Carr, Sen Bob

Senator Bob Carr: The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the Honourable Senator's question: (a) Network Centric Warfare Capability Policy and Plans A similar question has previously been asked under Parliamentary Senate Question on Notice No. 1602 for the period 30 June to 31 December 2011 and a response was tabled on 8 May 2012. The response to this most recent question provides updated information for the requested period of 1 January to 31 July 2012. Defence was engaged in the following network centric warfare activities from 1 January to 31 July 2012. The Net Centric Roadmap continues to be updated to reflect the change from a vulnerable 'centric' approach to that of a distributed Network Enabled approach. This facilitates redundancy and reversionary modes in time of loss or disconnection due to enemy action or natural causes and has been the focus of much activity in the maritime domain. Specialist Communications Modernisation Program – Land - During the subject period, the project completed contract negotiations and entered into contract for the delivery of the Deployable Wide Area Network Materiel System. The design phase was commenced in the period, and equipment orders placed for long-lead time items. The accelerated introduction of the capability for Special Operations Command continued to be refined, with more effective bearer options providing lower costs and higher bandwidth being introduced. These benefits are being realised in tangible ways through the current operations being conducted by Special Operations. Specialist Communications Modernisation Program – Maritime - During the subject period, the modernisation of Internet Protocol (IP) communications (including both Military and Commercial Satellite bearers) for all maritime units from Minor War Vessels to Major Fleet Units continues. Adoption of a Broadband (greater bandwidth) modernised Fleet IP communications system will provide a consistent capability across all fleet units. This capability will enable Commanders to fully realise the Command and Control (C2) benefits of Broadband IP services. This activity is being conducted through sustainment funding as a tech refresh of current capability ($3.2 million). Navy Information Warfare Master Plan - Navy has completed development of the Draft Navy Information Warfare Master Plan, which addresses how the information revolution is leading to changes in the way that information technology is being used in the war fighting context. The plan notes the requirement for Navy's transformation to meet the challenges of the information age. It also outlines the implications of the information age, defines Information Warfare and discusses the development of Information Warfare capability. Overall the plan provides the strategic guidance for Navy to develop a mature Information Warfare capability. The relevance to Network Enabled Warfare (NEW) is that this considers the type and need for information exchange in both peace and war and identifies the various architectural requirements for this exchange in a contested environment ($243 000). (b) Network Centric Capability and Increased Bandwidth On the matter of increasing bandwidth, Defence was engaged in the following activities from 1 January to 31 July 2012. Joint Project 2089 (Tactical Information Exchange Domain) Phase 2A - Implementation of an Initial Common Support Infrastructure (ICSI) as a "Proof of Capability" to manage Tactical Data Link networks ($20 million). Major ICSI milestones have been the acquisition of major materiel and preparation for the demonstration of the deployable components. Phase 2A - Implementation of advanced Tactical Data Links (comprising of Link 16 and Variable Message Format - VMF) into the ANZAC Class frigate. This upgrade will substantially enhance the capacity ANZAC Class Frigate to transmit and receive tactical information and significantly increase its level of interoperability within the ADF and with coalition partners. Major milestones for this project phase have been the installation of hardware onto First of Class ship (HMAS Perth) and completion of initial testing of the upgraded Combat Management System software. Around $5 million has been spent on JP2089 Phase 2A as a whole in the period. Phase 2B - Implementation of VMF into the F/A-18A/B 'Classic' Hornet ($39.96 million). Fleet modification to equip F/A-18A/B 'Classic' Hornet with VMF to allow Digital Calls for Fire with Land forces commenced in December 2011 and continues. Around $1.17 million has been spent on this program in the period. Tactical Information Exchange Domain (TIED) - The DMO Tactical Information Exchange Integration Office (TIEIO), operating the Australian Defence Force Tactical Data Link Authority (ADFTA), has been providing technical and engineering integration support to the ADF TIED and NEW objectives.. Major achievements during this period have been progressing Army networking and interoperability issues through the test and evaluation of the VMF Gateway (LAND75) and Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Distribution System (LAND 17). Achievements within the Maritime environment have included Tactical Data Link (TDL) testing of the Upgraded Adelaide Class