Preliminary Conference Agenda

1 Evaluate How The Changing Nature Of Warfare Is Affecting The Capability Requirements Of Communication Systems

• Identify how communications systems and networks need to be updated to match the developing structure of the armed forces
• Evaluate probable future operational requirements
• Supporting current operations versus planning for both the near and long-term future
• Prioritising the need for investment in communications programmes that support urgent operational requirements and allow for long-term risks

2 Understand The Role Of The Communications Infrastructure As A Key Enabler For NCW Capabilities

• Building a network infrastructure that facilitates real-time, high-speed dissemination of critical information and intelligence
• Benchmark current and emerging tactical communications projects and how these relate to the timeframe set for the transformation of NCW (NEC)
• Setting priorities for overcoming the challenges of updating the communications infrastructure

3 Evaluating The UK’s Communications Urgent Operational Requirements

• Summarising the Urgent Operational Requirements
• Setting out the procurement strategy for fulfilling the UORs
• Setting the timeline for filling the capability gaps
• The role of industry in fulfilling the prioritised Urgent Operational Requirements

4 Defining, Developing And Structuring Communications Systems That Support Current And Future Coalition Operations

• Challenges of aligning national versus coalition communications acquisition needs
• Developing a robust network that supports coalition operations and facilitates interoperability
• Outlining the acquisition process and evaluating the prioritisation of requirements
• Evaluate the optimal way to support future joint operations

5 Developing And Structuring Procurement Processes That Facilitate Communications Programmes Designed To Enhance Functional And Technical Capabilities

• Evaluate current procurement processes
• How can the military and industry collaborate to overcome the challenges of taking a programme through from procurement to being fully operational?
• Assess the ways that exploiting COTS technology alters the procurement processes
• Resource management: prioritising competing capability requirements and maximising cost-efficiency

6 Communications In The Deployed Coalition Environment: Overcoming The Challenge Of Aligning National Versus Coalition Communications Acquisition Needs

• The requirements of communications systems and networks in the coalition environment
• Balancing the need for interoperability against issues of cost and security
• Considering joint operations during national planning, investment and procurement
• Does there have to be a trade-off when prioritising national and coalition capability requirements?
• The role of NATO and other international organizations in developing and promoting common standards that will facilitate interoperability in the joint domain

7 Capability Management: Identifying Capability Requirements And Balancing Available Resources

• Detailing the country specific continued resource pressures
• Balancing urgent operational requirements against longer term planning and training
• System upgrades: ensuring that the improvement in functionality is cost-effective
• Better planning that mitigates the risk of budget shortfalls

8 How COTS Communications Technology Is Transforming Battlefield Capabilities

• The challenges and benefits of adopting COTS solutions
• Finding the match and adapting to fit
• Exploiting commercial research and development
• Wireless and mobile technologies: exploring the potential for leveraging commercial advances in these rapidly developing areas

9 Facilitating Interoperability: Examining The Use Of Common Standards And Systems Architectures

• Outlining key standardization initiatives including JTRS Software Communications Architecture (SCA)
• Using rapidly deployable multi-standard networks: lessons learned from recent deployments and possibilities for exploiting these further with Software Defined Radio
• NATO’s role as a developer and regulator of international standards and architectures
• Working with industry partners to facilitate commonality of standards

10 Prioritising Investment To Improve Connectivity: Better Understanding And Exploiting The Uses Of Satellite Communications Systems

• Current and future capabilities of MilSatCom
• Maximising connectivity: using MilSatCom as a flexible and resistant means of supporting unpredictable deployment
• Examining the evolution of satellite access – high quality, high bandwidth communication links

11 Defining The Future Requirements For Recruitment, Training, Organisation And Resource Management That Will Facilitate The Success Of Specific Communications Programmes

• Assessing the effect of limited human resources on successfully operating complex communications programmes
• Outlining the complexities of training sufficient human resources
• Setting priorities for overcoming these issues using policy change and resource planning
• Operational success: what lessons can be learned

12 Implementing Network Enabled Capabilities (NEC) In The British Army: How Are Communications Programmes Including BOWMAN, Falcon And Cormorant Developing Operational Capabilities

• Highlighting the successful delivery and implementation of BOWMAN and the proven benefits delivered in theatre: how are operational capabilities being enhanced
• Progress on other communications programmes, including Falcon and Cormorant
• Overcoming the challenges of implementing large scale communications programmes: setting priorities and timescales for implementing NEC

13 Overcoming The Challenges Of Delivering Complex Technical Communications Programmes

• Experiences from the deployment of specific communications programmes
• Identifying the challenges that have arisen
• Avoiding over-optimism: what data or processes are required to ensure that the challenges involved are fully taken into account?
• Balancing end-user requirements against considerations of other technical requirements and affordability
• Working with the prime contractor and sub-contractors to mitigate the risk of over-spend

14 Next-Generation MilSatCom: Evaluate The Successes To Date And The Technological Possibilities For The Future – The Syracuse Programme

• Using systems architecture to maximize flexibility and prevent requirement changes necessitating costly upgrades or reconfigurations
• Using Syracuse to achieve greater connectivity
• Planned future phases for Syracuse: how will the technology develop the French communications infrastructure?
• Building a robust communications network: how does the satellite communications programme link with other communications systems and what are the future technological possibilities?

