2 0 2 2 T H E S C I E N C E I N S I D E D E F E N C E S C I E N C E A N D T E C H N O L O G Y L A B O R AT O R Y W E L C O M E T O T H E S C I E N C E I N S I D E Introduction PAUL HOLLINSHEAD Chief Executive The Science Inside is a snapshot of projects across UK defence and security demonstrating how the funding and application of scientific and technological advances is keeping us ahead of current and future threats. 2 We live in times of increasing volatility and uncertainty. advances current and new sovereign capabilities, and The threats we face today both at home and abroad has created a powerful skills and knowledge base that are more complex and dynamic than ever before. is internationally respected. For hundreds of years society has turned to scientists Sustaining strategic advantage through S&T is for solutions to the biggest and most fundamental recognised as an integral element of our national challenges we face. But in this digital and techno- security and international policy, fortifying the scientific age, science and technology (S&T) is not just position of the UK as a global S&T superpower and the means to overcome individual challenges, it is now responsible cyber power. an arena of systemic competition in itself, especially in defence and national security. These endeavours will be essential in gaining political, security and economic advantages in the coming At the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory decade and in shaping international norms in (Dstl) we research and apply the rapid advances in S&T collaboration with allies and partners, while driving to keep us safe and protect the freedoms and the way prosperity at home. of life we expect. The Science Inside is a snapshot of projects across We harness innovation as a force for good. To give the UK defence and security demonstrating how the armed forces and security partners an edge over our funding and application of scientific and technological adversaries, to counter threats and save lives. advances is keeping us ahead of current and future We are only able to do this because of the steadfast threats. support and funding for our core S&T research by the MOD, Home Office and other arms of His Majesty’s Sustained investment in scientific skills and specialised Government over many decades. facilities is crucial to unlocking the benefits science can offer, and we hope these insights will help you to see This investment in our world-class scientists, their potential for good and for keeping you and your technologists, engineers, and technicians at Dstl and families safe, now and in the future. our UK scientific community in industry and academia STRATEGIC S&T CAPABILITIES Above Water Advanced AI & Air CBR Communications Cyber Electromagnetic Explosives Homeland Security Human & Systems Materials Data Science Systems & Networks Activities & Energetics & CT Systems Social Sciences Information Land Operational Robotics & Sensing Space S&T Futures Strategic Survivability Underwater Weapons Systems Systems Research Autonomous Systems Systems & Incubator Systems Systems 3 A DVA N C E D L E T H A L I T Y LONG RANGE LASER TRIAL SUCCESS The DragonFire Laser Directed Energy Weapon performed to its requirements and demonstrated the (LDEW) demonstrator has successfully completed two tracking accuracy necessary to maintain a constant lock demanding trials to prove its capability to disrupt on surface and air targets. The future aspiration for the enemy sensors and destroy incoming threats. system is to conduct an above the horizon trial in the UK in 2023 and 2024 against instrumented surface and On Dstl’s test range DragonFire was fired with pinpoint air targets to fully test system performance against a accuracy over a distance of 3.5km in the UK’s first high- demanding target set. powered, long range laser trial. Designed to operate over even longer ranges DragonFire was deployed The UK DragonFire consortium, contracted by Dstl, is against representative targets including static sheets led by MBDA and comprises Leonardo, QinetiQ, Arke, of metals and other materials of varying thicknesses, BAE Systems, Marshall and GKN. This new UK sovereign and mobile targets such as small Uncrewed Aerial capability is designed to provide short-range air defence Vehicles (UAVs). and close-in protection for naval vessels using a range of different effects depending on the tactical scenario. The firing followed an active tracking accuracy These include identifying, tracking and deterring a trial at the QinetiQ Aberporth range. In difficult potential threat by dazzling its targeting sensors, as well weather conditions due to Atlantic storms the system as damaging or even destroying the incoming threat. 