FEATURE MEDICAL, MILITARY & INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS All for one, one for all
A collaborative vision of the military
Electronics are coming to define how the armed forces function. Still a present focus in 2020, Amyas Godfrey, Thales, discusses the company’s Collaborative Combat concept, in its attempt to sustain the military’s growth into an integrated, augmented institution
Christian Lynn: How would Thales summarise Collaborative Combat, and what does it say about the company’s ethos in respect to the military?
Amyas Godfrey: Collaborative Combat is Thales’ vision for the future of defence, where the company has looked to integrate both pre-established and emerging technologies into the armed forces: Thales’ background is cemented in the perception of how defence technologies have been defined throughout the years, with an eye on the future and how they may go on to be defined, through the influence of key enabler concepts such as artificial intelligence (AI) and connectivity, i.e. the Internet of Things (IoT). Fundamentally, Thales differentiates itself from being revolutionary in its development of technologies, and sees itself as more of a contributor to an evolution. This is due to the inherent resistance of the military to develop conservative doctrine and meet new trends. Ultimately, Collaborative Combat hopes to enable this change. The aim is to augment: more reliable communication, more succinct and specific data feedback, through simple applications that are synonymous with the key enablers mentioned earlier.
CL: Do you have examples?
AG: Certainly, one example relates to the digital visual output in a military vehicle or tank, whereby the data retained from the vehicle’s numerous cameras no longer burdens the soldier, who might be holding a flank mid-operation, or allocated to overwatch for hours. These outputs are now diverted into a piece
32 FEBRUARY 2020 | ELECTRONICS
of software dubbed the ‘Digital Crew’, a self-learning algorithm that uses shape and pattern recognition to compare with a library of factors that the software has been programmed to maintain and search for: if it spots a T-72 Russian tank, the Digital Crew will alert the relevant personnel.
CL: In terms of the amplification of military men and women, in what areas are Thales prioritising?
AG: I’d consider it more of an ecosystem than products targeted for specific areas, in which overall technologies can progress naturally yet effectively: the worldwide web is a strong comparison, that doesn’t replace the conventional methods of gathering information such as the library, but institutes a platform for this material to be accessed easily. Subsequently, Collaborative Combat should look to amplify the decision- making of the chain of command in sensitive situations, like in the case of a missile strike: better coordination through enhanced data analytics, informed by more effective radar and LiDAR systems. Returning to my previous point, the
transition of the optical systems from analogue to digital is evocative of Thales and the industry’s emphasis on an ecosystem over products. Summarily, GPS, while it may appear in the form of a product, contributes to a network of data, collated in order to augment our sense of direction. This should be the aim of a concept such as Collaborative Combat: enhancing products, through the ecosystem of data, so that they use this data more effectively, without the unreasonable bandwidth demands.
CL: This focus on data opens this discussion up to concerns regarding cybersecurity – consider the American/Iranian tensions and the suspicion that the responsive attacks will be cyber. Is there a greater need for the protection of this abundance of sensitive data? And how does it affect the military landscape, namely, the risk of grounded enhancements becoming obsolete?
AG: It’s certainly a relevant concern – the use of digital bugs to attack data streams and computer systems. However, I think it’s a case of ‘as well as’. Yes, there’s a lot of data being translated from place to place. But the risk is far more immediate and local: as opposed to large scale
lot of data being translated from place to place. But the risk is far more immediate and local: as opposed to large scale disruption, which is still probable, there’s a greater risk of isolated attacks through jamming or spoofing. As mentioned earlier, with enhanced communications and data analytics, nearly everything emits information on the battlefield, these points being susceptible to the kind of attack you’re referring to. But the volume of points producing data could also be its saving grace: the intensity of the digital network
he intensity of the digital network can often create confusion, making it hard to hone in on an individual device
hard to hone in on an individual device or person. Furthermore, returning to the definitive principle of Collaborative Combat, the aim is to enhance, not replace: as the soldier remains, so too does the accentuation of physical warfare. This, in turn, reduces the fear of obsolescence.
Thales
www.thalesgroup.com / ELECTRONICS
Data analytics are emerging as a key limb of the military’s functioning body - this means that the armed forces’ radar and LiDAR systems have to offer infallible information
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