Applied Vehicle Technology Human Factors and Medicine Information Systems Technology Modelling and Simulation System Analysis and Studies

Systems Concepts and Integration Sensors and Electronics Technology

NATOResearch & Technology Organisation

Targeting Tomorrow’s Challenges

10th ANN

IVERSARY - 10e ANNIVERSAIRE

1998 - 2008

www.rto.nato.int

Published January 2009

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TARGETING TOMORROW’S CHALLENGES

Foreword by IGA Jacques Bongrand

Chairman, Research and Technology Board North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

It is my pleasure to introduce to you this booklet on the NATO Research and Technology Organisation (RTO). Inside it you will find an overview of the RTO and information on some of the many activities in which we are involved. The RTO continues to be the largest organisation of its type in the world, offering dozens of forums annually to the 26 NATO Nations. In addition, we invite the Partnership for Peace (PfP) Nations to participate in most of our activities and open an increasing number of activities to the Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) Nations for their participation. Thousands of scientists, engineers, administrators and managers from NATO and Partner Nations have taken advantage of these opportunities during the past year and I have every expectation that this level of involvement will continue.

Presenting this Organisation, I would like to emphasise the three main features that make the RTO utterly relevant in facing the challenges of our complex world.

Firstly, we all know that we need to belong to a number of networks if we want to better understand and influence our environment, to carry out our projects efficiently and to contribute to the progress of our civilisation. In this regard, RTO is a highly valuable network of technologists from Allied Nations, dedicated to sharing their knowledge and ideas outside of commercial competition, for the benefit of all.

Secondly, I hope that you will agree that technology is a mighty tool that transforms dreams and wishes into reality. Man wanted to fly like birds, so he designed aircraft; he wanted to communicate all around the world, so he developed a plethora of devices such as satellites, television and mobile phones. Let us not forget that the investment we make in the RTO represents both security for our Nations and the assurance of a more peaceful world.

Lastly, we know that science and technology progress at such a tremendous rate that non-technologists need continuous advice to make the best use of the entire spectrum of knowledge that is available. It is the task of the RTO to provide such advice, both within the Nations and within the Alliance, liaising with the entire NATO Research and Technology (R&T) community that collaborated to make the first R&T Day in October 2008 an overwhelming success.

Our outstanding Research and Technology Agency (RTA), headquartered near Paris, has prepared this booklet for you. It is an excellent example of their work, so please contact them at any time should you have comments, questions and/or concerns. The small, professional staff of this Agency is eager to provide any assistance needed.

IGA Bongrand RTB Chairman

IGA Jacques Bongrand, Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the Secretary General of NATO,

and RAdm Christian Canova at the NATO R&T Symposium on 23 October 2008.

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Introduction by Dr. Greg Schneider

Director, NATO Research and Technology Agency North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

NATO will mark its 60th Anniversary in 2009. Remarkably, the heritage of the NATO Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) extends nearly as long, thanks to the visionary leadership of Dr. Theodore von Kármán. As the RTO enters its second decade in its current form, its continued vibrant existence testifies to the value that Nations and NATO place on the co-operative research and network of experts that comprise the RTO. As a forum where Nations can pursue their common defence research interests, the RTO enables Nations to effectively leverage their separate investments to stay abreast of rapidly changing technologies and ahead of innovative and dynamic threats.

The Research and Technology Agency (RTA) continues to adapt to the needs and opportunities of the times to improve our ability to support the RTO network, as well as the other Alliance bodies needing assistance from the RTO. We are testing an improved collaborative working environment that should

simplify the use of the on-line workspaces provided to our Panels and Technical Teams. As well, we have recently modified some of our publication policies and processes that have dramatically reduced the time to release Meeting Proceedings.

Under the auspices of the Research and Technology Co-ordination Group (RTCG), and with the support of the Defence Investment Division and the Public Diplomacy Division of the International Staff, the NATO R&T Day Exhibition and Symposium were held at NATO HQ in October 2008, in conjunction with the Fall meeting of the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD). This landmark event, highlighting the co-ordination of all of the NATO R&T bodies, enjoyed participation by the CNAD Main Armament Groups (MAGs), Allied Command Transformation (ACT), NATO Undersea Research Centre (NURC), NATO Consultation, Command, and Control Agency (NC3A), NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG), the Science for Peace and Security Committee (SPSC), and the RTO. The two-day Exhibition and one-day Symposium drew hundreds of interested visitors from the Nations and from across NATO HQ, and illustrated the breadth of R&T work being conducted under the NATO umbrella. In addition, the CNAD dedicated a portion of its agenda to address the strategic role of R&T in NATO and its value to the Alliance and its Member Nations.

The RTO continues to promote and foster not only a vast network of scientists and engineers from NATO Nations, but also an ever-growing collection of experts from Partner Nations. Given the universal language of science and the rapid globalisation of threats, the RTO provides an excellent forum for engaging the defence research communities of peace-seeking Nations to improve our mutual understanding of not just technologies, but of our cultures and values. With over 130 activities on-going at any time, the RTO covers a wide swath of military and dual-use technologies. However, all of this relies on the contributions of NATO and the Nations to identify and support the participation of their experts.

In this booklet, you will find an outline of the role and organisation of the RTO and its supporting agency, the RTA. You will also find some excellent examples of the current work and recent accomplishments of the RTO. The RTO has a proud history and a bright future. I invite you to learn more about our work in the following pages and at our website www.rto.nato.int.

The Organisation Formed in 1998 by the merger of the Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development (AGARD) and the Defence Research Group (DRG), the RTO is the primary NATO organisation for defence science and technology. The RTO reports to both the CNAD and the Military Committee (MC); it has both a governing board and technical panels, and it integrates the research and technical missions of its predecessors.

The RTO promotes and conducts co-operative research and information exchange, develops and maintains a long-term NATO research and technology strategy, and provides advice to all elements of NATO on research and technology issues. In pursuit of this mission, the RTO operates at three levels – the Research and Technology Board, Technical Panels and Technical Teams – and is supported in its efforts by an executive agency, the RTA.

Fig. 1 illustrates the hierarchy of these three levels, along with the role of the RTA.

Figure 1: RTO Organisation.

Dr. Schneider RTA Director

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The following paragraphs explain, in more detail, the role of the Technical Panels (AVT, HFM and so on), the NATO Modelling and Simulation Group (NMSG) and the Information Management Committee (IMC).

The Research and Technology Board (RTB) constitutes the highest authority in RTO. It is the policy body tasked by the North Atlantic Council, through the CNAD and MC (see Fig. 2), to serve as the single integrating body within NATO for the direction and/or co-ordination of defence research and technology. Its membership comprises up to three leading personalities in defence research and technology from each NATO Nation. The members are chosen by the Nations and may be from government, academia or industry. Typically, Board members are senior science and technology executives at the deputy under-secretary, deputy assistant secretary or deputy administrator level.

Figure 2: RTO in the NATO Structure.

The RTB also has ex-officio members from Allied Command Transformation (ACT), NATO C3 Agency (NC3A), Main Armaments Groups (MAGs), NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG), NATO Undersea Research Centre (NURC) and Science for Peace and Security Committee (SPSC).

The Chairman of the RTB is a senior member of the Board, elected by the national members for a three-year term.

Each Nation also appoints a National Co-ordinator to administer its RTO activities.

Technical Panels and Group – The total spectrum of R&T activities is addressed by six Technical Panels covering a wide range of scientific research activities, a Group specialising in modelling and simulation, and a Committee dedicated to supporting the information management needs of the organisation:

AVT Applied Vehicle Technology Panel

HFM Human Factors and Medicine Panel

IST Information Systems Technology Panel

SAS System Analysis and Studies Panel

SCI Systems Concepts and Integration Panel

SET Sensors and Electronics Technology Panel

NMSG NATO Modelling and Simulation Group

IMC Information Management Committee

These bodies are made up of national representatives as well as generally recognised world-class scientists, engineers and information specialists. They also provide a communication link to military users and other NATO bodies.

The scientific and technological work of the RTO is carried out by Technical Teams, created under one or more of these eight bodies, for specific activities which have a defined duration. Such teams are typically formed as focus groups performing dedicated research activities in their area of scientific expertise. Research activities often involve Task Groups, Workshops, Symposia, Lecture Series and Technical Courses. In all cases, these activities result in the publication of highly valued scientific literature, published by the RTO. The results of the RTO’s research can also be found in some specific peer-review journals.

An abstract of every publication can be viewed on the RTO website (www.rto.nato.int). Depending on their classification, the full text of many of these reports can be downloaded. CD-ROM copies may also be obtained from one of the National Distribution Centres or can be purchased from one of the RTA Sales Agencies, details of which can be found on the website.

The RTO actively supports NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) and Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) initiatives, and is proceeding with improving relations with Russia and Ukraine. Each year, the RTO seeks to increase the number of activities open to PfP Nations and sponsors PfP-specific Board and Panel Meetings.

Research and Technology Agency (RTA) – The supporting agency has approximately 30 NATO civilian staff and a further twenty, both military and civilian, provided voluntarily by Member Nations for limited periods. Its headquarters are in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris (Fig. 3).

Figure 3: RTA Headquarters near Paris, France.

NATO R&T Strategy ‘The Research and Technology Strategy for NATO’ (formally approved by the North Atlantic Council in November 2005) is a top-level strategy document which identifies goals and objectives for the NATO organisations involved in R&T. This document applies globally to all NATO R&T organisations and provides basic guidance

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on how they should function in support of the Member Nations and the Alliance. The five goals of this strategy are:

1) Align NATO R&T to the NATO priorities of transformation and the security environment, in co-operation with MC and CNAD;

2) Establish effective NATO R&T co-ordination through clear and evident leadership;

3) Provide best advice on present and future needs; 4) Improve the exploitation and dissemination of R&T; 5) Create the most effective and enabling R&T

collaborative environment.

These goals, as well as the supporting actions identified in the strategy, provide top-level direction for the RTO’s Rolling Plan.

NATO Guidance The RTO objectives are determined by assessing input and/or guidance from the NATO Nations (via the RTB), the NATO R&T Strategy, the CNAD, the Military Committee and the NATO Strategic Commands.

NATO’s Strategic Vision provides a long-term view of the way that future Alliance military operations will be conducted. In support of this strategic vision, Allied Command Transformation (ACT) has developed Long-Term Capability Requirements (LTCRs) identifying capabilities that NATO foresees as necessary over the next 10 – 15 years, such as improved networking and capabilities that can enhance the effectiveness of the NATO Response Force (NRF). In many cases, the development of solutions to meet these capabilities will rely significantly on R&T. In addition, the RTO is addressing long-term technology needs in support of NATO Defence Against Terrorism (DAT) efforts.

The RTO’s programme guidance – that is, the RTO Rolling Plan – is therefore a synthesis of the guidance provided by NATO with the priorities of the Member Nations for relevant R&T collaboration within NATO.

RTO Rolling Plan One of the responsibilities of the RTB is to establish a long-term R&T Rolling Plan, based upon the operational requirements of the NATO Commanders and the demands of the Nations. This Rolling Plan describes the priorities and projected actions required for the formulation of the R&T programme.

The ‘rolling’ nature of the plan refers to the periodic revision of RTO objectives based on changing requirements and new developments in technology. Each year, the R&T Rolling Plan will be updated to reflect current critical requirements and RTB decisions.

Starting the cycle at the Spring Panel meetings, the Rolling Plan, along with conclusions from the recently completed Strategic Planning Session (SPS), provides each Panel with ‘top-down’ guidance from the RTB. This guidance, alongside the traditional ‘bottom-up’ process whereby research requirements are developed at the scientific level, is then used to help Panels develop planning documents for new activities.

Over the summer, the Rolling Plan is updated and presented at the Fall RTB meeting for approval. At the follow-on Fall Panel meetings, Panels further refine the planning documents previously developed and discuss the proposed input for the next draft of the Rolling Plan.

During the winter, this input is considered by the RTB Chairman as the agenda is prepared for the next Strategic Planning Session.

At the Spring SPS, the Rolling Plan is reviewed by the RTB and recommended changes are submitted to the Spring Executive Session for RTB review and approval.

After the Executive Session, the cycle begins again, with the Panels once more considering new activities based on RTB guidance and ‘bottom-up’ input from Panel members.

Fig. 4 shows how the RTO Rolling Plan is developed in a nominal yearly cycle and can be used to support Panel Programme of Work (PoW) development.

