OneWeb the common denominator in the MoD's Command Paper strategy

The publication of HM Government’s Defence Command Paper and Defence & Security Industrial Strategy on 22 March sheds some more more light on the emerging connectivity requirements of the UK’s Armed Forces.

Published a week after the Integrated Review, the Command Paper hailed investment in “agile, interconnected and data-driven capabilities” which would allow the British Army, Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy to provide the ‘Information Advantage’ across a multi-domain battlespace.

Specifically, the MoD called for “cross-cutting” capabilities for the Joint Force, particularly relating to command, control and communications; electromagnetic activity; and sensing & detection.

OneWeb is strategically positioned to support many of these emerging connectivity requirements, providing easy and rapid access to command, control, communications, computers and cyber (C5) capabilities anywhere in the World and at any time.

OneWeb’s global constellation of LEO satellites allows forward deployed units to benefit from the maximum levels in information even when operating at the tactical edge. Our Broadband Internet connectivity, available across 99.7% of the World, can seamlessly integrate into a wider network of Clouds, Gateways, Software Defined Networks, RF and non-RF communications.

With a variety of ground, maritime and airborne user terminals available to the MoD, OneWeb has an airtime plan for the majority of mission sets undertaken by the UK’s Armed Forces in today and into the future.

Army

 As described in the Command Paper, the British Army will become more expeditionary and integrated into a Joint Force with a wealth of new and upgraded tactical ground vehicles coming online in the near future. Platforms include Ajax, Boxer and Challenger III- all of which must be capable of communicating anywhere in the World on a persistent basis.

Newly established Ranger Regiments- part of a new Army Special Operations Brigade- will operate at the tip of the spear, most likely operating Jackel and Foxhound ground vehicles, again requiring similar levels in assured and resilient connectivity.

OneWeb’s Global Connectivity Platform is ideally positioned to digitally-enable these platforms with on-the-move communications; <50ms latency to support near real-time applications; data throughput up to 195Mbps; enhanced levels in cyber security and situation awareness; and finally, superior decision-making.

 Air

With its fleet of C-130 Hercules due to be retired in 2023, the RAF’s C-17 Globemaster, A400M Atlas and Voyager aircraft will provide the backbone of the transport fleet in the future, in addition to P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft tasked with securing the maritime environment.

Wherever they are tasked to operate, air frames will require seamless, secure and highly mobile connectivity, providing air crews and ground teams with the information advantage across varying environments, including the Arctic Circle.

OneWeb will ensure RAF platforms are provided with resilient and redundant levels in connectivity, enabling them to fully exploit Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2); enhanced levels of situation awareness; and more accurate Precision, Navigation and Timing (PNT) measurements- critical capabilities demanded by air forces operating anywhere around the Globe.

Such capacity will allow aircraft to create Common Operating Pictures at pace; conduct airborne video teleconferencing; automatic measurement of aircraft navigation performance and health; rapid mission changes; Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) and Secure VOIP services.

Navy

Finally, the Royal Navy’s requirement to ensure maximum levels in connectivity globally have never been higher, with plans to deploy a Carrier Task Group to the Indo-Pacfiic later in the year.

According to the Command Plan, the navy will be equipped with a number of new surface vessels over the next decade, including eight Type 26 frigates and five Type 31 frigates.

The Royal Marines’ Future Commando Force will also be enabled by two Littoral Response Groups, covering the Euro-Atlantic theatre and Indo-Pacific. This strategy includes the conversion of a Bay-class support ship to support littoral strike anywhere in the World.

Thanks to OneWeb, Royal Navy task groups will have access to resilient, secure, low latency (<50ms), high speed and high throughput (195Mbps) communications, even in the most contested of arenas, ideally suited to supporting the C5ISR mission requirements of surface vessels and operations centres alike.

OneWeb connectivity will also support unprecedented levels in connectivity in the Arctic Circle- an area of operation which traditionally suffers from poor communications due to insufficient reach of GEO satellites and its harsh terrain.

OneWeb looks forward to fulfilling its mission is to support many of these critical and emerging operational requirements of the MoD.