Australian web-based C2 system a world-first

An Australia-developed web-based command and control system has been adopted by the RAAF and Coastwatch, and is now attracting significant overseas interest.
An Australian Defence-sponsored Command and Control solution is the subject of strong international interest after being selected by Australian Coastwatch in march this year to manage all National Surveillance Activities.

The Coastwatch Command Support System (CWCSS), developed by Ocean Internet Pty Ltd in Melbourne, uses advanced Microsoft-based technologies to implement a real-time Planning and Operations management capability through a Web browser. The solution also provides GIS capabilities via the same Web interface with Asset and Incident plotting capabilities.

The CWCSS is based on two off-the-shelf products, Ocean Group's own Flight Pro and a Canadian product, Surveillance Information Server. In combination, these provide a full solution all the way from originating Client Agency Tasking requests to final reporting on Mission outcomes. Won in open tender, this project highlights the extreme flexibility of the products on offer in the market today.

"In evaluating Ocean's products and its contributions to the design for our Command Support System, the end users' enthusiasm for FlightPro and SIS was impressive," said RADM Mark Bonser, Director of Coastwatch. "The user interface to FlightPro is very user-friendly for what is obviously a complex application, while the redesign and development of SIS, proposed by Ocean, should significantly enhance our operational effectiveness."

Client agencies such as the Federal Police, and Quarantine and Fisheries departments who task Coastwatch with surveillance tasks, will have full, secure access to mission outcomes, planned and actual routes flown along with all intra mission events and digital photography.

The Flight Pro product has been employed by the ADF since 1994 to manage daily squadron operations at several bases across the country. Out of the box, the current version can address issues such as building and running the schedule, forward planning, historical statistics, syllabi, courses, student management, currencies, qualifications, deployment, obligations, commitments and conflict resolution, assets and serviceability, reporting and analysis.

The cornerstone of the solution is a real-time 'on-screen' version of the traditional whiteboards. The advantage provided is that where multiple terminals are used, the program of events is kept electronically 'in sync' so that all parties have a current view of the schedule whenever changes occur. On bases where multiple squadrons are situated, each squadron gets visibility of the other's activity as do Wing-level consumers.

In a recent investigation into a Information Management needs of a Transport Wing, it was discovered that the features in Flight Pro that allow multiple contributors in different geographic locations to manipulate parts of the schedule would benefit Operations information management greatly.

The up-coming version (5) provides full GIS and asset tracking capabilities, onboard mission control software with feeds from Aircraft Systems and comprehensive mission reporting. All of this functionality, including the GIS and onboard mission control software, is Web driven.

The need to go 'Web' was highlighted when poor WAN infrastructure made the prospect of using traditional technologies highly risky, say Ocean Group sources. Web technology can provide a secure and robust method of data inspection and manipulation of unstable network environments.

The product can be implemented to provide active data feeds of all Operational statistics to other higher-level tactical management systems such as those in the Theater Battle Management Core System (TBMCS). With Flight Pro able to provide a real-time environment between a Wing, multiple Squadrons and their respective Maintenance areas, the interest from foreign military customers has been strong.

Used to manage the day-to-day Operations at 2FTS at RAAF Pearce, Flight Pro 4 provides a comprehensive environment for all consumers and contributors to the process. User groups include 2FTS personnel, maintenance, ATC, SAR and essentially all others who have an interest in the daily activities of the Squadron. The controlled manner in which the Squadron can manage their 60-80 flights a day through the solution is remarkable to see in action.

Overseas defence and commercial organizations have requested further information. Proposals are out to the UK MoD, Canadian Air Force and US Air Force and Army. Interest has also been received from the US Coastguard's Deep Water project, given the similarity of the Australian Coastwatch operation.

"Having seen Flight Pro in use at RAAF Pearce, I am convinced that we would gain significant advantage from its use," said RAF exchange instructor SQNLDR David Lord. "In our particular environment, where the weather is rarely as forecast and changes often and rapidly, we would be able to optimize the use our resources (both aircraft and personnel). Currently this is not possible simply because of the size of the task and the frequency of changes. I would be very happy to retire on 1/100 of the savings that my Squadron alone would make."

With the Surveillance Management and Reporting capabilities of the Coastwatch solution now becoming known, Ocean has received interest from other non-Military agencies such as the Victorian Police Force. The Police, who have multiple Operations cells such as Dog Squad, Mounted Police, Force Response Unit, Air Wing and Water Police, saw in Flight Pro the means to manage combined Operations in real-time from geographically separated departments.

Other Intelligence Agencies have also expressed an interest in the solution particularly when combined with effective "Context Search" technologies like iSocius (from ZedAxis International) for analyzing unstructured data sources like documents.

The solution is flexible enough that it can be used in restricted environments for basic management and also in classified environments where the information is sensitive. Data can be shipped via data-diodes from one system to another if required, providing a highly effective tool at all levels of the Operational chain.