CTD Program-a cornucopia of new technologies

Now in its eighth year, Defence's Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) program is proving to be one of Defence's most important initiatives with benefits flowing to industry participants and Defence itself.
First funded in July 1998 the CTD program presently comprises some 35 active demonstrators with a fairly modest $140 million allocated to various projects. But CTD funding is no get rich quick scheme.

Initially funding was limited to a maximum of $20 million, according to the quality of proposals. But by 2004 the government committed to increasing the CTD program, with redirected funding of $39m for the next three years. This policy equates to an annual CTD program of $26 million for 2005-07.

Defence takes pains to point out that this is not a grants program but is a collaborative activity conducted under contract between Defence and industry to deliver a demonstration of the capability potential of new technology. The program's emphasis is on technology in Australian industry that is going to provide capability advantages for Defence and allow Australian industry to position itself to provide in-service capabilities and through-life-support.

Naturally enough, proposals must satisfy the following criteria if they are to be considered for funding:

* Potential to contribute to Defence Capability Development

* Potential to Transition into Service

* Technology and Innovation

* Industry Capability Enhancement

* Project Management

And it seems any interested company needs to fully understand Defence's capability development process if it is to initiate a successful CTD proposal. Such 'homework' includes an appreciation of Defence's capability priorities, which is best gained through early discussions with the CTD Program Office and Capability Development Group Staff. Industry briefings also remain an important part of the Program and continue to be conducted both in Canberra and interstate by the CTD Program Office.

Throughout its relatively short history the CTD program has proven to be highly successful in its goal of bringing together Defence and industry to work on developing new technologies to demonstrator level. Improvements will also ensure that the CTD program will continue to provide an avenue of development for newly evolving technologies and concepts to demonstrator level. These were mainly directed towards increasing SME participation without limiting access to larger companies. These improvements included seed funding of between $10K to $20K to assist companies in further developing their proposals.

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Nicholls says the CTD program has been of exceptional benefit to SMEs, enabling them to develop new technologies supported by funding 100 per cent of the costs among other benefits, and has provided Defence with access to high quality, low cost innovation expertise in industry.

Among other program improvements, it was also found that many companies, especially SMEs, had difficulty in maintaining the allocation of staff and infrastructure required for a proposed CTD while awaiting evaluation and approval. Where Defence sees benefit in maintaining the viability of a proposal, funding in the range of $50,000 to $100,000 may be provided under contract for specific activities.

Because Defence may accept proposals at different levels of maturity, ranging from systems definition through to the demonstration stage, it will provide seed funding for the development of systems definition proposals for CTD programs. Funding for these measures could range from $10,000 to $100,000.

However Defence is no pennypincher when it comes to backing advanced technologies. In late June 2005, Defence signed a $2.7m CTD contract with Iatia Limited, the leading developer of Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI), the largest contract in that particular round. QPI technology utilises conventional digital imaging capability, and produces a new image based on shape information alone that is independent of the image provided by colour and contrast. This image is then suitable for further processing by conventional image enhancement, image-processing and image-recognition software. The potential uses include passive ranging, shape imaging, defeating camouflage, and in developing novel image processing algorithms.

The latest round of the CTD Program has seen $26 million allocated for the development of 14 new technologies. They are:

Scrannel (Avalon Systems) - This would demonstrate an enhanced missile detection system that could provide ships under threat with additional warning time and thus increase their chances of surviving an attack. If successful, the system could be fitted to existing and new ships.

Directed Infrared Countermeasures (Tenix Defence Systems and Adelaide University) - This technology is aimed at improving the ADF's ability to protect its aircraft from attack by shoulder-launched, heat-seeking missiles. This CTD proposal would develop, build and demonstrate a test system based on high-powered laser and fibre-optic technologies for evaluation purposes.

Integrated Electronic Warfare System (BAE Systems, Avalon Systems, Daronmont Technologies, SAAB Systems and Tenix Defence Pty Ltd) - This proposal would develop and demonstrate a system that would fuse electronic surveillance data and video information in near-real time to detect and track moving objects; provide size and geo-location information to support targeting; and enhance detection probabilities.

Haptically Operated Counter-Explosive Robot (Deakin University) - This proposal would demonstrate how a radio-controlled robot working on an explosive device is able to provide a remote operator with tactile feedback during its manipulations of the device. This would increase the chances that bombs can be made safe without damage to people or property.

Removable Armour for Land Vehicles (SEAL Solutions Pty Ltd) - This would demonstrate removable armour that could be applied to the outside of lightly armoured vehicles without requiring any permanent modifications.

Rassputin Sonobuoy (Thales Underwater Systems Pty Ltd and Acoustic Technologies Pty Ltd) - This aims to demonstrate how using a directional receiver could increase the detection range of submarines relative to sonobuoys currently used by the RAN and RAAF.

Segmented Rubber Track (Mackay Consolidates Industries Pty Ltd) - Tanks and M113s use steel tracks. This proposes to design and manufacture a track system which uses rubber segments instead of discrete steel links. The system has the potential to deliver improved operational performance with reduced maintenance and support costs.

Personnel Location Device (Compucat Research Pty Ltd) - This would demonstrate a position reporting system for troops and a monitoring system that could inject this information into the ADF networked reporting system. This system could reduce the likelihood of friendly forces engaging each other in battle.

Automated Personnel Tracking (Blue Glue Pty Ltd) - This aims to demonstrate how smart card and radio-frequency identification technologies could be applied to monitoring and controlling personnel in constrained environments such as amphibious ships and headquarters.

Airborne Bathymetry (Geosolution Pty Ltd and Kayar Pty Ltd) - This proposal is based on a mining exploration technology and would demonstrate the technology for charting water depths down to 100 metres. It would allow a more accurate and complete coverage of shallow water areas than ship-based methods.

Smart Power Management System (Tectonica Australia Pty Ltd) - This will demonstrate a smart power management network and incorporate it into the in-service soldier load carrying equipment. The system will power devices being introduced as part of the Soldier Combat System. It will reduce overall equipment mass by distributing power from one central battery or alternative power source and eliminating the need to carry several types of batteries as spares.

Machine Translation & Terminology Manager System (Toggle Text Pty Ltd) - Under this proposal, the contractor would design, develop and demonstrate a computer-based application that can provide a database of specialised words and phrases in different languages. Such a system could be used to support intelligence work, overseas deployments and contracting.

Sentient Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Sentient Vision Pty Ltd) - This will demonstrate a high-definition, real-time vision system for a UAV to acquire and track small moving targets on the ground. At present, there is no system available that can do this effectively.

Demountable Combat Armour (Combat Armour International Pty Ltd) - This aims to demonstrate a portable armoured shelter to better protect personnel from small arms fire while manning temporary check points and gun positions.

By Tom Muir, Canberra