Annual Report 2003-04

Defence Science and Technology Organisation

The Defence Science and Technology Organisation has focused on implementing the directions outlined in the Defence White Paper 2000 and Defence Update 2003 by seeking to make best use of technology and expanding the skills required to exploit technology to benefit Australia's defence. This included major contributions to Defence outcomes and the Government's national research priorities such as safeguarding Australia and frontier technologies for building and transforming Australian industries. The organisation also contributed significantly to Government reviews: mapping Australia's science and innovation activities, a review of closer collaboration between universities and major publicly-funded research agencies ², the work of the National Research Infrastructure Taskforce³ and the evaluation of knowledge and innovation reforms⁴.

These contributions are outlined below.

Results for 2003-04

Outcome One - Command of Operations

The research conducted and support given to Command of Operations included:

Command of Operations Research - improving the effective application of information technologies in a collocated headquarters, and technical support to enhancing a continuous situational awareness capability for command decision making. The organisation also conducted research into developing advanced modelling and simulation tools for operations planning, enhancing information fusion capabilities for headquarters' environments, and enhancing existing systems that support the command and control of coalition operations.

Defence Force Military Operations and Exercises - deploying personnel to provide on-site technical advice and support to both Operation Anode and Operation Catalyst. Additionally, the organisation provided technical support to develop security architectures to protect Defence information environment connections to both allied and coalition networks.

Contribution to National Support Tasks - providing support and technical advice to other government organisations. This included technical support to Customs in developing a facial recognition system for access control, collaborative research with the CSIRO to enhance proposed protection measures for national critical infrastructure, and command and control analysis support for national counter-terrorism exercises for the Attorney-General's Department.

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Outcome Two - Navy Capabilities

The maritime science and technology research program included research in the following areas:

Capability for Major Surface Combatants - providing support to concept of operations development for capability assessment, maximising the potential capability improvements gained from implementing network-centric warfare technologies, and enhancing existing above and below-water sensors and systems.

Capability for Naval Aviation Operations - providing technical advice on life-management issues associated with the Sea King, Seahawk and Super Seasprite helicopters and component systems, and on missile system tactical capabilities and limitations.

Capability for Patrol Boats - providing advice on optimum crewing strategies and other human-factor issues, and supporting the specification and procurement of sensors for the replacement patrol boats.

Capability for Submarine Operations - providing advice on the replacement combat system, issues relating to the structural integrity of the hull and on propulsion systems. Support was provided to maximise the availability and effectiveness of the current submarine fleet including: technical advice relating to acoustic signature control, battery performance and propeller life management. The organisation also provided support in relation to the procurement, testing and deployment of torpedoes.

Capability for Mine Warfare - supporting the mine hunter coastal platform through advice on signature reduction for reduced vulnerability and for improved structural reliability in the event of damage.

Capability for Amphibious Lift and Afloat Support - providing advice on the procurement of future amphibious systems.

Outcome Three - Army Capabilities

The land science and technology research program included research in the following areas:

Capability for Special Forces Operations - enhancing existing communication and information systems, providing technical advice on large-strike and unconventional capabilities, and improving mobility, insertion and extraction techniques.

Capability for Mechanised Operations - providing science and technology support to the acquisition and introduction into service of the main battle tank replacement. Technical advice and support was also provided in enhancing the communications and navigation systems of armoured fighting vehicles, identifying the required battlefield effects of future combat vehicle weapon systems, and providing through-life support for existing vehicle fleets.

Capability for Light Infantry Operations - supporting development of the urban operations capability, improving collective training evaluation, and providing technical support to improving soldier performance as part of the soldier combat system project.

Capability for Army Aviation Operations - providing science and technology support to the acquisition and introduction into service of the armed reconnaissance helicopter and troop-lift helicopter. Technical advice and support was also provided on enhancing collision avoidance systems, improving night flying performance and optimising the performance of aircrew equipment.

Capability for Regional Surveillance - research into determining the capabilities and technologies required in future networked battlefield surveillance systems. Technical advice and support was also provided to enhance existing active and passive sensor systems and systems architecture.