Figure 4: RTO Rolling Plan Cycle.

The Work of the RTO Panels and the NATO Modelling and Simulation Group As outlined above, the scientific work of the RTO is carried out under the auspices of the six Technical Panels and the NATO Modelling and Simulation Group. The following pages review the mission areas of each Panel and Group, along with some examples of the most important work they have undertaken recently, and also offer a brief insight into some of the major activities in 2008 and beyond.

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The Applied Vehicle Technology Panel (AVT)

The AVT Mission The Applied Vehicle Technology Panel strives to improve the performance, affordability and safety of vehicles through advancement of appropriate technologies. The Panel addresses vehicle platforms, propulsion and power systems operating in all environments (land, sea, air and space), for both ageing as well as future vehicle systems.

In fulfilling this mission, the Panel is focused on three disciplines: mechanical systems, structures and materials; performance, stability and control, fluid physics; and propulsion and power systems. The Panel carefully reviews proposed future activities to ensure the coherence and balance as well as the relevance of its programme. In this process, specific emphasis is placed on NATO’s long-term requirements and on-going programmes, such as Defence Against Terrorism (DAT). This way, the members of this strong community of researchers are constantly aware of NATO’s current and future needs when they provide their contributions to NATO’s capabilities.

The trend of addressing subject areas common to all theatres of military operations as well as application-oriented technology has thus been successfully adopted. It encompasses an intense consideration of NATO’s needs and works in close co-operation with the Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and all relevant elements of the structure under the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD).

Activities of the AVT Panel To accomplish their mission, AVT Panel members exploit their joint expertise in:

• Mechanical systems, structures and materials; • Propulsion and power systems; and • Performance, stability and control, and fluid physics.

Figure 5: Nanowire Sensor.

The technical activities AVT performs within and across these three disciplines may be grouped into two broad technology areas:

1) Vehicle and platform technologies, including: vehicle and platform design – configurational fluid dynamics and fluid mechanics – stability and control – noise and vibration control – structural loads and dynamics – smart structures – structural materials and manufacturing processes – affordability, availability, survivability and supportability – reliability, maintenance and repair – environmental impact – testing.

2) Propulsion and power technologies, including: air-breathing engine design (piston, gas turbine, ramjet/ scramjet) – rocket motors and rocket-based combined cycles – electric propulsion including hybrid systems – engine control and thrust vectoring – power generation and storage – fuels and combustion – power-plant materials and structures – propellants and explosives – operation, health monitoring, reliability, maintenance and affordability – environmental impact – testing.

Figure 6: Test of a Rocket Motor.

The challenges NATO faces today require innovative technologies in vehicle design in order to achieve larger payload, wider range, higher speed, improved deployability and increased versatility, to name only a few. The AVT Panel is dedicated to investigating and providing suitable technologies, such as:

• Health management/monitoring of propulsion systems; • Compact high-power density prime movers, energy

generation and storage; • Drag reduction for sea and air vehicles; • Morphing aircraft;

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• Design for disposal of munitions; • Self-healing materials, damage repair in the field; and • Lightweight armour for both vehicles and personnel.

Figure 7: Computation of Vortex Flow around Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) Flying Wing Configuration.

A substantial amount of research is done on nanotechnology for applications in military vehicles (such as stronger/stiffer materials, coatings), and power systems for military applications (reduced fuel-consumption, lightweight and man-portable alternative sources such as fuel cells). Presently, the most visible application of a large number of these new technologies is unmanned vehicles for air, sea and land (covering all aspects of their aerodynamic and structural design, control and power supply, including Micro-unmanned Aerial Vehicles (MAVs)) and the design and application of greener munition technology.

Examples of Recent Work carried out by the AVT Panel

MEMS Technology and Application – Support Project

The Applied Vehicle Technology Panel (AVT) has been very active in advocating for and securing funding from the RTO Support Programme (SP) to ‘provide assistance to NATO Nations for the purpose of increasing their scientific and technical potential’. This has been accomplished in a variety of ways, ranging from travel assistance for AVT meetings and technical activities, to financial support for individual research projects conducted through a teaming arrangement between a ‘supported’ Nation and one or more ‘supporting’ Nations. AVT uses the RTO Support Programme to foster a true collaborative integration of supported Nations into the AVT technical activities. There are currently eight active ‘Support Projects’ within the AVT Panel.

An example of one such support project is the LTU-AVT-05/1 project on “MEMS Technology and Applications”. This project was conducted in Lithuania and was actively supported by researchers in the United States and Belgium.

Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) is the integration of mechanical elements, sensors, actuators and

electronics on a common substrate through micro-fabrication technology. MEMS are an enabling technology that may potentially offer improved vehicle performance and reliability to increase the capability of NATO forces. Some specific vehicle MEMS applications encounter unique challenges due to both demanding operational and environmental standards and stringent reliability and performance degradation requirements. With the parallel development of new technologies and new device configurations, and new applications for micro-sensors, micro-actuators and micro-systems, a growing need has arisen for research in order to achieve maximum MEMS performance.

The LTU-AVT-05/1 Support Project focused on both the development of new modelling and simulation tools and validation techniques/methodologies for MEMS performance assessment in a vibration environment and the demonstration of MEMS applications under these conditions.

Novel computational models and software tools were developed and applied to analyse the dynamic behaviour of MEMS resonators. A new methodology was recommended to derive an approximation of the thermal-elastic damping in resonator structures, which involved the integration of modelling, analysis and evaluation for MEMS devices. The methodology was validated and its efficiency was proved numerically and experimentally at the research establishments of ‘supported’ and ‘supporting’ Nations.

In addition to the network which has been established through the Support Project, several peer-reviewed technical papers have been presented in international journals and also at the NATO Military Sensing Symposium in Orlando, Florida, USA, in 2008.

Projects like these help shape the technical foundation for the seamless application of advanced technologies like MEMS into future NATO land, sea and air vehicles. In the not too distant future, MEMS devices will become essential elements in a variety of platforms that support the NATO warfighter.

Figure 8: Temperature Prediction of Vibrating MEMS.

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Environmental Impact of Munitions and Propellant Disposal

All Nations have a requirement to ensure that munitions are designed, manufactured, used and managed effectively, including the disposal of them in a safe, environmentally acceptable and cost-effective manner. It is essential to ensure that the environmental impact during and after use is dealt with effectively. The NATO RTO has supported the AVT-115 study on “Environmental Impact of Munition and Propellant Disposal” which has looked at the problems, needs and capabilities within NATO and PfP Nations.

This Task Group brought together knowledge of the environmental impact of munitions within their life cycle, as well as insight into the training and particulars of the demilitarisation process at the end of their service life. The NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA), one of whose roles is to manage the disposal of munitions for NATO Nations, actively participated in this study.

One goal of the AVT-115 Task Group was to organise a meeting that would invite discussions and presentations on these two topics, to bring together knowledge of these issues, and to discuss old and new needs, technology and problems.

In September 2007, the Task Group met at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Information Centre in Sofia, Bulgaria. The meeting was attended by over 42 scientists, users and representatives from 18 NATO/PfP Nations. The Meeting took place over two and a half days.

The main topics covered were: • Policy and problems; • Critical problems of utilisation; • Ways of dealing with sea dumping; • Contaminated land; • Demilitarisation/disposal and counter terrorism; • What must be done now and in the future; and • What technology gaps exist.

Overall the Group agreed that many of the problems of dealing with yesterday’s munitions had been solved, but that often the technology was not readily available where it was needed, and that future munitions pose new problems.

The meeting brought about many useful and animated debates and the discussions clearly demonstrated that there is a need for far more effective communication between NATO and PfP Nations in the field of munitions and their environmental impact.

Of special note was the participation of the NATO Defence Against Terrorism (DAT) team for whom this study filled a necessary gap in awareness and activity.

The AVT-115 team has already proposed a follow-on AVT activity which will deal with priority gaps. This Task Group will work hand-in-hand with the NIAG and with the CNAD Ammunition Safety Group (CASG) in order to incorporate the industrial and safety perspective.

Figure 9: Field Ammunition Disposal in Iraq.

Enhanced Aircraft Platform Availability

The change from the static disposition of armed forces during the Cold War era, to an expeditionary posture for the foreseeable future, has provided important impetus in many NATO Nations for a major review of the maintenance/support of military equipment, including aircraft. Maintenance/support concepts and technologies that will promote equipment availability are being sought, as well as smaller logistic footprints and effective expeditionary operations such as the NATO operations in the Balkans and Afghanistan. There has also been a trend to concentrate more capability in fewer aircraft. This trend has heightened the importance of aircraft availability (readiness), while making it more difficult to achieve.

The AVT-144 Technical Team on “Enhanced Aircraft Platform Availability Through Advanced Maintenance Concepts and Technologies” was established to identify advanced maintenance concepts and technologies that could be used to improve aircraft availability, and to help NATO forces in selecting the ones which will produce the desired return on investment. To address this diverse and complex subject, a highly successful Workshop was held in Vilnius, Lithuania. More than 80 specialists from 13 NATO Member Nations, along with participants from Australia and Sweden, brought their experience and views on aircraft availability and related managerial and technical issues.

The management of aircraft acquisition and support is complex, but the work of optimising aircraft platform availability can be expressed simply by the following set of goals:

• Minimise any loss of inherent reliability in service; • Avoid unnecessary preventive maintenance; • Minimise the net aircraft downtime for necessary

preventive maintenance; and • Minimise the net downtime for corrective maintenance,

i.e., diagnosis and repair.

To focus on the real drivers of aircraft availability and life-cycle cost, it is essential to use a systems engineering framework, including the Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) process for the management of acquisition and support.

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The engineering and managerial disciplines implicit in such an approach ensure that aircraft requirements are properly defined and are met at the lowest life-cycle cost. The approach also allows maintenance/support to be reorganised quickly and easily to meet new operational requirements.

This flexibility has facilitated the adaptation of NATO air forces to the changed operational posture mentioned earlier. The transformation programmes include aggressive initiatives to reduce the downtime for maintenance at organic depots and innovative long-term public/private partnerships to give contractors the incentives to improve aircraft availability.

Significant advances are also being made in equipment technologies to reduce the downtime for preventive and corrective maintenance. For example, advanced ground-based inspection techniques and automatic test systems making use of artificial intelligence are available to reduce aircraft downtime for ground-based inspections and fault diagnosis. In an effort to eliminate this downtime altogether, elaborate Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) systems are currently under development. A wide range of technologies is now available to manage the serious problem of corrosion. Finally, the effectiveness of maintenance and supply personnel can be greatly enhanced through advanced communications and information technologies.

The major conclusion that can be drawn from the AVT-144 Workshop is that there is a wide range of promising technologies for application to both new and legacy aircraft. It is important that these technologies be introduced selectively and carefully integrated with the maintenance/ support management concept for the aircraft. This approach will help NATO improve aircraft availability cost-effectively in the future.

Figure 10: Eurofighter Undergoing Maintenance.

Unmanned Vehicles State-of-the-Art

In May 2007, the Applied Vehicle Technology Panel (AVT) and the Systems Concepts and Integration Panel (SCI) held

a joint Symposium in Florence, Italy. The objective of the Symposium was to focus on the key technologies which permit the increased performance potential offered by autonomous or semi-autonomous systems to be fully exploited throughout the battlespace. A broad consideration of technologies was presented with sessions addressing platform mobility, autonomous control, platforms and control, multi-vehicle control, mobility and control, vision and platforms, as well as advanced concepts for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

Presentations during the AVT-146 Symposium, titled “Platform Innovations and System Integration for Unmanned Air, Land and Sea Vehicles”, addressed air, land and sea applications, allowing the different communities to exchange experiences. Keynote lectures focused on, for example, current experience in military UAV operations, unmanned naval operations and on technologies on autonomous navigation and multi-platform co-operation. The overall programme effectively covered the broad range of platform as well as systems issues of unmanned vehicles, including biologically inspired designs and morphing, sensing and actuation, platform autonomy, human-machine decision sharing including multi-vehicle control by a single operator, and the challenges to and advantages of unmanned vehicles.

It is becoming increasingly obvious that unmanned vehicles are producing revolutions in military capability. Although unmanned vehicles were initially accepted very slowly by the military operations, they are now being widely used. As a result of this increase in usage, there are common problems being addressed across all systems.