Frigate (SEA 1390) and update of the tactical communications requirements for the LHD (JP2048), ANZAC Class Frigate (JP2089) and MH-60R (AIR 9000 Phase 8). Finally, the ADFTA supported the Air Force NCW effort by reviewing the tactical communications requirements for the AEW&C (AIR 5077), P3 replacement (AIR7000) and test and evaluation of the TDL implementation for the F/A-18 A/B 'Classic Hornet (AIR 5376). Around $10.571 million has been spent on this program in the period. Line of sight communications capability - Navy is undertaking continued experimentation with our 5 eyes partners (CAN, NZ, UK, and US) to develop high data rate line of sight communications capability and Broadband High Frequency Internet Protocol systems. These systems will provide our mobile units with the capability to maintain essential Network Enabled capability in environments where satellite communications are denied or otherwise unavailable. Tactical High Data Rate (HDR) Subnet Relay (SNR) between naval platforms was established with throughput of up to 384 Kbps within a coalition environment. Outcomes and recommendations from this trial have been reported to the AUSCANNZUKUS Executive Working Group for future operational consideration. Experimentation was conducted between Australia and New Zealand as part of Trident Warrior 2012 at a cost of ($90,000) including capability, contracted support and travel. This experimentation will directly inform capability delivered as part of Navy's maritime communications modernisation project SEA1442 Phase 4. Joint Project 2008 (ADF Satellite Communications) has delivered the following: Phase 3F – Defence continues the development of a long term satellite ground station capability on the Australian West coast ($6.5 million); Land 75 (Battle Management System) Phases 3.4 and Land 125 Phase 3A (Soldier Enhancement) - Have completed contracted work for vehicle and soldier installation design; prototype manufacture and testing; achievement of an Initial Operational Capability in Apr 2012 following detailed operational test and evaluation by Army; delivery of systems to 7 Brigade in Brisbane; and logistic preparation for introduction into service. Total cost incurred to date of Land 75 Phase 3.4 is $132.6 million. Total cost incurred to date on Land 125 Phase 3A is $55.7million Joint Project 2072 (Battlespace Communications Systems – Land) - Joint Project 2072 (Battlespace Communications Systems – Land) Phases 1 and 2A, continue to deliver the new generation of Combat Net Radio and Tactical Data Radios from Harris and Raytheon that will provide the digital backbone to Land Tactical Communications and also to the Battle Management System being delivered by Elbit Systems Limited under Land 75 (Battle Management System). The majority of JP2072 Phase 1 equipment is already delivered and vehicle installations will continue throughout 2012. The first deliveries of JP2072 Phase 2A radios were received in May 2012 ($58m). These are the first steps in the delivery of Networked Battle Group for Army. JP2072 Phase 2B is currently tendering a communications capability for deployed headquarters that includes network management, as a means of more effectively managing increased bandwidth requirements ($350k). Land Network Integration Centre (LNIC) - During the period Army Headquarters, through the Land Network Integration Centre (LNIC) has achieved the following: Operational Data Exchange Network (ODEN). Procured, tested and delivered a fleet of nine Very Small Aperture Satellite Terminals (VSAT) to provide additional bandwidth to patrol bases in Afghanistan, at a cost of approximately $520k. Communications Architecture. Developed and tested concepts for networking the Land Force under the Land Reference Network activity. This activity has informed future development of network centric capbilities for Army by concentrating on the development of the underlying network. This activity cost approx $3.25 million. Army continues developing the architecture for the Land Reference Network in order to inform future network architecture and systems integration in support of Army. This is critical in allowing Army to better manage the future of the Land Network and to integrate new digital systems. It is also important to ensure interoperability with key coalition partners Satellite Communications - In January 2012 the fourth satellite in the Wideband Global SATCOM constellation was launched by the US Department of Defense. Australia is a collaborator in this program and the this launch significantly increases the amount of communications ADF can use on the system which provides global high data rate networking for deployed forces. In March 2012 a new UHF communications payload for the ADF was launched on the Intelsat-22 satellite at 72 degrees East longitude. This will substantially increase the number of soldiers in Afghanistan that can be part of the network using very compact radios. Optimisation - In addition to increasing bandwidth, Defence are pursuing means to better use the available bandwidth through Network Optimisation protocols, improved integration and aggregation of services and the use of Cross Domain Solutions. DSTO and industry are working with Defence towards these goals.