Capability for Protective Operations - enhancing current biomedical threat assessment and diagnostic techniques, improving protective personal equipment and ensembles, and developing a chemical decontamination and collective protection program.

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Outcome Four - Air Force Capabilities

The air science and technology research program included research in the following areas:

Capability for Air Combat - providing support to the current F/A-18 and F-111 fleets to improve operational effectiveness and survivability including operational advice prior to deployment in the Middle East, reducing the cost of Defence ownership through investigation and advice on structural integrity management issues, as well as providing technical support on the evaluation and acquisition of future air combat capabilities.

Capability for Strategic Surveillance - providing technical advice on enhancing secure datalinks and communications systems, improving airborne surveillance systems' interactions with the national surveillance network, and research into improving the Australian air defence system. The organisation also conducted research into force development and simulation using the virtual air environment, and provided significant technical support for the evaluation and acquisition of the airborne early warning and control aircraft.

Capability for Maritime Patrol Aircraft - undertaking capability analysis for the replacement of the maritime patrol and response capability, providing technical advice on extending the life of the current airframe and engine systems, and technical advice and support for current radar and multi-static sonar systems, as well as providing advice on operational tactics development.

Capability for Airlift- providing acquisition support for replacing the air refuelling capability, research into optimising aircrew workloads, and technical advice and through-life support provided for the C-130 and Caribou fleets. The organisation also developed an innovative and cost-effective solution to correct propeller balance in the C-130J, and provided vital technical support to optimise the survivability of the C-130H/J on deployment.

Outcome Five - Strategy

The research conducted and support given to Strategy Group included:

Military Strategy and Strategic Operations - providing technical recommendations to senior managers on how best to improve strategic Defence capabilities. Technical advice was provided to improve Defence capability in the following areas: strategic interoperability, current and future force structures, capability option analysis, whole-of-force readiness and whole-of-force sustainability, the ADF lift capability, maritime patrol and maritime response, ground-based air defence, ADF helicopter platform rationalisation and the ADF air-to-air refuelling capability.

Strategic and International Policy, Activities and Engagement - maintaining effective science and technology relationships with other countries. The most important element was ongoing participation in The Technical Cooperation Program with the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand; a significant additional activity was hosting the rotating annual meeting of program principals in October 2003. The Defence Science and Technology Organisation also continued separate bilateral science and technology arrangements with nations including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, France, the Netherlands, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. In addition, the organisation provided technical advice and support on UN disarmament and arms control initiatives and contributed to the science and technology research annex of the United States-Australia agreement on missile defence.

Outcome Six - Intelligence

Research conducted and support given included evaluating the effectiveness of selected systems, applications and tools for use in the Defence intelligence system; providing technical advice on developments in science and technology that have the potential to threaten the security of Australia; and providing technical assistance to develop solutions to identified intelligence problems.

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Making the Best Use of Science and Technology and Australian Industry

The Defence Science and Technology Organisation began implementing a new planning framework that centres around three core planning processes: strategic, technology capability and program planning. The new framework introduces a new science and technology capability plan to allow the organisation to better adapt its science and technology capabilities and workforce to future requirements. It will support the alignment of the organisation's future science and technology capabilities with known client needs, while taking into account trends in defence technologies.

The organisation also commenced implementing change strategies and organisational improvement recommended by the Defence Procurement Review. Achievements in this area included:

• developing policy on, and a structure for, conducting technical risk assessments on all projects being presented to the Government for first and second pass approval (for more detail on the 'two pass' implementation process, refer to Chapter One - New Capability Development and Acquisition Process section);
• establishing a dedicated cell to support Defence's new Capability Development Group; and
• developing an agreement with the Defence Materiel Organisation for the provision of science and technology support during its transition to the prescribed agency model in 2005-06.

The organisation was well represented in the science, engineering and technology unit established in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to develop a coherent, focused research program in support of Australia's counter-terrorism efforts.