The cross-fertilisation of the AVT and SCI communities sparked excellent and fruitful technical discussions. It led to an interaction of platform technology experts with systems integration experts. Overall, the good balance between established programmes and emergent technologies generated numerous ideas and initiatives for future co-operative research work to investigate the critical technology areas in greater detail.

Figure 11: Predator UAV Mission Preparation.

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The Human Factors and Medicine Panel (HFM)

The HFM Mission The mission of the Human Factors and Medicine Panel is to provide the science and technology base for optimising health, human protection, well being and performance of the human in operational environments with consideration of affordability. This involves understanding and ensuring physical, physiological, psychological and cognitive compatibility among military personnel, technological systems, missions and environments. This is accomplished by the exchange of information, collaborative experiments and shared field trials.

Scope of the HFM Four

‘Area’ Committees The scope of the HFM Panel is multi-disciplinary and encompasses a wide range of theory, data, models, knowledge and practice pertaining to Operational Medicine (OM), Human Protection, Human Effectiveness and Human System Integration. These four domains are complementary and represent the four ‘Area’ Committees of the HFM Panel:

1) The Operational Medicine Area encompasses the aerospace, hyperbaric and military medicine necessary to ensure sustenance, physical and mental health, as well as the safety and survival of military personnel. Areas of interest include epidemiology, diagnosis, hygiene, fitness, nutrition, medical problems, pharmacology (e.g., drugs, vaccines and countermeasures), medical treatment and evacuation.

2) The Human Protection Area encompasses human-centred research for optimising human physiological tolerance, protection and survivability in adverse mission environments (e.g., cold, heat, hypobaric, hyperbaric, undersea, noise, vibration, motion, nuclear, biological, chemical, acceleration, ionising and non-ionising radiation).

3) The Human Effectiveness Area optimises individual readiness and organisational effectiveness by addressing psycho-social, organisational, cultural and cognitive aspects in military action. Contributions on individual readiness cover values and ethics, leadership, multi-national operations and coping with new demands on the individual. Contributions on organisational effectiveness encompass human resource management, training, interoperability, shared decision-making, synchronised situational awareness, understanding terrorism, psychological operations and coping with new demands on military organisations.

4) The Human System Integration Area optimises the performance of human-operated technical systems by addressing the human-machine interactions, processes, tools and measures of effectiveness. Specific contributions cover complexity, total life-cycle affordability, human error and fatigue management, intelligent agent, human-system communication, human cognitive and physical resources management, anthropometry, interface,

design of information displays and controls, human-human communication and teamwork, performance enhancement and aiding, training and function allocation in automated systems.

Co-operation within NATO and with Partners

The HFM Panel fosters co-operative research in behavioural sciences and medicine among NATO Nations. The HFM Panel reaches these goals by setting up co-operative demonstrations of technology and shared experiments, based upon international co-operation between, for example, the NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and the NATO Committee of Chiefs of Military Medical Services (COMEDS) on behavioural sciences and medicine. Ex-officio members of ACT and COMEDS join the Panel business meetings of the HFM Panel.

Within NATO, the Joint Medical Committee (JMC) advises the Senior Civil Emergency Planning Committee (SCEPC) on civil matters affecting NATO. JMC also acts as the co-ordinating body for the SCEPC regarding all medical policies, procedures and techniques.

On 10 September 2008, the RTA Director – Dr. Schneider, and the Vice-Chairman of JMC – Dr. Lecarpentier, signed a Letter of Intent for co-operation between the RTO and the JMC.

Figure 12: Dr. Schneider and Dr. Lecarpentier Sign the Letter of Intent.

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As a result of the open approach taken by the RTB and the HFM Panel, HFM Symposia are open for participants of Partnership for Peace (PfP) Nations and Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) countries.

In 2009, the Symposia taking place are HFM-168 on “Soldiers in Cold Environments”, to be held in Helsinki, Finland, in the Spring and HFM-181 on ‘“Human Performance Enhancement for NATO Military Operations”, to be held in Sofia, Bulgaria, in the Fall.

Examples of On-Going and Planned Activities of

the HFM Panel

Nutrition Science and Food Standards for Military

Advanced technologies in food science, food processing, preservation and packaging systems, as well as significant innovation in military ration development, combat feeding systems and food safety development, are widely seen as being beneficial to commanders in multi-national operations in a field setting. Unfortunately, adoption of any particular technology or product for Alliance support is hindered by the lack of standards which need to be uniquely tailored to support the NATO Response Force (NRF) concept.

It is in the context of this evolving, dynamic operational concept that an assessment of such critical, leading-edge sustainment technologies be conducted for technical maturity, functionality and operational utility for enhanced mission capability and combatant performance, providing proper nutrition and the right ration, at the right place at the right time.

Identification of supporting technologies and platforms providing a positive impact on NRF mission performance will support the development of targeted nutrition and food standards for NRF military operations. Information and technology assessment for the development of standards could lead to increased deployment of such advanced food and nutrition technologies, as well as increased interoperability during combined and joint operations.

Ultimately, the vision for a specific, nutritionally tailored, cost-effective combat ration designed for all NATO forces, seamlessly aligned and strategically designed to meet the operational requirements of the NATO Response Force (NRF) concept, could be realised.

The objective of the HFM Task Group 154 is to identify emerging technologies, products and innovations for combat feeding, nutrition and performance enhancing components across various ration platforms (individual, group and special purpose/assault rations) matched to the operational mission requirements of the deployed NRF.

This Task Group is also attempting to develop standards for nutrition, packaging and combat rations that support the NRF deployment doctrine, mission profile and operational

flexibility to ensure nutrition, combat feeding and performance are optimised as a combat force multiplier.

Impact of Gender Differences on Conducting Operational Activities

For many years, Nations have observed an increase in the number of female personnel in their armed forces, employed in a wide range of operational and support roles. This has resulted in the need to modify the organisation of the relationships in the military community. The presence of women in the military is not a temporary phenomenon, therefore it is necessary to reflect on a totally mixed military population, adapting the rules and the environment to this new situation, with the goal to maintain optimal performance of the forces and security of the personnel.

In October 2008, the HFM Panel organised the HFM-158 Symposium on “Impact of Gender Differences on Conducting Operational Activities”. The objectives of this Symposium were to investigate appropriate adaptation requirements for the military environment and demonstrate that it is possible for women to occupy all military positions.

Presentations were given and discussions were held on the differences in anthropometry, in physical qualification, in physical capabilities, in military relevant capabilities, in nutrition needs, in psychophysiology and in psycho-sociology.

Some of the observations of the Symposium were: • Through historical examples or through current

benefits reported by the speakers of this RTO HFM Symposium on Gender Differences, there is no doubt that the integration of women in the military is strengthening its operational capability, however the pace of this integration varies between countries.

• All participants perceived that the right approach within the RTO is to focus on science and not on similarities or differences.

• Managing diversity is a comprehensive process that takes time – the Symposium has been considered a facilitator for this process.

• In managing the differences between our soldiers, based upon individual performance as opposed to gender, the military will become stronger.

Figure 13: Shooting Simulation Training.

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Impact of Lifestyle and Health Status on Military Fitness

Military fitness is influenced by lifestyle and health status. In the past two decades there have been massive lifestyle changes and changes in health status due to technical progress, changes in leisure time activities, nutritional status, as well as social and economic development. It is expected that these changes will affect military recruitment, retention and readiness in the near future. Unfortunately, databases either do not exist or are not well designed to support the research required to address these issues.

Within the armed forces, the effective interventions to counteract the negative impact of these trends will lead to a higher state of military readiness and lower health-care costs.

The objectives of the HFM Task Group 178 are: • To scrutinise the underlying negative trends; • To identify and evaluate relevant data sources; • To develop a template database (e.g., combined

physiological, anthropometrical and lifestyle data) and tools for pre-employment screening, personnel planning and design of equipment and workplaces; and

• To identify effective interventions (e.g., strategies for education and training).

Soldiers in Cold Environments

In all countries with cold seasons, soldiers are faced with the challenges of functioning in a cold environment – from carrying out fine motor tasks with low physical activity and the difficulties in keeping warm and dry, to the dangers of immobilisation. Moreover, international missions in cold locations may require an even higher level of preparedness if troops are unfamiliar with working in the cold.

For optimal performance in all military activities carried out in cold conditions, special skills in logistics, leadership and field medicine are required at the individual level. Protective garments, weapons and vehicles also need to be appropriate for the cold. Many of the problems caused by cold can be minimised by adequate training, optimal planning of military tasks, monitoring and systematic development of cold-protective garments and shelters.

It is important to maintain a comprehensive knowledge of soldier performance in the cold, as the focus nowadays is on performance in the heat. There is new and applicable information available on soldiers operating in cold environments which should be disseminated and discussed amongst researchers and military personnel.

From 20-22 April 2009, the HFM Panel will hold a Symposium entitled “Soldiers in Cold Environments”, the objective of which is to bring together the people responsible for research, development and training in the different fields of military activities in the cold, with the aim of sharing and consolidating the information on soldiers operating in cold conditions.

The detailed aims of this Symposium are:

• To open up the channels of communication and improve understanding by disseminating the latest information, and by discussing and comparing the solutions adopted in different countries;

• To maintain the knowledge of soldier performance in the cold;

• To compare the results and experiences of present cold-protective garments and their compatibility with ballistic protection, other garments and equipment;

• To evaluate the solutions in field medicine and the evacuation of patients in the cold; and

• To synchronise research towards common goals.

Human Performance Enhancement for NATO Military Operations

Human Performance Enhancement (HPE) through physiological, psychological, perception and physical capability augmentation has the potential to improve the ability of the human component of future military forces to complete mission essential tasks. For example, HPE technologies could be used to extend physical and mental endurance, and enhance physiological and psychological resilience to reduce injury and illness in the context of all factors which contribute to sustained performance under stress in military operations.

HPE techniques can improve the success of military personnel within an accepted mental and ethical behaviour domain, both on the battlefield and between deployments. A variety of approaches to HPE are possible:

• Natural (e.g., training, diet); • Synthetic (e.g., drugs); and • Through advanced technologies (e.g., exoskeletons for

enhancing physical capability, augmented perception, adaptive intelligent interfaces).

Public and individual perception of the appropriateness of the various approaches is of legitimate concern. Thus, moral, ethical and legal constraints in the utilisation of HPE techniques must be considered.

There is concern that other military forces will discover and use HPE technologies that provide a significant advantage, irrespective of health risks or ethical concerns. NATO forces need to be aware of the emerging technologies that could be applied to these purposes, and the public requires transparency in this potentially sensitive area.

The objective of the HFM-181 Task Group will be to organise a research Symposium designed to evaluate new and emerging technologies that could be applied to HPE. The specific goal of the Symposium will be to facilitate a broader understanding of the advantages and pitfalls of HPE technologies in NATO military settings. The Symposium should lead to the identification of areas in which co-ordinated research efforts are required to expand understanding of these technologies, their effectiveness and the potential health risks. It should also inform the NATO Military Committee, its COMEDS and CNAD of the current options for HPE that could be applied to current NATO operations.

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The Information Systems Technology Panel (IST)

The IST Mission Our society is becoming a networked community and we are increasingly dependent on these interconnections. This is true of NATO as an organisation as well as its Member Nations. Further, Allied and Coalition operations depend on reliable and timely communication and information. The Information Systems Technology Panel is concerned with both the quality and integrity of the information exchanged and the quality and integrity of the paths through which communication passes.

The mission of the IST Panel is to advance and exchange the techniques and technologies of information systems so as to provide timely, affordable, dependable, secure and relevant information to military personnel, planners and strategists.

Scope of the IST Panel

The IST Panel works in four wide-ranging areas: • Information warfare and information assurance; • Information and knowledge management; • Communications and networks; and • Architectures and enabling technologies.

During recent years, the IST Panel has focused its work on emerging technologies such as:

• Visualisation of military data with respect to situational awareness;

• Data and information fusion; • Speech-processing technologies; • Use of commercial off-the-shelf products; • IT security; • Tactical communications for urban operations; and • Software define radio.

Also, in response to the NATO DAT efforts, the Panel continues to investigate topics such as:

• Adaptive network defence; • Urban operations; • Coalition architectures; • Semantic interoperability; • Dual use of high-assurance technology; and • Decision support in Command and Control (C2)

systems.