4 INFORMING AND ANALYSING HYPERSONIC CONCEPTS LETHALITY OPTIONS TAKE SHAPE Dstl’s high quality advice is contributing to the Dstl’s Hypersonic Weapons Programme was established Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) Acquisition in 2022 to deliver a hypersonic cruise missile Programme to procure a weapon system to replace technology demonstrator by the middle of the decade both the Storm Shadow deep-strike missile and the and invest in broader generation after next hypersonic Harpoon anti-ship missile. weapon concepts and technologies. This will provide a transformational capability that delivers operational Dstl delivered defence scenario-based operational advantage for the future UK armed forces. analysis (OA) through detailed assessment of the operational effectiveness of candidate weapons, Separately Dstl is working with Reaction Engines, and rigorous justification of the military need and Rolls-Royce, the Royal Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities requirements. Office (RCO) and the UK’s National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) to deliver the Hypersonic Air The analysis team coordinated a cross-disciplinary Vehicle Experimental (HVX) Programme to establish effort covering lethality, survivability, navigation and the UK as a leader in reusable hypersonic air systems. target acquisition, integrating knowledge from across Dstl and working closely with Defence Equipment and The team will rapidly develop critical high-Mach/ Support (DE&S) and MBDA. hypersonic technologies, including novel air-breathing propulsion architectures, innovative thermal management systems and advanced vehicle concepts. HVX’s immediate objective is to rapidly mature technologies which can deliver a step-change reduction in the cost of developing a reusable high- On Dstl’s test range DragonFire Mach/hypersonic air vehicle. Design work is underway was fired with pinpoint accuracy over a on experimental hypersonic vehicle concepts such as a single engine variant, “Concept V.” distance of 3.5km in the UK’s first high- powered, long range laser trial 5 M U LT I - D O M A I N I N T EG R AT I O N Multi-Domain Integration (MDI) is the ability to sense, Defence holds a lot of valuable data, but it needs to understand and orchestrate across all five operational be fused and harnessed rapidly to produce decision- domains, in concert with other instruments of national quality information - our defence led S&T is working power, allies and partners, to deliver a desired outcome. with a broad range of suppliers to bring to bear the MDI is a complex ecosystem. best minds on our most challenging problems. Operational success will be realised by harnessing this But MDI is broader than defence, we are working complexity, exploiting the wealth of information at our across government and allies too. Collaboration and fingertips, developing and using new Information Age innovation are key to helping defence realise the effectors and effects synchronisation, ensuring MDI vision. any combination works together. It is critical that defence’s systems across all land, maritime, air, cyber and space domains can work together seamlessly. S&T can help navigate this complexity, creating an MDI-optimised future whilst maximising the utility of our legacy systems. It is critical that defence’s systems across all land, maritime, air, cyber and space Conflict is unpredictable, and commanders need ready domains can work together seamlessly access to a suite of military capabilities that will work seamlessly together when needed. S&T is helping commanders exploit the sub-threshold zone by shaping adversary thinking through information effects, by developing cyber and electromagnetic effects that are Collaboration in S&T is fundamental to the difference synchronised and deconflicted with other activities in we make, as are game changing advances and the increasingly congested electromagnetic spectrum, innovation wherever they can be found - only by to exploiting space as a new domain of operation. bringing together the best minds will we meet the challenges of operating and winning in the future Many of the critical technologies needed to achieve battlespace. the MDI vision are invisible. Resilient integrated command, control, communications and computing Integration is the only way ahead - how we can achieve are essential, as is being able to sense and understand this, overcome the barriers and drive it into our thinking what is happening. Curating and sharing data across and culture needs to be at the forefront of our minds multiple systems, domains and organisations is a key whether we are working on an S&T project or operating technical challenge for S&T. in a front line role...MDI is a team sport. This is compounded by the need to navigate multiple classifications, and ensuring this is conducted at the right operational tempo - the right information, at the right place, at the right time. 6 AUTONOMOUS SENSORS REDUCE OPERATOR BURDEN The multi-national Contested Urban Environment This reduces the operator’s need to constantly monitor (CUE) experiment in Portsmouth illustrated the the output of the