During Farnborough International Airshow 2014, MBDA Missile Systems unveiled its new STRATUS netcentric command and control system for operating weapon systems in the 2035 battlespace. During its Concept Visions briefing, MBDA demonstrated that it is not only focused on fielding effectors but also on developing state of the art C2 solutions designed to increase both efficiency and effectiveness. With STRATUS MBDA is aiming for cost advantages for its customers by better integrating missile and other effects into the future battlespace. The new system provides through life benefits by introducing a common way of employing missile systems by all services, army, navy and air force. Modularity, re-use and commonality have been key themes during the development of STRATUS. First of all, STRATUS works according to the resources sharing principle, meaning that launchers, effectors are no longer stand alone dedicated weapon systems but rather nodes in a wider network. Due to various different weapon systems being integrated into an overarching infrastructure, the end user benefits as he is now presented with several options to achieve specific effects when engaging a target. Due to this, the design philosophy of Stratus appears to be very similar to today’s effects based operations although it does not merely focus on the kinetic aspects of concepts such as joint fires but also takes into account the intelligence gathering systems needed in the targeting process.
Stratus also aims to eliminate redundancies by reducing the number of weapon resources needed on the battlefield including the logistic elements needed to sustain operations. As a result, MBDA’s C2 system also helps reduce manpower needed when on operations. Due to Stratus working in a distributed way, all nodes are involved as each of the weapon systems involved is required to provide targeting solutions. This is done by using common message formats. Due to it eliminating single points of failure through its distributed way of operating, the system has strong robustness as the remaining parts of the network will continue to function. While distribution helps combat the effects of actions aimed at degrading system efectiveness, the system can also cope with reduced levels of bandwidth.
Stratus is also designed to reduce the level of dependency on top down actions which are often a prerequisite to get things done right, hence traditional military chains of command. Due to the system’s network being able to integrate sensors such as on UAVs and on vehicles, more detailed intelligence can quickly be shared with lower echelons at the tactical level, hereby enabling a more bottom up approach. Meanwhile, responsibilities at the operational level will shift more towards providing guidelines instead of closely being involved in the targeting process. A common core user interface allows easy access to information for all concerned while a multilevel access scheme is available for joint operations as not all levels are required to get the same detailed intel. Stratus also enables platforms such as naval vessels to decide which resources are made directly available as part of the system’s architecture. This means that commanders can retain direct control over certain effectors they deem essential to their protection.
MBDA’s overall management system strives to present optimal engagement solutions which are tailored to the given environment, hereby allowing a robust, scalable approach in both symmetric and asymmetric warfare conditions including in contested environments. For instance, an operator is provided with three options, one which is aimed at a maximum probability of kill, one which takes the risk of collateral damage into account, and one which is designed for achieving the shortest time needed to hit a target. As result, either artillery, a directed energy weapon or loitering munition will be ordered to engage. Stratus does not make autonomous decisions but rather advises the operator on the desired course of action.
On a critical note, many netcentric programmes such as Stratus shatter due to the difficulty in achieving the desired levels of synchronization of all data streams, even more so when working in a multinational environment. With the latter increasingly becoming today’s way of operating, battlelab experiments will have to demonstrate whether Stratus is indeed able to live up to its promises. Either way, MBDA’s C2 system is indicative of the things that are to come in the future operational environment.
Pieter Bastiaans