Under the direction of the Minister, an external consultant, Mr Robert Trenberth⁵, reviewed the organisation's external engagement and contribution to Australia's wealth. The organisation received favourable comment from the review and has embraced the review's recommendations for further improvement by developing plans to:

• improve technology access for industry, especially for small to medium enterprises;
• deliver more strategic external engagements;
• expand the existing capability and technology demonstrator program; and
• enhance existing commercialisation mechanisms for technology transfer to industry.

Network Security Support to Network Centric Warfare

A secure information infrastructure that protects the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information is pivotal to conducting network-centric warfare. To this end, significant research effort was applied during the year to maintaining and enhancing the security of the Defence information infrastructure, with special emphasis placed on work to develop and improve large-scale mobile secure networking. Continued close collaboration with United States' Government agencies, in particular the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, ensured the installation and initial testing of an Australian prototype network intrusion-detection system. Other important research activities included providing technical advice and support to position Defence to utilise the next generation internet protocol, IPv6, in order to maintain and improve Australia's secure interoperability with its allies, especially the United States.

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Backing Australia's Ability and National Research Priorities

The organisation supported the Government's 2001 innovation statement Backing Australia's Ability by contributing to national research priorities in a number of areas, including:

• improving support for transformational defence technologies by conducting research programs in counter-terrorism, network-centric warfare, battlespace automation, joint experimentation, and reducing the costs of ownership; and better support to enhancing Defence capability through developing frontier technologies for building and transforming Australian industries and by adopting initiatives to address smart materials; and
• entering into an umbrella collaborative research agreement with National Information and Communications Technology Australia Limited to conduct joint research in information and communications technology.

Industry Involvement

The organisation's contribution to national wealth creation was confirmed by Mr Trenberth's review. Commitment to this objective was evidenced by continued strengthening of links with industry, other government research organisations, cooperative research centres and universities.

In July 2003, the organisation joined the existing 'Coastal Zone, Estuary and Waterway Management', as well as the new 'Integrated Engineering Asset Management' and 'Advanced Composite Structures' cooperative research centres, bringing the total number of cooperative research centres to ten with which the organisation collaborated on various research activities during 2003-04.

Further licences to transfer dual-use defence technologies to industry were also approved. These included a licence agreement with Pacific Marine Batteries to commercialise the Defence Science and Technology Organisation's specific gravity sensor technology, and an intellectual property licence with Anatomical Surrogate Technologies to allow the company to develop and market the organisation's frangible surrogate limb technology.

Research agreements and centres of expertise with universities were further developed and expanded. These included:

• an additional memorandum of understanding between the organisation and other parties on the Australian Hypersonics Initiative;
• establishing two centres of expertise and two corresponding university chair positions, in photonics and microwave radar respectively, at the University of Adelaide; and
• a new collaborative agreement with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology to develop and commercialise photonics optical modulator technology.

The organisation's support to Australian industry also included undertaking research and development under its outsourcing program, a number of new collaborative research programs with industry and universities, and also three new industry alliance agreements with Tenix Defence, Saab Systems Pty Ltd and the University of Adelaide.

People Matter

The organisation consolidated its existing people initiatives and extensively re-evaluated its leadership and learning programs during 2003-04.

Workshops were designed and facilitated to develop the skills and knowledge of managers within a principles-based environment, and an award framework was developed to help recognise the significant contributions of the organisation's staff.

The organisation's Continuing Education Initiative was enhanced through additional courses and program development. Staff participation in postgraduate science and technology studies under this initiative increased significantly during the year.

2. The review was coordinated by the Department of Education, Science and Training. Additional information is available at: http://www.dest.gov.au/collaboration/default.htm.
3. The taskforce was coordinated by the Department of Education, Science and Training. Additional information is available at: http://www.dest.gov.au/highered/ri_taskforce/default.htm.
4. The evaluation was coordinated by the Department of Education, Science and Training. Additional information is available at: http://www.dest.gov.au/highered/ki_reforms/default.htm.
5. Mr Trenberth's work is reported under 'DomainOne' consultancy in Table 7.21 of the External Consultants section of the Appendices to this report.

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