US delays Royal Navy satellite comms project
Only 31 months late
SaaS data loss: The problem you didn’t know you had
A Royal Navy communications project is 31 months late because development of components at the US Department of Defense is behind schedule.
A National Audit Office (NAO) report on major Ministry of Defence (MoD) projects says the Naval Extremely High Frequency/Super High Frequency Satellite Communications Terminals programme relies on satellite and other equipment supplied by the US. It also says that the MoD has long experience of the risks arising from having very little real power to influence US projects.
"This key dependency was not identified as one of the top risks when the main investment decision was taken for the Naval Extremely High Frequency/Super High Frequency Satellite Communications Terminals project," says the report.
The programme will provide communications primarily for submarines. The report says that the ability to communicate at super high frequency will enable high capacity information exchange, although not in all environments. The extremely high frequency facility will enable the exchange of large volumes of information, while protecting against jamming and ensuring a submarine remains hard to detect.
The system is designed to be interoperable with the US and other allies. However, the NAO says that some of the specific details of the programme are classified and its analysis therefore "contains some generalised comments".
As a temporary solution, the MoD has developed a low cost interim communication system for both the existing Trafalgar Class submarines and the new Astute Class submarines. According to the NAO, this will lessen the potential capability gap.
The NAO's report found that nine MoD projects have got later over the past year.
This article was originally published at Kablenet.
Kablenet's GC weekly is a free email newsletter covering the latest news and analysis of public sector technology. To register click here.
COMMENTS
N (ot) I (nvented) H (ere)
As usual, anything from our allies(?) which was not their basic idea is considered unworkable and impractical. When will those bloody Yanks realise that they do not have the scientists with the breadth of vision that SOME Britishers do? If they ever do complete a project inspired by the British they invariably claim the kudos from it but fail to remind the world that while Britian invented the internet that they then developed it, as is usually the case with anything worth having. I feel that it is a great pity that they are so shy and retiring.
Well
If you diont like the US you can buy the part from France, China, Russia or Indian.
@ Good 'ole USA
Yer like Polaris/Trident! Mind you Blighty's Blue Steel was highly formidable though.
IT infrastructure monitoring strategies
Agentless Backup is Not a Myth
Top 10 SIEM implementer’s checklist
Steps to Take Before Choosing a Business Continuity Partner
Enabling efficient data center monitoring