sensors. benefits of Dstl’s SAPIENT autonomous sensor system. In the Sensing for Asset Protection with Integrated CUE was the largest application of SAPIENT involving Electronic Networked Technology (SAPIENT) system, multiple sensors, locations and nations. Around 60 the individual sensors are advanced, using artificial different technologies were trialled including radars, intelligence (AI) to make detections and classifications LiDARs, CCTV cameras and uncrewed ground vehicles locally, sending only the information not the raw (UGVs) across the land, maritime and air domains. data, to a decision-making module for command SAPIENT has also been adopted by MOD as the and control. They also make operating decisions standard for counter-uncrewed air systems (C-UAS) autonomously, such as which direction to look or technology and was evaluated at the NATO technical whether to zoom in, to fulfil higher-level objectives. interoperability exercise (TIE22) in The Netherlands. These are managed by the decision-making module This enabled 31 advanced autonomous sensor modules which controls the overall system and makes some of from different vendors to connect to 13 decision- the decisions normally made by the operators. making modules. REDUCING NETWORK BOUNDARIES Data Centric Security (DCS) is one of the key enablers first and only federation of two coalition DCS Systems to realising the Multi-Domain Integration’s objective of (UK and US CENTCOM), enabling direct transfer of a Single Information Environment; reducing network editable and shareable data objects between the two boundaries and unlocking data silos. national systems, significantly enhancing information Using a UK DCS architecture, Dstl demonstrated the interoperability and data sharing. 7 S PAC E DEFENCE SATELLITES ABOARD FIRST UK LAUNCH Over the next four years defence will launch up to radio signals including GPS, paving the way for a more eight satellite demonstrator missions, supported by collaborative and connected space communication Dstl’s Space Systems Programme. The first two of system with our combat allies. these will be launched from the UK on Virgin Orbit’s dedicated small satellite launch service, which has The UK launch will also carry the CIRCE (Coordinated been facilitated by the US National Reconnaissance Ionospheric Reconstruction Cubesat Experiment) Office and is due to take off from Spaceport Cornwall. mission being conducted by Dstl in collaboration with One of the missions is known as Prometheus 2, and the US Naval Research Laboratory. CIRCE will monitor will operate two cube-satellites in Low Earth Orbit, environmental changes in the Earth’s ionosphere. Data around 550km above the Earth and 50-100km apart. will be captured by a UK miniaturised space weather Co-funded with Airbus Defence and Space who are sensing suite designed in collaboration with academic designing them jointly with In-Space Missions where partners University College London’s Mullard Space they are built, the two tiny satellites are comparable Science Laboratory, the University of Bath, and Surrey to the size of a cereal box. They will provide a test Satellite Technology Limited, drawing on expertise platform for sophisticated imaging, and monitoring from the University of Surrey. 8 MINERVA SATELLITE HYPERSPECTRAL CONSTELLATION SPACE STUDY Dstl is supporting MINERVA, a £127 million investment Dstl has worked with both Thales Alenia Space (TAS) over four years to develop a network of space and Airbus Defence and Space (ADS) to develop platforms and ground systems, designed to integrate solutions for SYCORAX, a space-based hyperspectral space with other domains. An operational concept imaging system concept that could provide a unique demonstrator, MINERVA will show the UK’s ability to future intelligence-gathering capability using a wide autonomously collect, process and disseminate data range of wavelengths of light, including those beyond from UK and allied space assets, to better aid frontline the visible. military decision-making on the ground. Each concept has developed individual innovative MINERVA will launch three satellite missions that will solutions to make this possible: a ‘skimsat’ using provide test platforms for Dstl to conduct various electric propulsion in Very Low Earth Orbit (TAS) and experimentation activities to inform future capability an innovative spectrometer to improve signal-to noise decisions. Satellite MINERVA 1A (TYCHE) will have an ratio (ADS). This technology is one of several being Electro-Optical (EO) sensor. MINERVA 1B (JOVE) will considered for exploitation within MOD’s future space- be a cluster of satellites with EO and passive Radio- based ISR programme, ISTARI. Frequency (RF) sensors and inter-satellite links to begin a multi-sensor approach. Satellite MINERVA 2 (JUNO) will have an EO sensor and will operate in conjunction with a US-developed satellite architecture to begin international partner