Off the shelf soldier networking

Steve Northam, Strategic Marketing Director of Cobham Defence Communications, discusses how the company has successfully built on its track record as the world leader in land platform intercom systems, expanding its product range to include the new Eagle Close Combat Radio and the Integrated Digital Soldier System (IDSS)

“Back in 2005”, Northam explained, “Cobham recognised the significant synergies between its core vehicle based platform intercom products, and the rapidly emerging drive to provide more C4i capability to dismounted troops via the many Soldier Modernisation Programs around the globe. As a result the company set out a strategic aim to acquire and/or develop the required technologies to be able to offer a highly integrated C4i capability for the dismounted soldier.”

Situational awareness remains the cornerstone of the IDSS capabilities,
either as an infantry systems or potentially linked into AFV via ROVIS.
© Cobham Defence Communications

The resulting product, called the Integrated Digital Soldier System (IDSS), was the C4i solution deployed on the UK’s FIST COEIA (Combined Operational Effectiveness and Investment Appraisal) trials in autumn 2007. Taking the almost unique approach of developing and producing both the hardware and the Battle Management Software (a system known as ‘BattleHawk’), the company provided an end-to-end situational awareness, communications and navigation solution. The only ‘3rd party’ product included in the COEIA system being the communications bearer.

Asked about Cobham’s track record in land platform intercoms, Northam answered, “Our ROVIS system (originally an acronym of Royal Ordnance Vehicle Intercom System, which gives some insight as to the pedigree of the technology), has over the past decade become the foremost intercom system used by western defence forces, due to the adoption of the system by the US Army as their standard intercom.” Northam continued, “In the US, we supply our product through Northrop Grumman as the prime supplier, although the technology is developed and owned by Cobham.”

Northam argues that having recognised the opportunity to integrate Cobham’s Intercom and dismounted technologies, the company is now in the ideal position to be able to offer customers and users costeffective Soldier Modernisation solutions that are effectively off-the-shelf. “An important step in providing an effective link between ROVIS and the dismounted troops was the development of our Eagle radio”, Northam explained. “Although we had already provided a wireless link using existing Personal Role Radios, the Eagle was developed as a low-cost ad-hoc networking radio for short range section level communications. Eagle also provides full duplex capability and automatic rebroadcast of both voice and data, making it ideally suited for use by mounted or dismounted infantry in both urban and rural operations”.

The ad-hoc networking capability is managed within the Eagle radio automatically, without placing any additional management burden on users even whilst the network splits and reforms seamlessly to suit the topography at any moment. With Eagle, the network management role passes automatically from radio to radio depending upon the density of RF signals at any time. Cobham refer to this feature as a dynamic network controller, and point out that another benefit of this system is that there is no single ‘master’ radio within the network that would represent a weak point. “Particularly important to providing the functionality and robustness of an Eagle network is the fact that unlike most networks, the Eagle does not rely on a fixed master radio”. Northam explains, “A fixed master is by default a weak link in the chain, if you lose the master you lose the whole network unless you stop to reprogramme radios. If an infantry section splits into two parts, either due to range or obstructions such as buildings in an urban environment, the Eagle network will, within less than a second, establish two dynamic controllers and continue as two separate networks until they rejoin.”

The Eagle CCR is a short range product intended for section level communications;
typically this type of radio will be deployed at the individual soldier level with a longer
range communications bearer at section level for communications to platoon and beyond.
© Cobham Defence Communications

The combination of ROVIS, IDSS and Eagle lends itself to a very specific level of digitization for dismounted soldiers operating both in independent teams and linked to Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV). The Eagle CCR is a short range product intended for section level communications; typically this type of radio will be deployed at the individual soldier level with a longer range communications bearer at section level for communications to platoon and beyond. A further, and important, advantage of using Eagle as an extension to the platform intercom is that by incorporating a twin PTT (Press To Talk), Eagle users can access the Combat Net Radio within their host vehicle.

Cobham believe they are quite possibly unique in that they have to date, developed and produced both hardware and software for their products in-house, including complex systems such as IDSS and Eagle. Northam explained the benefits of this approach, “Having full control over the design of the system from start to finish, including hardware and software, has not only allowed us to respond quickly when the need arises, but has allowed us to be very creative in areas such as active power management. As we have taken a modular approach to the development of the IDSS, with hardware and functionality matched to the needs and abilities of certain user groups, we have maintained a common software core across the suite of hardware devices, thus avoiding the problems of interfacing equipment from several different suppliers. Our preferred approach is an end-to-end complete solution, but we are equally prepared to provide elements of our technology into a system where this might better suit the user’s needs.” Elements of the IDSS system include the SOLDIER DATA TERMINAL (SDT) a rugged militarised, yet lightweight data terminal designed for single handed operation; the Miniature Data Terminal (MDT), a small wristwatch size unit that provides the rifleman with a basic and easy to use visual display of relative and absolute position and heading; and the SOLDIER INTERFACE UNIT (SIU) an electronic unit located within the Lightweight Integrated Harness and providing power supply, GPS and interfaces to external systems.”

Northam stresses the benefits of the IDSS to users, “IDSS provides a fully integrated Combat Management System that allows users to monitor, decide and act effectively during the chaos of close combat. With IDSS the user has full digital mapping, navigation, Situational Awareness and integrated Command and Control. This allows a faster op-tempo, and improves Survivability and Lethality of the soldier and his section.” The IDSS has been used in range of programmes including the FIST COEIA trials, a RHIB boat solution for New Zealand, and a few specialised niche applications. The Eagle has so far been delivered to Egypt and will also be the section level communications bearer for the NZ system (known as MIOS – Marine Interdiction Operations System).

Situational awareness remains the cornerstone of the IDSS capabilities, either as an infantry system or potentially linked into AFV via ROVIS and Eagle. This capability can be enhanced with links into ISR capabilities, networked directly into the IDSS and displayed on its screen. Northam cited interest from customers for a number of applications, including throwable disposable sensors, display and annotation of video feeds from UAVs, control platforms for unmanned vehicles , sniper detection and even sniper control systems.

Cobham say they have continued to invest significantly in developing the IDSS as perceived customer needs also develop, despite the delays in some of the potential programs the company would like to engage with. Northam commented, “We are very serious about setting the standard for soldier C4i systems, and we believe our investment so far has demonstrated this.” ■