Examples of On-Going IST Activities

Software Defined Radio The main objectives of the Task Group (IST-080) on “Software Defined Radio (SDR)” are the following:

• To share the knowledge and experience of multi-national Software Defined Radio / Software Communications Architecture (SCA) developments;

• To investigate the possibilities of sharing waveforms and waveform components; and

• To report on portability and interoperability.

Figure 14: Diagram of a Software Defined Radio.

The technical objectives of this Task Group are to achieve a common SDR demonstrator based on the HF4285 STANAG and on the national assets of the participating Nations. The Task Group will then use this experience to report on the pros and cons of using SDR technology in the NATO environment. In addition, the Task Group aims at giving maximum exposure to lessons learned from the use of the demonstrator to all NATO Nations involved in the introduction of SDR technology in their military and to NATO groups like the SDR User Group.

The subject of SDR is complex and at the moment baseband samples are being exchanged as a first step towards achieving interoperability between implementations.

Four Nations are presently porting the waveform to their respective hardware platforms. Other Nations are contributing and sharing their own experiences on SDR without being involved with the HF4285 project. These Nations do their porting separately, using their own set of

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SDR tools (Spectra, SCARI, etc.). By exchanging the findings from these porting efforts, the Task Group will get a feel for the level of portability that exists from one hardware platform to the other.

The Task Group aims at having a demonstration ready by mid 2009 to show at the SDR Forum Technical Conference.

Cognitive Radio

Cognitive Radio is a futuristic radio system able to survey its radio environment, understand the radio propagation conditions and adaptively transmit according to user demands in momentarily free spectrum gaps. Essentially, a cognitive radio node must be capable of locating itself, sniff its surroundings, analyse the usage of the captured spectrum through a cognitive process, and transmit data without interfering other transmissions, while satisfying the user’s Quality of Service (QoS) requirements.

To ensure non-interference, the cognitive radio node must exploit holes in the frequency, time, spatial and/or code dimensions where no transmission is detected. In the simplest case, the node may just identify a particular free frequency channel / time slot / spatial direction for its transmission to the destination. In the extreme case, the node may transmit to its destination by relaying its data through a network of cognitive radio nodes, where each hop may consume a different frequency channel / time slot / spatial direction.

The IST-077 Task Group will attempt to build a cognitive radio on the basis of Software Defined Radio (SDR), considering each of the following:

• Agile Radio Frequency (RF) Front-End For a cognitive radio to be spectrum aware, the RF front-end must be capable of providing quick switching between radio transmission and spectrum sensing. Ideally, the cognitive radio node should be capable of immediately switching out of a frequency channel when it detects an active primary transmitter in the same channel.

• Channel Aware Physical (PHY) Layer Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) would be useful for fitting the data transmission into the available bandwidth, considering the prevailing signal noise ratio. To realise this adaptation, channel sounding and estimation must be performed in the PHY to permit the measurement of the channel condition and the selection of the right modulation and coding schemes. Flexible usage of the spectrum can be achieved by performing dynamic frequency selection.

• Adaptive Media Access Control (MAC) With the PHY layer providing adaptive data rate, the MAC must be capable of exploiting the spectrum awareness by mapping the user data traffic to the appropriate sub-carriers and activating the appropriate data rates. Further, it can size the time slot duration to ensure that the node transmits only in the period that is time coherent within the propagation channel and free of interference.

• Co-operative Routing Cognitive radio nodes may co-operate with one another to build routes that minimise radio interference, while meeting the QoS requirements of the traffic.

• Spectrum Monitoring It is difficult to detect and classify the radio signals in the environment. By building and maintaining a spectrum usage knowledgebase, the cognitive radio would be able to understand the radio activities in its vicinity and adopt the best approach in its transmission.

• Localisation The spectrum usage knowledge is normally correlated with the location where it is collected. Hence, accurate self-localisation is important to position stamp the information in the knowledgebase.

• Spectrum Usage Policies The way in which spectrums can be used by the users may be represented in the form of policies taking into account the current spectrum usage, the user QoS requirements and the location specific regulations. These policies may be static or dynamic in nature.

• Cognitive Manager This is the heart of the cognitive radio. A cognitive model must be created to analyse the spectrum usage policies and the inputs coming from the spectrum monitor and localisation before deciding the adaptation procedures required to transmit traffic (in co-operative routing, adaptive MAC, channel aware PHY).

The objectives of the Task Group (IST-077) are: • To make a review and synthesis of the cognitive radio

technologies explored within the military fields of NATO Nations;

• To make a review of the civilian technologies for military cognitive radio that are presently available and those foreseen in the not too distant future;

• To investigate the techniques and technologies which could be implemented in a cognitive radio, and provide technology roadmap planning;

• To analyse the benefits of cognitive radio integration in NATO Network-Enabled Capability (NNEC) NII architecture; and

• To propose relevant programmes of work related to cognitive radios to the NATO community.

Machine Translation for Coalition Operations

Most NATO operations are carried out by coalition forces, and it is a fact that the efficiency of multi-national operations remains, to a large extent, based on communication. Language is a major obstacle for the integration of people coming from various Nations. Personnel must be able to communicate clearly, as the use of incorrect or inappropriate language can result in the message being misinterpreted or misunderstood. For multi-national operations, this can result in reduced performance or even mission failure in extreme circumstances.

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NATO forces must be capable of working successfully in a multitude of situations and environments – nation building, defence against terrorism, peace-keeping, humanitarian actions and situation awareness. This success could be achieved in part by integrating machine translation with other related communications technologies, such as speaker and language identification, and speech recognition and synthesis.

Figure 15: Coalitions and Multi-National Operations.

In this respect, the Task Group on “Machine Translation for Coalition Operations” (IST-078), will assess and investigate the impact of machine translation technology on military data (speech and text). For this investigation, the Task Group will resort to standardised assessment methods using realistic operational data and specifications for both Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) products and for development of new technology. For the investigation, a representative, multi-lingual database of dialogues (both text and speech) will be required. One way too obtain this would be to collect these dialogues in a simulation or during a NATO exercise for example. One or more prototype systems would be developed and evaluated collaboratively within the Research Task Group.

The Task Group will focus on the following objectives: • To investigate the benefits and maturity of Statistical

Machine Translation (SMT) to support NATO operations in one or more domains;

• To investigate integrating machine translation with other related communications technologies, such as speech recognition and synthesis;

• To develop standardised assessment methods using realistic operational data and specifications for both Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) products and for development of new technology; and

• To develop a representative, multi-lingual database of dialogues (both text and speech).

Decision Support in the Context of an Integrated C2

The decision-making process in complex, dynamic and uncertain environments (coalition, joint or mixed civilian-military operations) remains a prime factor of the success of the operation.

The IST-079 Task Group aims at formulating how to best support and improve the decision-making process by focussing on the following activities:

• A survey of the most relevant NATO research activities conducted on situation awareness and decision making after the events of September 11, 2001;

• A high-level description of the problem-domain characteristics (current and anticipated) and their associated performance factors; and

• The definition of decision support concepts aiding military experts working together with other civil authorities at all levels, in order to improve and share situation awareness, collaborative planning and scheduling, and to synchronise a diverse set of plans and actions.

Coalition Network Defence Common Operating Picture (CNet-D COP)

The IST-081 Task Group has been created to advance research and technology in Computer Network Defence (CND) situational awareness as a step towards defining a common information model for multi-national CND information sharing. This will enhance the understanding and awareness of network and security management within the coalition network operations environment. In addition to the common information model, this Task Group will produce a CNet-D COP concept document and plan for potential follow-on interoperability demonstrations. Ultimately, the results could be used to influence future standards in this area.

In order to meet these challenges, the Task Group will identify a common set of definitions that are necessary to achieve an agreed understanding and interpretation of CNet-D SA, and will integrate the Defence R&D Canada (DRDC) MulVal/AssetRank system (attack graph engine) into the NC3A Dynamic Risk Assessment system to demonstrate an automated CND risk assessment.

Figure 16: Common Operation Picture Principle.

Domain-Based Approach for Coalition-Wide Information Exchange

Today, coalition has become a keyword in terms of peace-keeping and peace-building operations, and as such, the exchange of information is becoming a major challenge.

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Figure 17: View of Wide Information Exchange.

The scope of the activity of the IST-084 Task Group is to enable and improve NATO-wide interoperability, preferably focused on Multi-lateral Interoperability Programmes (MIPs) and adjacent areas; therefore, its purpose will be to validate the domain-based approach, to demonstrate the expected benefits and to make recommendations on its usage in a NATO context. Within this framework, the Task Group will carry out an in-depth investigation of the approach and associated issues, and conduct a proof-of-concept experiment.

It is anticipated that the experiment will answer some basic questions regarding the best way to:

• Organise the domain-based approach; • Find a workable sub-division of domains; • Develop efficiently the domain of Information Exchange

Data Models (IEDMs); and • Exchange information efficiently and effectively based

upon multiple IEDMs.

New Activities to be carried out by the IST Panel

The IST Panel’s 2009 Programme of Work will explore new fields in various domains, including activities such as:

• System-of-Systems (SoS) Architecture • Topics to be covered: Process and method for system

engineering of SoS; Tools for modelling and experimentation; SoS prototyping for architecture execution; and Reverse modelling of legacy systems.

• Interconnected Networks and Security • Objectives: To arrive at a better understanding of

network and information connections and their functional security requirements in the context of interconnected networks.

• Topics to be covered: Interconnected network security; and Control mechanisms for information sharing.

• Disruption Tolerant Communications • Objectives: Managing communication disruptions by

deploying the network so as to avoid disruptions, and by accepting disruptions as ‘normal’ behaviour of the network and offering services capable of providing end-to-end information exchange independent from the disruptions.

• Topics to be covered: Fault Tolerance due to equipment failure; Resistant communications to interferences and jamming; Adaptive, self-healing and self-configuring technologies; Security issues of Disruptive Tolerant Network (DTN) technologies, including key management in disconnected environment; Routing strategies and protocols for disconnected networks / Congestion handling techniques; and Transport layer protocols for disruption tolerant communications.

• Smart Filtering • Topics to be covered: Information management;

Semantic networks; Ranking techniques; Agent technology; and Semantic search technologies.

• Predicting and Managing Risk • Topics to be covered: Definition of risk used in

military environment; Types of risks (from operational level to system design); Criteria used to identify acceptable levels of risk; Tools, methods and techniques used for managing risk; and Technology used to store risk information and to facilitate reporting.

Figure 18: System-of-Systems Architecture.

Other activities include: • Interoperability and autonomy for military unmanned

systems; • Service-oriented architecture challenges; • Dynamic spectrum allocation management; and • Cyber defence.

Also noteworthy for 2009 will be a Lecture Series on “Interoperability Issues” (IST-088), as well as Symposia on “C3I in Crisis Management” (IST-086) and “Information Management Exploitation” (IST-087). Please refer to the RTO website for further details about these events.

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The NATO Modelling and Simulation Group (NMSG)

The NMSG Mission The mission of the NATO Modelling and Simulation Group is to promote co-operation among Alliance bodies, NATO Member and Partner Nations to maximise the efficiency with which Modelling and Simulation (M&S) is used. Primary mission areas include M&S standardisation, education and associated science and technology. The activities of the Group are governed by a Strategy and Business Plan derived from the NATO M&S Master Plan. The Group provides M&S expertise in support of the tasks and projects within the RTO and from other NATO bodies.

Examples of Recent Work carried out by the NMSG

Standardisation Activity in the NMSG – MS3

NMSG has been officially named as the Delegated Tasking Authority for NATO M&S Standards by CNAD. In this role, the NMSG is responsible for the development of STANAGs and other standardisation documents in support of NATO M&S activities.

Standardisation documents developed by the NMSG include: STANAG 4603 on “M&S Architecture Standards for Technical Interoperability: High Level Architecture (HLA)” – promulgated 2 July 2008; and STANAG 4662, 4663, 4664 on “Synthetic Environmental Data Representation and Interchange Specification (SEDRIS)” – currently under the ratification process.

Another important activity of the NMSG in the standardisation domain is the first Allied M&S Publication, AMSP-01, entitled “NATO M&S Standards Profile”, which is due to be published by the NATO Standardisation Agency (NSA) early in 2009. This publication has been developed by the recently created MS3 Group (Modelling & Simulation Standards sub-group), under the umbrella of the NMSG.

Figure 19: Examples of Technical Activities and Standardisation Efforts Undertaken by the NMSG.