integration. Over the next four years defence will The developed and tested system will be brought together by UK Space Command through the ISTARI launch up to eight satellite demonstrator intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, supported by Dstl’s Space satellite programme. Systems Programme Work delivering the concept demonstrator systems is already underway. The JOVE mission team is evaluating three preliminary designs from UK industry to select REVOLUTIONARY OPTICAL a supplier. Dstl has been working closely with DE&S, COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE putting together jointly the competition document for the upcoming JUNO mission, as well as supporting wider UK Space Command ISR programmes. The TITANIA satellite is due to launch in 2023 and will be capable of high-speed data transmissions from space via its optical link. Being built by In-Space Missions, TITANIA aims to develop the science, and demonstrate the military utility, of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) direct-to-Earth Free- Space Optical Communications (FSOC). This supports the concept of information advantage, by providing the ability to increase the rate at which data can be transferred from space, whilst also increasing resilience and protecting data in RF contested and © SSTL congested environments. 9 C Y B E R A N D I N F O R M AT I O N SYS T E M S CYBER PROTECTION FOR CARRIER STRIKE GROUP Working with the Royal Navy (RN) and industry Our human behavioural scientists supported a partners, Dstl is conducting multiple activities to better simulated cyber incident live at sea on an active RN understand and mitigate the cyber risk to the Carrier vessel and helped assess the levels of response required. Strike Group (CSG). Dstl delivers evidence-based resilient sensing, This includes the first instance of using engineering information and effector systems. We advance data to detect potential cyber activity on a platform the tools, techniques and tradecrafts required to to achieve a proof of principle demonstration of end to establish world-class capabilities to detect and end capability. counter threats to UK defence and security. 10 MAINTAINING ACCESS IN CONTESTED ELECTROMAGNETIC ENVIRONMENTS Dstl has provided concepts which allow defence Its primary functions are to detect, mark and/or to exploit the electromagnetic environment (EME) neutralise emplaced ordnance at a safe distance in for integrated survivability against conventional order to render an identified route safe and intact for threats. The future EME will be increasingly contested, military vehicles and personnel to transit. degraded and operationally limited. The UK armed forces have a requirement to maintain freedom of Dstl research has supported GARA development by access and manoeuvre (FOAM) in this environment. identifying and developing exploitable concepts to This S&T research has identified next generation neutralise ‘tactically-emplaced explosive devices’ by countermeasures concepts and technologies to electromagnetic means at sufficient distance from improve integrated survivability against conventional protected elements, and restore freedom of action in threats. Some of the identified next generation defence and security operations. technologies/concepts have already been transferred for further development and onward exploitation. It consists of a collection of low technology readiness level (TRL) concepts for both neutralisation by The next generation UK military capability conceived inhibition, dudding and pre-detonation and also to ensure defined routes and areas can be cleared of concepts that support or enable neutralisation, such emplaced explosive ordnance is named ‘Ground Area as autonomous decision-making for neutralise and Reconnaissance and Assurance’ (GARA). simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR). 11 Q UA N T U M Revolutionary technologies such as semiconductors, These include image analysis, handwriting lasers, nuclear power and magnetic resonance recognition and decision-making. imaging owe their existence to the breakthroughs in understanding quantum phenomena. We are still forging ahead in the other fields and the engineering challenges to bring them out of the The last half a century has seen remarkable progress laboratory: exploring future atomic clocks and in the fields of atomic, molecular and optical physics, inertial sensors to protect defence and critical as well as laser design, material science, and computer national infrastructures from the potential loss of modelling, which together allow us to tame and GPS; building extremely wide spectral bandwidth manipulate quantum phenomena to our advantage. RF sensors using atoms as antennae; using single This is the so-called ‘Quantum 2.0’ revolution. photon ranging to see through foliage and clutter; developing gravity sensors to passively navigate Quantum provides increased sensitivity as we are