The Sydney Convention Centre was the venue for an annual gathering of tactical data link practitioners in October 2005. Hosted by the International Data Link Society (IDLS), this year’s symposium drew more than 600 delegates from 15 nations.

DMO’s Tactical Information Exchange Integration Office (TIE IO) hosted a key demonstration throughout the symposium, which won wide acclaim. Titled ‘Variable Message Format in a multi tactical data link environment,’ the presentation was also supported by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and industry partners.

Under the theme ‘making tactical data links work in the littoral environment,’ the symposium provided an opportunity for organisations involved in research, development, implementation and use of data links, both civil and military, to showcase their achievements.

DMO’s demonstration comprised a multi-media simulation of a joint force's operation in a littoral region. Realistic special effects and knowledgeable contractor and military personnel created a presentation that proved very popular.

The Chairman of IDLS, Commander Graham Archer (RN), praised the Defence personnel and industry partners who contributed to the demonstration.

‘The Variable Message Format demonstration helped put several presentations and training sessions into context and rightly won the hearts of many delegates. Australia can be justifiably proud that it surpassed established European and American models in a number of areas’, Commander Archer said.

‘IDLS is about a community coming together to share knowledge and deliver real benefits. In producing such a quality demonstration, the TIE IO team clearly expressed these goals. Indeed, the frank openness and esprit de corps exhibited by Defence and industry presenters typified a collective intent to demonstrate what can truly be achieved’, he added.

The multi-media simulation was created to display interoperability and Network Centric Warfare in context explained the Director of the TIE IO team, Mr Gary Moran.

‘We were able to enhance understanding by avoiding the usual approach of laptops on a display table. It proved an excellent opportunity to highlight to the international community that we have the capability and commitment to address the ADF’s vision for a networked force and we were ably supported by DSTO and industry’, Mr Moran said.

The demonstration has been so successful Capability Development Group intends to make it a centrepiece of its Network Centric Warfare roadshow, which will visit key ADF sites in the first half of 2006. The New Zealand Defence Force is also seeking to utilise the capability.

The demonstration ‘Variable Message Format in a multi tactical data link environment’ was a huge success at the International Data Link Society symposium held in October. The DMO presentation involved DSTO
and industry partners

The following industry partners were vital to the success of the demonstration:

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems

Provided key technologies (Multi Link System Test Training Tool (MLST3) and Common Connectivity Device (CCD)) for the generation of simulated track data to support the presentation scenario.

Various NG C2 products (Interoperable C4I Services (ICS), Command and Control PC (C2PC) and Command and C ontrol for Windows CE (C2CE)) were also used extensively in the demonstration to generate, distribute, process and display tactical information in the joint environment.

Saab Systems

Developed a prototype Variable Message Format (VMF) interface for the currently fielded Battlefield Command Support System enabling the automatic processing and display of VMF messages generated by other systems participating in the demonstration.

Saab Systems also demonstrated a VMF interface for the ANZAC Frigate Combat management System which enabled the automation of Naval Gunfire Support, significantly reducing time to generate effective fire in support of Land Forces.

Rockwell Collins/ ANZUS

The Rosetta gateway was used extensively throughout the demonstration to enable the high speed processing, translation and forwarding of data between systems. Using the Rosetta gateway the TIE-IO supported by DSTO was able to demonstrate for the first time the translation of the proprietary Seahawk Data Link to Link 11, significantly increasing the operational effectiveness of the aircraft.

The Tactical Air Control Party System was also utilised during the demonstration to illustrate how tactical data link technology could be used to improve the speed, accuracy and lethality of Close Air Support Missions.