15 The Role Of MilSatCom In Providing And Sharing Instantaneous Voice And Data Connectivity Between Ground, Sea And Air Platforms: The UK Skynet 5 Programme

• Outlining the aims of Skynet 5
• Exploiting advancements in technology to provide a reliable, robust and secure network
• Utilising industry expertise to maximize the technological possibilities
• How will Skynet 5 provide the stated connectivity between ground, sea and air?
• Enhancing the communications service coverage through commercial augmentation

16 Evaluate The Evolving Role Of MilSatCom In Meeting The Demands Of Network Centric Warfare

• Analyse the practical realities of using satellite communications in the tactical environment
• Next-generation satellite-based technologies and IP-based applications
• Expanding the functionalities of satellite applications
• What are the threats associated with increased use of satellite communications systems

17 Tactical Communications And Information Systems In The Joint Deployed Environment: Prioritising The Need For Investment

• Profiling existing capabilities in the joint tactical environment
• Identifying the capability gaps and prioritising the technical and functional requirements to fill them
• Evaluating the way in which country-specific communications programmes facilitate joint operations
• If there are gaps in joint capabilities, what are the implications for national tactical communications programmes and how should investment be prioritized? 

18 Implementing A Tactical Information Network: A Case-Study On The US Warfighter Information Network-Tactical

• Current and future requirements of a tactical information network
• Designing the network to meet requirements and end-user functionality
• Current capabilities of WIN-T and challenges overcome
• Leveraging developments in the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Programme to enhance the functionality of WIN-T

19 Spectrum Management: Evaluate Current Inefficiencies And Identify The Strategies That Can Overcome Them (A Case-Study – UK/US)

• Outlining the current spectrum challenges
• Evaluating spectrum management in the civil communications sector: what lessons can be learned and applied by the military
• Using commercial solutions that allow a greater throughput of data
• Policy developments that will shape future spectrum usage
• Addressing the challenges of spectrum management in the joint domain

20 Interoperability Of Tactical communications Systems: Identify And Evaluate The Relative Challenges, Possibilities And Priorities

• Defining interoperability: facilitating data sharing and connectivity between different units of national forces, as well as connecting coalition forces
• Voice and data connectivity: building a network of systems that allows voice communications and the transfer of information in real-time
• Identifying the relative challenges of network design, application and through-life management
• Examining technological developments that open up possibilities for greater levels of interoperability
• Spend-management: prioritising technology development and investment to maximize functionality within the defined budgetary limits

21 Evaluate How Software Defined Radio (SDR) Can Be Applied In The Tactical Communications Domain

• Analyse how SDR capability can enhance the and facilitate the network centric warfare vision
• Using Software Communications Architectures to allow incremental technological upgrades
• SDR in the joint deployed domain: the importance of setting standards
• Swedish plans for procurement of radio forms and waveform applications

22 Overcome Network Challenges In The Changing Deployed Domain

• The influence of the changing nature of warfare on the requirements of a communications and information network
• Operational lessons learned that can be applied to future networks
• Applications of wireless technology in the deployed domain

23 Software Defined Radio Technological Advancements: A Deep-Dive Into The Advancements That Have Been Made

• Developments in waveform design that affect portability
• Opportunities for sharing the cost through strategic partnering

24 Balancing Functionality Versus Affordability: When Is Software Defined Radio Most Cost Effective?

• Analysing the Total Cost Of Ownership of SDR versus other tactical communications systems
• The impact of implementing SDR on the network centric warfare vision
• Assessing potential functionality and the benefits delivered to the warfighter
• Setting priorities for investment

25 Overcoming The Challenge Of Ensuring Interoperability In An Environment Of Rapidly Developing Technology

• Using information exchange agreements to maximize knowledge sharing
• The benefits of the Common Requirement Team 6 (CRT 6) Framework agreement in allowing nations to utilize developing technology, whilst facilitating interoperability
• Using standards to facilitate buyer choice without precluding interoperability or systems upgrades
• Developments in Software Communications Architectures (SCA)

26 Developing Tactical Communications Systems That Facilitate Network Centric Warfare: A Case-Study On The Eastern European Approach

• Benchmarking current communications capabilities and identifying the requirement gaps
• Prioritising the functional requirements to identify the need for investment
• Spend management: achieving a balance between mid-life upgrades and investing in new systems
• Partnering with industry: opportunities for knowledge exchange 

27 India’s Tactical Communication System (TCS): Setting Priorities For Investment And Identifying The Potential Challenges And Benefits – A Case-Study

• Outlining the aims and objectives of the TCS
• The procurement phase: the requirements set out for potential industry partners
• The benefits that the TCS will offer the Indian Armed Forces and potential alliance partners

28 Collaboration And Cooperation: Sweden’s Common Tactical Radio System

• An update on the Common Tactical Radio System (GTRS) plans for the procurement of radio terminals
• Understand the future requirements and procurement plans for the programme: the incremental approach
• Ensuring the security of the system
• Utilising international partnerships to secure critical ‘know-how’
• Securing funding for future phases of the system

30 Maximising Security Of Communications Systems For Current And Future Operations

• Identify the threats to security on current operations
• Secure data and voice communications via encryption technologies 
• Emerging technologies to maximize information assurance
• Balance the needs of securing communications on current operations against the long-term risks
• NATO secure communication interoperability protocol

31 Case-Study -  The Falcon Programme

32 Delivering Communications Equipment That Is Fit for Purpose: Translating Functional Requirements Into Technical Requirements – An End-User Case Study

• Evaluate the success of the BOWMAN project in the deployed environment
• The importance of ensuring that the end-users requirements – size, weight and power – are taken into account when designating the requirements for the technical contract
• Evaluating the future requirements of the end-users

33 Understand The Strategic Requirements Of The UK Tactical Communications Systems

34 Evaluate The Successes Of The UK’s Current Communications Programmes and Prioritise The Needs For Future Investment