MS3 is actively involved in the standards development process, linking the NMSG with external Standard Development Organisations (SDOs). As an example, a Technical Co-operation Agreement was signed with the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organisation (SISO) in 2007.

Coalition Battle Management Language (C-BML), Technological Demonstration during I/ITSEC 2008

A Battle Management Language (BML) is an unambiguous language used by command and control forces and systems conducting military operations. BML is being developed as an extension of standardised representations. It digitises Command and Control (C2) information such as orders and plans, to be understandable for military personnel, simulated forces and future robotic forces. In addition, BML provides the capability to exchange the required context through digitised reports and returns for situational awareness and a shared common operational picture.

BML is particularly relevant in a network-centric environment for enabling mutual understanding. BML must also facilitate C2-simulation interoperability in an environment where multi-national distributed and integrated capabilities are becoming more common and more important. BML is a way of representing doctrine, while not standardising doctrine; the vocabulary must be well defined, in the context of the respective application domain, to unambiguously generate executable tasks at the end of the process.

BML must model these aspects so that underlying information systems (M&S or C2 Systems) can exchange information and make sense of the results. BML must specify the underlying protocols for transferring BML information. National studies have shown that BML representation can be transferred using Internet/Web-based open standards such as eXtensible Markup Language (XML).

The primary objective for this Task Group (MSG-048) is to provide a NATO C-BML specification by analysing and adapting the available specifications and implementations from either the Simulation Interoperability

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Standards Organisation (SISO) or other NATO Nations. The technical activity will assess the operational benefits for NATO C2 and M&S communities by conducting experiments and a final demonstration with existing systems that have been made compliant with this specification.

MSG-048 has organised several BML demonstrations, notably during ITEC 07 and I/ITSEC 07, and more recently at I/ITSEC 08 (1-4 December 2008) to show the potential of this language by communicating amongst different actors. They provided a series of technical demonstrations presenting some of the Group’s findings and results.

Figure 20: MSG-048 – I/ITSEC 08 Demonstration Architecture.

NATO’s Coalition Battle Management Language (C-BML) provides an unambiguous language used to command and control forces conducting military operations. C-BML is particularly relevant in a network-centric environment for enabling mutual understanding.

The need for C2-simulation interoperability in coalition operations is even greater than that of national service and joint operations, as coalitions must be able to function despite greater complexity due to significant differences among doctrine and human language barriers.

Ten Nations contributed voluntarily to C-BML, with six demonstrations scheduled at different times during the exhibition and conference. There was much interest and attendance from the show visitors during these demonstrations.

The main goals for NATO’s C-BML are: • To standardise and improve M&S C2 interoperability

for automatic, rapid and unambiguous command and control;

• To develop a standard representation of digitised C2 information, such as orders and plans, to be understandable for military personnel, simulated forces and future robotics forces; and

• To provide a situational awareness common operational picture through digitised reports and returns.

Figure 21: Mr. Lionel Khimeche (MSG-048 Co-Chair) during

a Live Demonstration of C-BML at I/ITSEC 08.

Exploiting Commercial Games for Military Use

Many NATO/PfP Nations are now exploiting or planning to exploit commercial games technology and techniques for military training and analysis. There are clear advantages to this approach in that such games are very accessible and relatively cheap compared to more traditional military simulations. However, there are obstacles to exploitation in that commercial games may not be sufficiently fit for the purpose, and the economics of the military market are quite different from those of the commercial market.

A successful series of six Workshops have already been organised as RTO activities, with the last one taking place in Stockholm, Sweden, in May 2008, in conjunction with ITEC 08. Preparations have already being made to continue the series during 2009, with a follow-on activity being planned that will address “Commercial Games and Commercial Technology for Military Use”, which will be co-chaired by ACT and GBR.

The objectives of these Workshops include the establishment of a common forum for sharing national experiences and best practices, and also the identification of barriers to further exploitation and the ways that these might be overcome.

Opportunities will also be sought for further NATO/PfP collaboration, if it is considered beneficial. Specific aspects that may be covered include, but not be limited to:

• Current applications; • Future technological opportunities and challenges; • Cost effectiveness; • Industrial/economic issues; • Impact of commercial games on new entrants to the

military; • Establishing military requirements; • Cultural issues within existing military organisations; • Acquisition/procurement issues; and • Potential collaborative opportunities and possible

future involvement in ITEC and I/ITSEC.

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Figure 22: Examples of Commercial Games

with Potential Military Applications.

NATO Simulation Resource Library

The uncontrolled increase in the use of simulation over the last few decades has produced dispersion and duplication of simulation resources and efforts, complicating any possible reusability. NATO has taken the first step towards addressing this complication by adopting the High Level Architecture (HLA), a standard for interconnecting simulators and for improving simulation software reusability. Unfortunately, the adoption of the HLA standard does not solve all the problems related to simulation reusability within NATO.

Another fundamental element needed to achieve this goal is a library for simulation resources. A Simulation Resource Library (SRL) is considered a pre-requisite for reuse, in order to provide awareness of, and access to, shared resources. Without an SRL, reuse will be fragmented, incomplete and unsustainable. Once the SRL is populated, authorised users could access and tailor an application for their own purpose, then run it and obtain secure results within a short period of time.

The NMSG established a Task Group (MSG-012) on “Recommendations on the Establishment of a NATO Simulation Resource Library (NSRL)”. This Group studied the technical aspects related to the establishment of an NSRL as required by the NATO M&S Master Plan (NATO, 1998), considering it was clearly a first step in promoting simulation resource reusability within the Alliance.

The Task Group provided a specification document for the establishment of an SRL for NATO and Partner Nations. Based on this document, and on the recommendations of the NMSG Task Group (MSG-042) on “Definition of a Framework for Simulation Resources Reusability”, the RTA has started the development of an NSRL at its headquarters near Paris, France. The NSRL will provide an

engine capable of searching the central NSRL node, as well as other repositories developed by Nations or organisations.

The prototype of the NSRL is currently open to the NATO M&S community via the RTO website.

M&S Education and Conferences

The NMSG holds an annual M&S Conference on specific themes designed to familiarise those who attend with the latest M&S developments, best practice and standards, and to expand on new and on-going M&S activities within the Alliance and its Member Nations.

The 2008 Conference, under the theme “How is Modelling & Simulation Meeting the Defence Challenges out to 2015?”, was held in the Fall in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. The papers presented are available from the RTO website (RTO-MP-MSG-060). The 2009 M&S Conference will be held in Brussels, Belgium, covering the following underlying themes: Support to operations; Human behaviour representation; Irregular warfare; Defence Against Terrorism; and Coalition tactical force integration.

Figure 23: The 2008 NMSG Annual Conference – Vancouver.

In summary, NATO recognises the importance of M&S and has responded through the establishment of the NMSG. A vision for M&S, coupled with strategy and business plans, shows a positive way forward.

The NATO M&S vision is to provide a readily available, flexible and cost-effective means to enhance NATO operations in the application areas of defence planning, education, training and exercises in support of operations, research, technology development and armaments acquisition. This will be achieved by a NATO-wide co-operative effort that promotes interoperability, reuse and affordability.

The NMSG is now addressing and making substantial advances in solving many M&S challenges through the sharing of experiences and talents within NATO and Partner Nations.

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The System Analysis and Studies Panel (SAS)

The SAS Mission The mission of the System Analysis and Studies Panel is to conduct studies and analyses of an operational and technological nature and to promote the exchange and development of methods and tools for Operational Analysis (OA) as applied to defence problems.

Activities of the SAS Panel

The SAS Panel activities are predominantly focused on exploring how operational capability can be enhanced through the exploitation of new technologies, new forms of organisation, or new concepts of operations. As such, the SAS Panel PoW is tightly coupled, not only with national interests, but with NATO’s warfighting and operational agencies. Outlined below are the results of recently completed and on-going Task Groups, as well as descriptions of new work that the Panel plans to undertake.

The Impact of Potentially Disruptive Technologies The goal of the SAS-062 Task Group was to identify possible disruptive technologies for defence, particularly in security operations, and to develop a process to assess them using military staff in a wargame-like setting. A disruptive technology is one which significantly ‘changes the conduct of operations, especially the rules of engagement, within a short time, and thus has an impact on the long-term goals for concepts, strategy and planning’.

The team, comprised of representatives of nine Nations and ACT, developed a methodology and a process to assess technologies on possible disruptive effects for defence and security. Both the process and the methodology were captured in a wargame-like exercise called the “Disruptive Technology Assessment Game (DTAG)”. Besides the DTAG, the team collected and assessed more then 60 Ideas of System (IoS). Over a period of three years, three DTAGs were held. An average of twelve military officers, ranging in rank from major to colonel, participated in each DTAG.

Figure 24: DTAG Setting.

The Task Group assessed approximately 40 technologies that underpinned over 60 IoS cards. Many technologies may have utility in future applications, and the Group is actively seeking other forums in which to use the interactive gaming methodology. Additionally, the Group demonstrated that relatively immature technologies can still be assessed.

Capability-Based Long-Term Planning Since the end of the Cold War, the focus in defence planning has moved away from classical planning methodologies towards a more wide-ranging, capability-based approach. The problem is no longer to counter-balance the military might of the Warsaw Pact, but to identify the capabilities required to realise poorly defined political aims and objectives.

Since the scope of these aims is now much broader than it used to be, the analytical tools and techniques are also now more varied and perhaps more nebulous than they were in the past. There is no longer a single, dominant scenario that defines all military requirements, but rather a multitude of potential missions and tasks that have to be prioritised and balanced on the political and strategic level. Extracting the military requirements, and others such as those associated with the Effects Based Approach to Operations (EBAO), from these missions and tasks is not straightforward.

With this as a backdrop, the SAS-072 team organised a Specialists’ Meeting on 18-19 November 2008, in Oslo, Norway, to examine how effects-based planning is being implemented today across the various Nations. The goal of this event was to facilitate a learning process and future cross-border co-operation in defence planning. Almost 20 paper presentations demonstrated the level of interest in the topic and provided for an engaging exchange of ideas and information.

NATO Independent Cost Estimating and its Role in Capability Portfolio Analysis

Faced with the reality of stagnant defence budgets, it has become even more important to understand the costs of equipment throughout the life cycle in order to optimise the capability delivered within monetary constraints – the SAS Panel continues to provide improved methodologies and enhanced tools to this end. In Spring 2008, the Panel launched a Task Group to address “NATO

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Independent Cost Estimating and its Role in Capability Portfolio Analysis” (SAS-076). The Task Group will produce NATO’s first-ever independent cost estimates on the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) System and on Rotterdam class ships.

Figure 25: Rotterdam Class Ships.

The AGS programme presents a useful opportunity to leverage well-developed requirements and produce an estimate on a system that draws a great deal of interest from the NATO community. The cost estimate, complete with uncertainty analysis, has the potential to provide important data to NATO decision-makers as the AGS programme will be out for tender soon.

The Rotterdam estimates will allow ex-post testing of the methodology, since actual cost data already exists for this programme. Using cost analysis requirements and assumptions data for the Rotterdam ships, the Task Group will develop what is, in essence, a ‘should cost’ estimate based on the underlying programme requirements, characteristics and work breakdown. Once the Group completes the estimate, actual costs can be compared to the model’s estimate in order to validate the methodology and enable future refinements.

SAS-076 builds from the legacy of Panel activity in this arena. For example, “Methods and Models for Life-Cycle Costing” (SAS-054) produced a comprehensive view on the application and use of life-cycle costing, from an early conceptual phase in the product life cycle, right through to the disposal phase. Using the findings of SAS-054 as a springboard, “Code of Practice for Life-Cycle Costing” (SAS-069) is in the process of producing a practical and succinct guidebook for the use of life-cycle costing methods. Such methodologies will help add credibility to the Life-Cycle Costing (LCC) process and reduce the likelihood of embarrassing cost over-runs.

A final objective of SAS-076’s work is to help understand the costs of future capability sets, not just individual systems. The team will sponsor several international Workshops in 2009 – 2010, inviting experts in the field to discuss best practices and explore the role of life-cycle costs estimates of systems and their relationship to capability costing. This dimension of SAS-076’s work supports the shift in philosophy from individual ‘stove-piped’ platform development to capability and effects-based perspectives on operations.