anywhere in the world; using entangled photons measuring the response of single atoms; better to ‘see’ in wavelengths no camera technology can accuracy as quantum technology is used to define operate in; matchbox size magnetometers that use measurements; longer stability because atomic species vapour of atoms to monitor brainwaves. do not wear out and are identical; and reduced noise via correlations (i.e. entanglement). Four main areas of application are clear: computing, communication, sensors (including timing), and imaging. Dstl has been closely involved with the National Quantum Technology Programme since its We will see quantum enhanced launch in 2014, primarily focusing on sensing and technologies having a profound impact on timing, but now expanding to include quantum defence and security over the next decades information-processing and potential advantages in optimising machine learning via analogue quantum processor units (QPUs). We recently purchased a quantum computer from These systems do not act alone and require precision ORCA, which will be based in the National Quantum ‘classical’ technologies to operate, which is what Computing Centre. ORCA’s PT-1 model is the first makes them challenging to move out of the computer of its kind to operate at room temperature laboratory. However, we will see quantum enhanced and be based on-premises. technologies having a profound impact on defence and security over the next decades. ORCA computing has developed hardware and software that allows small-scale photonic processors, Watch this (quantized) space! which use single units of light, or ‘photons’, to be applied to complex machine learning and optimisation tasks. 12 13 G E N E R AT I O N A F T E R N E X T TURNING DNA INTO GREEN POWER A novel DNA application could provide a safer, The idea is scalable and could take the form of large greener solution to generating power with potential batteries, batteries too small to see or a completely uses across society. new format such as a coating. Current battery technology used by the armed forces The pioneering collaborative project is being contains a lot of energy in chemical format and if undertaken by scientists at Touchlight Genetics and that battery gets shot it might explode and burst University of Utah, funded by MOD and the Office of into flames. The bio-battery is made out of DNA, Naval Research Global (ONRG). enzymes, lactate and water so will not harm the wearer if it is damaged. 14 SAVING LIVES WITH BACTERIAL STUDY AIMS TO BIOENGINEERED BLOOD BOOST DEPLOYMENT One in three combat casualties injured during the Dstl researchers have been working collaboratively Afghanistan conflict required a blood transfusion. with the University of Birmingham to explore Defence funding is supporting the development of differences in gut microbiome between different bioengineered lab-grown blood that would reduce the populations in the British Army. need for human donation and optimise the properties for Defence Medical requirements. During deployment overseas, operational effectiveness is frequently impaired by the onset of Dstl is working with experts from the National Institute travellers’ diarrhoea (TD) amongst soldiers, which for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant appeared to be more common in soldiers of British Research Unit at the University of Bristol, who have origin than soldiers of Nepalese descent (e.g Gurkhas). used genetic engineering to produce a cell line A hypothesis was developed that this difference could that makes blood cells of a universal type. They are be due to differing gut bacteria between the two investigating other genetic changes that would populations. enable the blood cells to be stored longer and be easier to use on combat operations. The research is assessing To test this hypothesis, MOD-funded research was the potential of freeze-drying and removing the need undertaken to understand the gut bacteria of soldiers for refrigeration. from both groups when resident in the UK, which has shown there is a difference between the groups. If this variation is also present during overseas Generation after next is capability that currently deployment, this could explain the difference in TD does not exist and where contributing technology is rates between the different populations. Further work not fully understood. Concepts will be ‘leap ahead’ is ongoing with the aim of intervention to prevent and world-leading to challenge the boundaries of diarrhoea during deployment, therefore increasing current and emerging understanding. operational effectiveness and advantage. While there are many urgent technological and scientific problems we need to address, by lifting our eyes to the long-term we can actively shape the future and move ahead of our adversaries. 