangements for the WT (wireless telegraphy) office, incorporating a generic 19 inch racking system, provides a greater degree of standardisation and allows swift and far simpler capability upgrade.

"To date, separate and specific communications equipment enhancement requirements have tended to lead to independent modifications to the WT office, each competing for the limited space available. The process can be expensive, incoherent and technically inefficient, with technology insertions impacting on one another and limited ability to apply a systems approach to the overall design. Moreover, scope for expansion for future capabilities is limited," Moir explained. "CCSM will eliminate the need to dismantle the communications office 'jigsaw' each time, and enables a 'plug and play' smart-insertion approach, making upgrading far more cost-efficient."

A particular key feature is the provision of a COTS-based automated message handling system (AMHS). This overcomes one of the major limitations of the existing SAMHADS message handling system (which has not been able to screen messages for relevance, and thus required the submarine to remain at periscope depth to receive an entire broadcast, thus impacting on time spent usefully employed on operations).

The introduction of LAN-based equipment control and message/information distribution handling for both red and black data is a further network-enabling feature of CCSM, allowing cross-system management of data from a single point. Additionally, the provision of a highly secure intra-platform LAN will enable a direct link to the command and operational spaces, facilitating automatic message and information distribution to end-users.

DML has also provided a purpose-built Shore Communications Integration Facility (CSIF) to de-risk the integration, test and acceptance of design solutions in a controlled environment, ensuring time savings and greatly improved efficiency in implementing CCSM.

"CCSM is a vital step toward network-enabling submarines with a flexible, incrementally upgradeable open architecture communications system, interoperable with UK, US and NATO and Allied Forces, that allows timely, high capacity information exchanges with the command and co-operating units, presented in a manner to optimise its usefulness," Moir summarises. "Importantly, it will provide simultaneous operation of multiple communications channels within differing security domains across the full spectrum of military operations without compromising operational posture, while minimising operator workload."

It is planned to provide CCSM to all seven T-class submarines (which will receive the full CCSM capability) plus an AMHS to one S-class submarine, in a rolling programme as they come in for overhaul and maintenance, after which subsequent upgrades can be implemented as a smart-fit rapid insertion. The initial operating capability is based on acceptance of the recent fit to Turbulent, with a target in-service date of December 2006.