Analytical Tools for Irregular Warfare

In order to meet current and future security challenge sets, NATO needs to understand and be able to evaluate Irregular Warfare (IW). Conventional warfare analyses tools, capabilities and methodologies are often ill-suited to address the complex nature of irregular warfare. NATO is uniquely situated as an intergovernmental organisation to identify innovative approaches to study IW, including:

• Gathering and developing tools/methods/algorithms; • Identifying historical and current data sources; and • Highlighting on-going analyses.

The SAS-071 team is organising a Specialists’ Meeting to explore a variety of topics related to the analysis of irregular warfare. Set to take place on 24-26 March 2009, in Ottobrun, Germany, working groups will discuss:

• Operational analysis support to current operations; • Data and validation for IW analysis tools; • Models, methods, and frameworks for IW analysis; • Historical perspectives of IW; • IW analysis to support future capability; and • Strategic analyses, assessments and metrics for IW.

Figure 26: Irregular Warfare Analysis Space

Long Term Scientific Study – Joint Operations 2030

Unique to the SAS Panel, a Long Term Scientific Study (LTSS) assesses the impact on military operations that might be expected to come from developments in science and technology, over both the medium and long term (typically 10 – 20 years).

In response to NATO’s Main Armaments Groups, this study is considering the impact that potential future global security environments could have on joint operations across a range of representative operations. Commencing in November 2006, the team – with 14 Nations and NATO agencies contributing – has made great strides by completing three of its envisioned five phases on-schedule.

During Phase I, the team laid the foundation for the study by reviewing and discussing security threats and trends, the future security environment, the Future Worlds approach to long-term planning, ACT’s Long-Term Capability Requirements (LTCR) study, the use of scenarios in long-term planning, the role of a military estimate, and the development of a Concept of Operations in operational planning. A Phase I report is available through the RTO by contacting the SAS Panel Executive Office.

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The Phase II effort focused on projecting the anticipated conditions likely to be facing NATO in 2030. To accomplish this, the team conducted an analysis to develop a preliminary list of themes (e.g., drivers) for significant changes in conducting military actions, stemming from fundamental, longer-term undercurrents in technology, international law, management and globalisation. These themes, in turn, create issues for the military planner. The Phase II report will be available at the beginning of this year through the SAS Panel Executive Office.

Phase III took the themes and issues from Phase II and combined them with the requirements identified in ACT’s LTCR and generated a set of capabilities required by NATO in 2030. The resultant list of 350+ theme, issue and capability combinations were then prioritised and characterised.

Phase IV, which will finish early in 2009, consists of outreach efforts to determine what solutions are likely to be in place in 2030. These solution solicitations target not only the NATO Science & Technology (S&T) community, but anywhere technical experts who are knowledgeable about the state-of-the-art can be found. With these projected solutions in hand, the Task Group will match them with the capability needs identified in Phase III to determine which R&T areas merit future investment.

This effort culminates with Phase V, a multi-national exercise to validate and augment the work of the Task Group, in preparation for the final report in December 2009.

NATO Network Enabled Capability (NNEC) C2 Maturity Model; and C2 for NNEC: Preparing for Complex Endeavours

This study seeks to explore fundamental command and control, including consultation and co-ordination concepts such as collaborative planning, self-synchronisation, individual cognition, and individual and organisational behaviour in the context of NNEC analysis, development, and implementation as an operational capability. Thus far, the SAS-065 team has developed a maturity reference model for NNEC C2 that reflects a set of increasing capabilities. The team has completed several validation case studies to legitimise the constructs of the model, and will continue to map additional case study findings to the model’s variables.

An NNEC C2 maturity model will be of value to C2 planners and operators. Planners will be able to directly relate investment in NNEC-related C2 technologies to increased capability, by allowing them to be evaluated against a validated standard for performance. Operators will have a framework against which to judge their organisational responses and procedures as they take steps to continuously improve responsiveness and capability.

In support of the SAS-065 effort, a Symposium is planned for September in Bratislava, Slovakia. This effort, SAS-079, aims to improve current thinking on C2 in an NNEC context, and also to encourage the development and

implementation of the approaches, systems, training and evaluation tools needed for NNEC success.

Analysis and Modelling for Human Resource Management in Defence

Motivated personnel, in sufficient numbers, and with the right mix of skills, training and experience, are the bedrock of military capability. This has always been the case, but the requirements of defence transformation have led to increased levels of interest in this area, as many Nations embark on major changes in manpower structures in order to meet the new needs of expeditionary operations rather than territorial defence.

Even for Nations who have largely completed this change, demographic and economic pressures will continue to pose major challenges to national Ministries of Defence in formulating and implementing personnel policies. Many of the problems that currently exist in this area make it difficult for Nations and NATO Human Resource Management (HRM) bodies to function efficiently and effectively.

Operational analysis and other model-based approaches are capable of providing valuable support to defence decision-makers addressing personnel issues. However, this application domain has tended to have a lower profile than work related to topics such as concepts of operation, equipment acquisition and logistics.

The SAS-073 team has organised a Specialists’ Meeting for 19-20 March 2009, in Brussels, Belgium, in order to address these issues, exchange experiences, and propose further collaborative research programmes to assist national and Alliance decision-makers with defence HRM policy choices.

Work Planned for 2010 and Beyond To ensure a robust and relevant programme of work, the SAS Panel continuously evaluates new proposals that could be sponsored as technical activities. For 2010 and beyond, work under consideration includes:

• Performing a capability-based assessment of non-lethal weapons;

• Organising a Symposium to explore approaches for increasing the effectiveness of military organisation, and to include quality movements and others;

• Establishing a Specialist Team to share experiences with Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) theories and applications in defence;

• Exploring methods for enhancing the credibility and validation of ‘soft’ operations research and operational analysis;

• Developing and furthering analytic models for characterising the impact of rising power and energy costs on S&T, capability development and operations; and

• Establishing additional contexts for the DTAG methodology and furthering the analysis on the impacts of disruptive technology.

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The Systems Concepts and Integration Panel (SCI)

The SCI Mission The mission of the Systems Concepts and Integration Panel is to further knowledge concerning advanced system concepts, integration, engineering techniques and technologies across the spectrum of platforms and operating environments to assure cost-effective mission-area capabilities.

Examples of Recent Work

carried out by the SCI Panel

Interoperability and Integration of Dismounted Soldier Weapon Systems

Unlike the development of individual infantry weapons in the past, active dismounted soldier modernisation programmes currently link the individual modular weapon system as an integrated component of the soldier’s ensemble of equipment. The weapon systems envisioned in many of the national programmes of NATO Nations include not only kinetic small calibre lethality, but also advanced fire control functionality, laser range finders and designators, daylight video, image intensified and thermal imagery, and numerous other advances. Many of these components provide sensory perception to the individual soldier and may provide new methods to employ these weapons on the future battlefield of tomorrow and in the global war on Terrorism. New technologies, coupled with advanced integration concepts, will provide a modular weapon system that is tailourable to the threat environment NATO forces will face in the future, and leverage the synergistic effects of the weapon as a component of the soldier’s integrated system.

Working at the behest of AC/225 Topical Group 1, which has the aim of ensuring interoperability of future national dismounted soldier systems as they are developed and fielded, Task Group SCI-178 began in 2006 to examine critical weapons sub-system problems for current interoperability issues and long-term soldier system interface and development issues. Specifically, the Task Group sought results in three areas:

1) Technical Interfaces – To define and outline the technical interface systems integration principles and concepts for future soldier system weapons and establish standard methods for accessory mounting rails / attachment points and data interfaces as technical interfaces between weapons, optics, and target identification and target location devices within the soldier modernisation programme.

2) Human Factors Focus and Analysis – To define and outline the human systems integration principles and concepts for future soldier system weapons and the soldier modernisation system.

3) Power – To investigate the power requirements of future weapon systems, and methods for providing, harvesting or generating power.

One of the primary objectives of the Task Group was to determine an optimal mounting method for attachments to weapons. The Interfaces sub-group developed an optimised solution from a Mil Std 1913 rail, based on comparative assessments of all possible weapon attachment methods. Through multiple engineering enhancements, utilising expertise from participating Nations and industry, an enhanced NATO Accessory Rail was developed to include manufacturing drawings.

The major achievement of the first three years of the Task Group was the submission of the new NATO Accessory Rail as proposed STANAG 4694 to the NATO Army Armaments Group (NAAG) Land Capability Group 1.

Figure 27: NATO Rail STANAG.

The Human Factors sub-group conducted numerous trials that developed a compendium of human factors assessments on interface and compatibility issues with present and future soldier systems. This vast amount of work includes optimal weapon system weight (Fig. 28 and 29) and centre of mass recommendations and effects, recommended placement of control functions, butt stock integration with headborne systems (Fig. 30) and modern body armour, overall effectiveness tied to the time to engage a target, and engagement accuracy.

The Power sub-group has been very effective in determining if centralised power on a weapon sub-system is better than the current decentralised power, where every attachment has its own power source. This Group has directly interfaced with the Human Factors sub-group in defining optimal weight allocations and centre of mass effectiveness. The Group also has demonstrated working prototypes of conductive and inductive powered rail systems.

To capitalise on the synergy and momentum of these activities, the Task Group requested and received an extension for a fourth year of work from the NATO RTO’s

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Research and Technology Board (RTB). In this fourth year, it is hoped that STANAG 4694 will be ratified by many Nations and specified in their weapon system procurements and retrofits. Industry also appears to be eagerly awaiting the adoption of STANAG 4694.

Figure 28: The Study of Movement Accuracy incorporated

the Impact of Rifle Weight on Initial Accuracy.

The SCI-178 Task Group attributes its success to several factors. First, it is ensuring the applicability and integration of its work with the NATO Army Armament Group’s Land Capability Group 1, of which a quarter of the Task Group members are directly involved.

Secondly, the Task Group is an optimal mix of scientists, engineers, material developers, industry and operational users from ten NATO and Partner Nations.

Thirdly, the Task Group maximised its work potential by initially organising itself as three sub-groups formed along the main lines of work (Technical Interfaces, Human Factors and Power), which have now been consolidated into two groups to more fully pursue the integration aspect of the work.

Finally, the Task Group’s work will directly influence the ability of national soldier modernisation programmes to be aware of and develop weapon systems that provide the warfighter with an optimally integrated and interoperable weapon system, making NATO’s infantryman more lethal and effective in the future.

Figure 29: Video Recordings were made to Capture

Data on Muzzle Rise, Slew, and Rifle Control.

Figure 30: Butt Stock Integration.

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Three additional live fire trials in early 2009 also will be conducted to test powered rail and centralised power sources and to help test the validity of the entire body of data.

The final Technical Report is due at the end of 2009 and will include a report on the development of STANAG 4694, a compendium of human factors reports, a centralised and decentralised power report, and a powered rail report.

Detection and Neutralisation of Route Threats

One of the main threats in the current out-of-area operations of NATO forces is that posed by the route threat. This threat includes various deployments of explosive devices such as landmines, Area Denial Weapons (ADW) and various forms of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) being encountered today in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The SCI-193 Task Group is concentrating on applicable countermeasures for these various explosive threat deployments by investigating the physical and operational capabilities and limitations of techniques for stand-off detection and neutralisation of route threats. Applicable detection techniques typically include infrared, electro-optical, trace and bulk explosive detection, nuclear-based and radar systems which exploit such things as spectral, polarisation, explosive and bio-degraded species and temporal features for detection.

Within the bounds of NATO collaboration, the eleven participating NATO and Partner Nations will assist in creating a route detection and neutralisation baseline against the explosive route threats and related initiation device deployments. The technologies demonstrated, tested and trialled will identify the body of science and technology research needed to fully achieve stand-off detection and neutralisation for routes.

Collaboration and integration with other NATO-related efforts include participation in SET Panel’s IED Conference in May 2007 (SET-117) and liaison through Task Group members with the RTO SET Panel, NATO Defence Against Terrorism (DAT) C-IED Group, and NATO Science for Peace Explosive Detection Group.

To date, the Task Group has completed its ‘pilot test’ of readily available systems against available targets using existing procedures. The results and lessons learned from pilot testing will be applied to four subsequent tasks:

• Task 1: Threat and scenario definition – The aim of this task is to identify the key characteristics of the route threat as encountered by NATO forces.

• Task 2: Identification of systems currently being tested and equipment for the demos/tests/trials that is required and presently available.

• Task 3: Design and set-up common demonstrations, tests and trials of detection and neutralisation techniques for route threat – The definition of assessment criteria will be in accordance with those produced by the SCI-133 Task Group.

