The Ministry of Defence and the US Army Research
Laboratory have selected an IBM-led consortium to undertake a $136m
(£72m) research programme into the use of radio frequency
identification (RFID) and other wireless sensor platforms in the
battlefield.
The two forces have signed a contract with the newly formed
International Technology Alliance (ITA) in Network and Information
Sciences, to undertake a research programme to support future
coalition operations over a potential 10-year period, in a deal
worth up to $136m.
The alliance said successful future military operations will
depend on the capability of coalition forces to quickly gather,
interpret and share battlefield information to coordinate actions,
so the research will help enable interoperability and
communications across disparate military units.
Paul Horn, senior vice-president of IBM Research, said, “The ITA
programme is designed to break down the barriers between different
technical areas and define synergistic projects that promote
cooperation across international and organisational
boundaries.”
The ITA covers four interconnected areas of research: network
theory, security across a system of systems, sensor information
processing and delivery, and distributed coalition planning and
decision making.
The alliance consists of 25 partners, including IBM, BBN
Technologies, Boeing, Honeywell, LogicaCMG and Roke Manor
Research.
From academia, partners include Carnegie Mellon University in
the US and Cambridge University.
The US Army Research Laboratory and the UK Defence Science and
Technology Laboratory are also participants.
“This alliance allows us to focus on innovation and insights
from the best in our industry and university communities on both
sides of the Atlantic on the scientific enablers of net-centric
warfare,” said Thomas Killion, US Army chief scientist.
“It will build a base of shared fundamental knowledge that will
help to facilitate future coalition operations. It is really as
much about partnering with our closest ally as it is about
addressing critical research challenges in network and information
sciences that will enable us to foster next-generation tactical
mobile networks,” said Killion.
Roy Anderson, the MoD's chief scientific adviser, said the deal
would “help to break down barriers to co-operation in UK-US defence
technology sharing”.
Separate contracts will be awarded to alliance participants for
any technology platforms actually deployed in the field.
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