• Task 4: Execute and analyse common demonstrations, tests and trials of detection and neutralisation techniques for route threat.

The Task Group’s activities will be supported by demonstrations, tests and trials of existing and emerging detection and neutralisation techniques considered suitable for countering the existing and future threat deployments mentioned. The conclusions of the investigation will be presented in a final report which is due to be published in late 2010 and will include recommended detection and neutralisation technologies to route threats based on the results of the Task Group’s demonstrations, tests and trials which will take place over the next two years.

Figure 31: Command-Wire Detector under Test during

the SCI-193 Pilot Test, Operated by an Officer from the Royal Netherlands Engineers.

Mission Effectiveness of Denial and Deception

NATO transformation efforts to counter the operational challenges of coalition warfare in a new millennium encompass the need to develop new concepts, plans, doctrines and policies. As such, NATO must address and understand the entire spectrum of emerging and increasingly asymmetric threats that it will face.

Realistically, assessing the capability of possible and probable Nation state (government and military) and non-state actors (unconventional players such as terrorists, insurgents, criminal organisations, etc.) will enable NATO to develop methods and procedures for defence domain awareness. The myriad tools – Materials, Methods and Technologies (MMT) – available to potential adversaries out-number the resources available to combat them. As such, the Alliance must be adaptive to meet, counter, and subsequently defeat them effectively.

The SCI Panel is playing a significant role in educating Alliance members on the importance of understanding one of these key asymmetric challenges – Denial and Deception (D&D). In March 2008, the SCI Panel held a Symposium (SCI-199) on “Mission Effectiveness of

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Denial and Deception”, with the main goal of assessing the effectiveness of denial and deception within military operations and the importance of developing effective countermeasures.

The discussion encompassed five key areas: • Doctrine; • Training; • Requirements; • Operational lessons learned; and • Research and technology.

Unique to the Symposium were working level sessions that identified critical areas of future study for the SCI-200 Task Group.

The Symposium was sponsored by the Allied Command Transformation Staff Element Europe (ACT/SEE), SHAPE HQ, and was attended by representatives from 12 countries. In addition to country participation, personnel from SHAPE and NATO HQ also attended.

The Symposium achieved a number of its objectives, including:

• Examined NATO’s traditional views and existing assumptions of Camouflage, Concealment and Deception (CC&D) to include D&D doctrine, training, and mission requirements (logistics, communications, operations and intelligence);

• Raised the awareness and understanding of adversarial threat to D&D capabilities, including MMTs;

• Evaluated the adversary and potential effects of D&D in conventional and unconventional settings;

• Discussed the significance of D&D at the tactical, operational and strategic levels in the modern context;

• Discussed and identified areas of D&D effects against NATO mission areas through operational lessons learned, as well as assessed countermeasures, including the possible adaptation/expansion of existing NATO capabilities; and

• Addressed existing technologies and other areas for potential countermeasure development and application.

Figure 32: Disguised Cell Phone Antenna Towers.

The results of the Symposium serve as a knowledge baseline for other cross-Panel activities, such as the SCI-200 Task Group on “Mission Effectiveness of D&D”

which will continue through 2011. The Symposium has also provided a strong foundation for follow-on activities such as the SCI-207 Lecture Series to be conducted in March 2009 and the SCI-213 Symposium scheduled for May 2009.

As identified by recent NATO operations and previous study efforts (SCI-131, SCI-188, and now SCI-199), D&D is a key element and force multiplier in all levels of warfare. Future adversarial use of D&D will not diminish in importance, but will continue to transform with and against Allied technologies, doctrine and practice.

The collaborative work on D&D being done within the RTO structure is producing real benefits for NATO and its Member Nations and Partners.

Enabling Technologies for Maritime Situational Awareness

In January 2008, on behalf of the North Atlantic Council, the NATO Military Committee endorsed the NATO Concept on Maritime Situational Awareness (MSA). The Council agreed that the MSA Concept should be pursued further by the NATO Military Authorities by developing a clear vision of the required capability and developing a comprehensive, integrated implementation plan.

Figure 33: NATO MSA Battlespace.

In concert with NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (ACT), which has prepared the final draft of the MSA Concept Development (CD) Plan, the SCI-211 Task Group will work to assist ACT in improving maritime information sharing and collaboration, information exchange requirements, and in improving MSA processes. The Task Group also will also assist participating Nations in developing and fielding appropriate MSA standards and capabilities.

The Task Group had its first planning meeting in December 2008 and intends to conduct Workshops and subject-matter discussions in support of the material, technical and interoperability aspects of the NATO MSA CD Plan. Initial plans include a joint effort to hold a Workshop with the NURC on “Anomaly Detection and Data Fusion” in 2009.

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The Sensors and Electronics Technology Panel (SET)

The SET Mission The mission of the Sensors and Electronics Technology Panel is to advance technology in electronics and passive/active sensors as they pertain to Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA), electronic warfare, communications and navigation; and to enhance sensor capabilities through multi-sensor integration/fusion in order to improve the operating capability and to contribute to fulfil strategic military results. As NATO warfighters and peace-keepers continue to shift more and more towards asymmetrical warfare, SET technologies have to focus on the military mission of saving lives, improving the quality of life and extending our combat effectiveness.

Research in the SET Panel addresses the phenomenology related to target signature, propagation and battlespace environment, electro-optics (or electro-optical), radio frequency, acoustic and magnetic sensors, antenna, signal and image processing, components, sensor hardening and electro-magnetic compatibility.

The RTO Sensors and Electronics Technology (SET) Panel originates from the AGARD Sensor and Propagation Panel (SPP), the Defence Research Group (DRG) Panel 3 on Physics and Electronics and the DRG Panel 4 on Optics and Infrared. Since 1998, SET has undertaken more than 200 activities covering areas such as the emerging phenomenology and technologies related to target signatures, propagation and battlespace environment, acoustic and magnetic sensors, signal and image processing, sensor hardening, radiation and electromagnetic pulses.

The SET Panel’s vision is to provide the NATO Nations with the most relevant, innovative and updated forum for collaborative R&D in the field of sensors and electronic technology for Defence and Security (D&S). As a result, both the scientists and the soldiers from the NATO Nations shall be able to operate seamlessly together and benefit from leading-edge technologies in sensors and electronics.

Whilst NATO warfighters and peace-keepers continue to shift more and more towards asymmetrical warfare, the SET Panel aspires to focus on technology that supports the military objective of saving lives through the improvement of quality of life and combat effectiveness.

In short, the research carried out by the Sensors and Electronics Technology Panel addresses the phenomenology related to target signature, propagation and battlespace environment, Electro-Optics (or Electro-Optical-EO), Radio Frequency (RF), acoustic and magnetic sensors, antenna, signal and image processing, components, sensor hardening, electromagnetic compatibility, and any other phenomena associated with sensors and electronics that assist NATO warfighters during future warfare and peace-keeping scenarios.

Traditionally, the SET Panel runs the whole spectrum of the RTO activities (Symposia, Specialists’ Meetings, Workshops, Courses, Exploratory Teams and Technology Groups) with a special emphasis on Research Task Groups (RTGs). Many Task Groups are ‘closed’ groups, in order to allow Partner Nations to work on sensitive signatures and

technology. The Panel pursues its endeavour with more than 40 Task Groups that embrace the following disciplines:

Phenomenology: • Target/background signatures; • Propagation; • Battlespace environment characterisation; • Sensors hardening; and • Electronic protection measures and electromagnetic

compatibility.

Figure 34: Battlespace Characterisation.

Sensors: • EO sensors (ultraviolet, laser radars, imaging infrared

(IR), IR search and track, etc.); • RF sensors (radar, radiometers, gonyometers, etc.) and

related technologies, including passive RF sensors; • Acoustic, seismic, magnetic, chemical and inertial

sensors; • Urban, indoor and subterranean navigation sensors; • TeraHz sensors (from the point of view of military

technology, especially in the context of urban warfare and DAT); and

• Dual-use purpose sensors for a wide range of applications (urban/high intensity to security/low intensity).

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Figure 35: Quantum Well in Narrow Gap Semiconductor.

Electronics: • Processing:

• Antenna processing and aperture control; • Signal processing; • Image processing; • Pattern recognition, including automatic target

recognition; and • Multi-sensor fusion.

• Components: • EO (optics, integrated optics, fibre optics, focal plane

arrays, lasers, etc.); • RF (antenna, amplifier, filter, Digital Radio Frequency

(DRF) – memories, monolithic microwave integrated circuits, high-power microwave sources, etc.);

• Micro-electronics; • Micro-mechanics; • Displays; • Mechanical, chemical, etc.; • Sensor hardening; • Electronic Protection Measures; and • Electromagnetic Compatibility.

At present, the Panel members are comprised of more than 50 national representatives and top-class scientists coming from 22 of the 26 NATO Nations. Three Ex-Officio members from the NATO Consultation Command and Control Agency (NC3A), NATO Undersea Research Centre (NURC) and the Allied Command Transformation (ACT) participate in the Panel business meetings.

The Technical Team members are made up of more than 700 scientists belonging to NATO, PfP and non-NATO Nations. SET members are eager to endorse the innovations that are expected to fulfil, more than 10 years in advance, the military needs of the Alliance, so as to maintain a technological lead and to provide advice to NATO decision-makers.

The SET Panel is ‘partitioned’ into three Focus Groups: • RF Technologies (RFT); • Optical Technologies (OT); and • Multi-Sensors and Electronics (MSE).

The main purpose of each Focus Group is to provide a convenient and efficient forum for in-depth technical discussions during the SET business weeks. The Focus Groups have to review NATO guidance updates and their applicability to SET Task Groups (TGs) / Exploratory Teams (ETs), on-going Technical Team activities, examine and propose new activities, discuss Technology Watch topics and propose award nominations.

Technology Watch is performed by the SET Panel as part of its normal business, in order to constantly monitor the development and emergence of new technologies, and to review and analyse their potential impact on military R&T. The SET Panel identifies various on-going programmes on enabling technologies and initiates discussions on areas related to emerging technologies. SET Technology Watch current topics are:

• Nanotechnology: a Research Task Group (SET-123) has been established;

• THz Technology: a RTG (SET-124) has been established. A Specialists’ Meeting on THz (SET-129) was established in 2008. The SET-148/RWS “Detectors and Associated Electronics for THz Applications” will be held in Ukraine during the Fall 2009;

• Meta Materials (negative index of refraction materials): Two RWS on “Refractive Proprieties of Photonic Crystals & Metamaterials” and “Photonic Metamaterials for Defence Applications” were established in 2008;

• Data Fusion; • Waveform Diversity: a Lecture Series (SET-119) has

been established – “Waveform Diversity and Analysis for Laser Radar” will be considered in 2009; and

• Biometric sensors: “Human Signature Exploitation” and “Biologically Inspired Optical Sensors” were investigated in 2008.

Figure 36: Three Dimensional Beamforming.

Other SET Technology Watch topics in the field of technology developments for military applications are:

• Advances in surveillance and recognition using SAR Moving Target Identification (MTI);

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• Wideband gap semi-conductors; • RF Micro-Electro-Mechanical Sensors (MEMS); • Quantum well infrared photodetector; • IR-Focal Plane Array (IRFPA); • Diffractive optics; • Synthetic Aperture Optics (SAO) for low cost and/or

low weight IR applications; and • Displays.

Military users are invited to brief the SET scientists and Panel members during the SET meetings and lead discussions on:

• Persistent urban surveillance; • Detection and neutralisation of explosive devices or

IEDs hidden for a long time in guard-rails or trees or under ground;

• Neutralisation of radio-controlled threats; • Detections and neutralisation of under vest suicide

bombs; and • Sensing and sensing capability, as well as determining if

there is any interest or need to establish a co-operative SET Programme on mine detection.

The SET Panel encourages NATO Nations and Partners to participate in SET research and information exchange activities. The non-NATO and PfP members that have contributed in the SET Panel are from Australia, Austria, Finland, Russian Federation, Switzerland, Sweden and Ukraine.

A select team of SET scientists play an important part in some of the most important projects of the NATO Public Diplomacy Division Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programmes. The success of the last SPS project on “Advanced Detection System for Underground Transportation System” can be attributed to a prestigious NATO-Russia committee which relied on the competent collaboration of SET members.

The SET Panel also co-operated with the SPS on programmes related to Defence Against Terrorism (DAT).

The SET Panel addresses medium- and long-term potential applications, as well as short-term challenges to NATO.

The Panel’s current Programme of Work (PoW) includes, directly or indirectly, relevant DAT following guidance from the CNAD. Potential or existing DAT contributions include:

• Reducing the vulnerability of large-body aircraft to manpads;

• Protecting harbours and vessels from surface and sub-surface threats;

• Addressing the need for effective weapons and sensors to counter small, rapid surface vessels, especially in littoral waters;

• Reducing the vulnerability of helicopters to ground attack, specifically rocket-propelled grenades;

• Improving survivability of systems in high threat environments (EW excluded);

• Improving stand-off technologies for the detection and clearing of explosives and mines;

• Countering improvised explosive devices; • Improving precision air-drop technology for special

operations; • Stand-off and point detecting and identifying of

biological and chemical agents, integrated into a Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warning and reporting systems; and

• Assessing new technologies for reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition of terrorists.

Traditional SET activities are directly related to the Long-Term Capability Requirements (LTCRs) identified as high priority for both Nations and NATO. Examples of SET activities related to the LTCRs are:

• Urban, indoor and subterranean navigation sensors and systems;

• Predictions and detection of Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) throughout terahertz wave technology for stand-off detection of explosives;

• Integration of radar and infrared for ship self-defence; • Smart textiles for the NATO warfighter; • Acoustic and seismic technologies for military

applications, such as Unattended Ground Sensors (UGSs);

• Detection and tracking of low-altitude stealth air vehicles;

• Military applications of ultra-short, high-intensity laser pulses;

• Adaptive system architectures for coalitions combating terrorism;

• Anti-fratricide measures; and • Countermining.

Figure 37: SET Panel Diversity.

Examples of Recent Work carried out by the SET Panel

High Performance Passive Millimetre-Wave Imaging Using Sparse Aperture Arrays

Recent conflicts in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan have emphatically shown the importance and necessity of proper surveillance and reconnaissance to plan and carry out well-directed military strikes against hostile forces and infrastructures. In mountainous regions or in highly urbanised areas, a nadir imaging orientation for data acquisition would be desirable to avoid information gaps

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in many locations due to the shadowing which occurs in existing EO/IR or SAR imagery.

While significant advances in imaging technologies have been made in the past several decades, major limitations still exist in our ability to sense and image objects of interest through most of the natural obscurants. Moreover, applications for security often require imaging through obscuring media, such as clothing, outer garments and non-conducting containers.

There is a pressing need to develop imaging technologies using wavelengths that are long enough for robust performance and operation, and still small enough for practicality and portability. Imaging systems based in the 30 to 300 GHz region of the Electromagnetic (EM) spectrum are ideally suited for such applications. Millimetre wavelength (mmW) radiation has unique capabilities within the EM spectrum for imaging.

Figure 38: The Electromagnetic Spectrum showing

Windows in the Millimetre-Wave Spectrum.

Millimetre-wave imaging is completely safe to humans, whereas wavelengths in the UV and X-ray band, which are able to penetrate obscurant media, are ionising and potentially harmful to humans. Millimetre-wave radiation is attenuated millions of times less in obscurants such as clouds, fog, smoke, snow and sandstorms than visual or IR radiation.

Millimetre-wave imaging can be performed in passive mode (similar to IR and visible imaging) and one way to accomplish this is through the use of passive radio frequency sensors. These would be hard to detect by hostile forces, and therefore desirable for strategic and tactical reasons, as well as for security reasons. In summary, the following aspects of the Passive millimetre-Wave (PmmW) imaging represent unique opportunities that set it apart from more conventional imaging modalities:

• Visualisation is enhanced through smoke and fog and other airborne obscurants.

• Passive implementation does not require any illumination of millimetre-wave energy upon the image scene.

• Implementation using ‘lensless’ sparse array imaging techniques, providing high spatial resolution without the need for big and bulky optics.

The objectives of the SET-083 Task Group were to increase the knowledge of phenomenology in this waveband and

to investigate the application of PmmW imaging as it applies to sparse aperture systems, with the first aim being the improvement of target discrimination and recognition, and the second aim being the development and optimisation of signal processing methods and system architectures in order to demonstrate the affordability of high-performance imaging systems.

PmmW is an emerging technology, and while it offers the ability to image through scattering and obscuring media, there are significant issues associated with its use and deployment in actual systems. Therefore, this Task Group was focused on identifying suitable system concepts, architectures, devices, phenomenology and system modelling to facilitate the transition of PmmW imaging technology into real-world systems.

As far as military applications are concerned, the increasing role of Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles (UAV) in future conflicts will, in the long term, require sensors that can see through poor weather and battlefield obscurants.

One potential solution to this would be to use an array of PmmW sensors that could be combined to synthesise the large aperture required to image detail on the ground. In a similar way, a conformal sensor could be deployed on the front of rotary-wing craft to allow navigation and collision avoidance in poor weather.

In addition, effective Concealment, Camouflage and Deception (CCD) of military targets is considerably more difficult when targets are simultaneously imaged by sensors at quite different frequency bands within the electromagnetic spectrum. As an alternative technology, a two-dimensional millimetre-wave imaging radiometer is a compelling sensor for this task, as many visible and infrared CCD techniques are not effective in the millimetre waveband. Also, stealth techniques such as conformal shaping, designed to minimise the intensity of RF radar returns, may increase millimetre-wave signatures.

Figure 39: UAV Flying in Cloud-Covered Terrain.

Covert operation of passive millimetre-wave sensors avoids detection by hostile forces. Imaging in this waveband also offers the opportunity of defeating terrorists, as clothing is relatively transparent, allowing the detection of weapons and contraband. Whilst this is an obvious military benefit, the need to use large apertures to achieve the ranges required has prevented this from being widely exploited. To utilise large apertures, it is necessary to consider imaging

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methods where the aperture is synthesised from a collection of smaller elements.

Sparse aperture imaging is a technique that has been used for many years in radio astronomy. This type of antenna could then be deployed conformal on platforms, for example, on the underside of UAVs for through-cloud surveillance, on the front of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for landing and piloting, and on ships for littoral surveillance. Flying objects fitted with sensors of this type would be able to look down vertically, avoiding shadows and facilitating the viewing of targets in deep valleys and narrow streets. The benefit of this technology would be an increased detection rate arising from high resolution and good thermal sensitivity.

(a) (b) (c)

Figure 40: (a) Illustration of a Sparse mmW Aperture Mounted on the Under Carriage of a UAV, Simulated Image at 6,000

feet for (b); A 35-foot Wing Span; and (c) A 2-foot Aperture.

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

Figure 41: (a) Illustration of a Helicopter Landing in a Desert Environment; (b) Rendition of a Conformal mmW Sparse

Aperture for Arial Operations; (c) and (d) Use of Sparse mmW Imagers for Piloting and

Navigation on Naval Platforms.

As noted previously, clothing is relatively transparent, therefore imaging in the 30 to 300 GHz or mmW waveband also offers the opportunity of detecting concealed weapons

and contraband. The persons being covertly scanned do not have to be exposed to any energy transmission sources, thus eliminating many public health concerns.

One primary obstacle to imaging in the millimetre-wave spectrum is that longer wavelengths require larger apertures to achieve the resolutions typically desired in surveillance applications. As a result, lens-based focal plane systems tend to require large aperture optics, which severely limit the minimum achievable volume and weight of such systems. In addition, the price of mmW detectors and sensor elements remains high; therefore, the ability to realise dense focal plane arrays is prohibitive.

To overcome these limitations, the NATO RTO SET-083 Task Group investigated the use of scanning and distributed aperture detection schemes in which the effective aperture size can be increased without the associated volumetric increase in imager size.

Most importantly, the Task Group investigated how to conduct mmW imaging through clouds, fog, maritime inversion layers, battlefield and obscurants determining Meteorological Operative Conditions (METOC) in support of time-critical strike mission planning and through the analysis of sparse antenna arrays requirements and constraints. National data collection and interpretation were shared among the Group and new data was collected in order to support selected scenarios phenomenology. The Task Group developed and validated a system modelling and simulation tool to predict and assess system performance. Enabling technologies and technology gaps were also defined.

Co-ordination was maintained with the SET-053 Task Group on “Ground Target Recognition by Radar” and the SET-069 Task Group on “Robust Acquisition of Re-Locatable Targets Using mmW Sensors”. It is important to mention that the main goal of the SET-069 Task Group was to evaluate active mmW systems in a wide range of engagement conditions that included the compilation of an active mmW database and RCS models for improving signature understanding.

The SET-069 Task Group was also interested in identifying and analysing features of the mmW active/passive target simulations based on camouflage, passive countermeasures, target variability and environmental conditions. Interaction with the radio astronomy community was also deemed as relevant.

Vibrating Antennas and Compensation Techniques

Advanced military aircraft and modern Medium and High Altitude Long Endurance (MALE, HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) will be equipped with structural integrated array antennas to fulfil avionics functions, which are mainly related to radar, Electro-magnetic Counter Measures (ECM) and Communication, Navigation and Identification (CNI). Conformal array antennas can be realised by means of integrating arrays of micro-strip, multi-layer antenna elements in the skin of aircraft.

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When such antenna elements are put on the skin of the aircraft, they are subject to steady and unsteady aerodynamic loads leading to deformation and vibration. As a consequence, the positions and slopes of the elements of the array antenna change. The effect of deformations and vibrations will be most significant on array antennas, which are large in terms of wavelength (high gain antennas). An example of such an antenna is an array antenna for side-looking Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) mounted on the fuselage of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or on a reconnaissance pod of a fighter aircraft.

Figure 42: Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Mounted on the Fuselage of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.

The objectives of the SET-087 Task Group were: • Assessment of levels of vibrations of aerospace

structures supporting phased array antennas (specification of antennas of interest and external loads, simulations using aero-elastic methods);

• Evaluation of performance of vibrating aerospace antennas (by means of electromagnetic modelling of deformed antennas and signal processing studies);

• Study of compensation techniques (active vibration control, array shape measurements and electronic compensation, auto-calibration techniques);

• Use of demonstrators (linear array of patch antenna elements on a vibrating plate, linear interferometer array fixed on a cantilever wing type mock-up); and

• Active participation of Partners from industry who could make available data on the in-flight vibration conditions of commercial or military aircraft (e.g. from flight tests).

The Task Group organised and hosted several technical Workshops and participated in international conferences to promote their results. Multi-disciplinary research has been performed by the research institutes Office National d’Etudes et Recherches Aérospatiales – ONERA (France), Research Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar – FGAN (Germany) and National Aerospace Laboratory – NLR (Netherlands). Furthermore, THALES Airborne Systems (France) and the Air Force Research Laboratories (USA) have contributed to the specification of large aerospace antennas, which are subject to deformations and vibrations.

During the period of activity, two Workshops on vibration of antennas and related topics were organised, involving the participation of international guests from outside the Task Group (industry and research organisations). The Group presented their results during a focus session at the NATO AVT Panel Specialists’ Meeting to promote activities and stimulate participation in future events.

Because military data is highly confidential and access is restricted, the validation of performance estimation and compensation methods for the prediction of vibration levels was carried out using existing software. Computational models were developed representing different generic classes of aircraft types. It was confirmed by different sources, however, that the assumptions made and the predicted levels of deformation and vibration are realistic to the necessary degree and can be met under flight conditions.

To overcome the problem of availability of measured data for the vibration load for real aircraft, a generic aircraft model based on a simplified mass-stiffness-model was developed and thus allowed the Task Group to predict levels of vibration for different types of aircraft under realistic flight conditions.

Figure 43: Vibrating Platform with Embedded Patch Antennas.

The SET-087 Task Group has been successful in permitting the exchange of information between participating Nations. It has improved the networking between different experts and facilitated the exchange of ideas in the field of airborne antenna arrays, assessment of levels of deformation and vibrations, as well as compensation methods. The activity has helped to stimulate research activities and raise the awareness of potential benefits for many applications inside the scientific community.

A follow-on research activity under the umbrella of NATO RTO is going to be established to focus on these problems. The objective of the new Task Group will be to develop solutions for large array apertures and to concentrate performance studies on applications rather than antenna function. In addition to the topics mentioned above, the structural integration of antennas, the mechanical measurements of the position of antenna array elements and active compensation of vibrations by means of mechanical actuators should be included. By broadening the scope of work, this new activity aspires to stimulate greater participation, especially from industry.

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