15 A RT I F I C I A L I N T E L L I G E N C E Each and every day, our sailors, soldiers and aviators FIGHTING THE INFORMATION WAR protect our country, willingly putting themselves in harm’s way in order to keep us all safe. In the most Modern warfare is accompanied by a wave of challenging of environments - hot, cold, disconnected, misinformation; AI could turn that into a tsunami. disrupted, confusing and rapidly changing - they are Deepfake videos, imagery, audio or text - will we making life-or-death decisions in some of the most be able to believe what we see in the future? Dstl is complex situations you could imagine. developing technologies that can better understand audiences, help provide verifiable and trusted AI has the potential to provide radical technical narratives, and counteract fake news by detecting and enhancements and Dstl’s work is ensuring we can defeating conventional and algorithmically generated successfully adopt this powerful technology safely misinformation in real time. and responsibly across defence and security. INCREASING EVERYONE’S IMPACT MACHINE SCALE ANALYSIS How do we increase an individual’s impact by Analysis of intelligence is human centric. It is therefore enabling each human operator to safely control constrained by the number of analysts we can multiple autonomous platforms? Dstl’s research is train and their ability to find the “needle” in a vast demonstrating how AI agents can enable each human “haystack” of data. What if intelligence analysis was to achieve more. A single pilot, soldier or sailor could only constrained by the available data, algorithms have an even greater ability to counteract threats and and computational power available? Dstl’s work is protect civilians. demonstrating how AI might free human analysts to spend more of their time making sense of information Safely and responsibly harnessing AI to support our and putting it into context. armed forces is a critical challenge for our generation. If you are an AI-start-up, an academic, a tech company, MACHINE SPEED ANALYSIS an exporter, a not for profit organisation, or an established defence contractor looking to the future, We need to outpace our adversaries, with faster and we may well be able to put your talents to work. better decision making in every environment, domain and level of command. What if we could use AI to Our armed forces deserve the best that science and help commanders better understand the evolving technology can offer to support them in their difficult situation and their options? Dstl is working with jobs; we need the brightest minds to help solve these international partners to show how human-machine important challenges. teams can support our people and help them continually adapt and rapidly respond to challenging operational requirements. 16 AI EXPANSION NATIONWIDE In support of MOD’s AI Strategy Dstl has formed the In conjunction with the Alan Turing Institute Dstl has Defence Data Research Centre (DDRC) as part of also launched the AI Research Centre for Defence the newly-established Defence AI Centre. The DDRC Research (ARC-D) to resolve the underpinning comprises a consortium led by the University of problems associated with enabling advances in AI Exeter, supported by the Universities of Liverpool and capability. Examples include areas such as: low short Surrey and the Digital Catapult. learning - the ability to train machines to learn without the need for vast amounts of data; Crypto- The centre will focus on problems related to the ML - applying Machine Learning to encrypted data; use of data for AI applications, which can often be the application of AI to war gaming; understanding inaccessible or unusable in its raw state. The principal the limits of AI models; managing multiple sensors; task will be investigating problems within a defence human-centric AI; and ethics. context, such as logistics support, object tracking and data wrangling among many other potential The centres continue the geographical expansion of areas, with the expectation that any solutions and Dstl’s AI capability, following the opening of Dstl’s mitigations developed by the centre could be applied Newcastle hub to provide greater resilience, capacity elsewhere to benefit the wider UK economy. and diversity in AI and data science by accessing regional expertise. 17 S U P P O RT TO O P E R AT I O N S UKRAINE The UK and our international partners are united in Dstl was instrumental in the development, trialling and support for Ukraine. The UK government is providing assessment of NLAW, and its ability to engage moving a range of economic, humanitarian and defensive targets, overfly and discriminate between potential military assistance to Ukraine, and is imposing additional targets, resulting in its proven ability to defeat modern sanctions on Russia and Belarus. Main Battle Tanks in Ukraine. This work was only made possible because of more than 20 years of expertise Along with partner nations the UK will provide long-term built within Dstl by MOD S&T funding through the Chief military funding, ensuring a steady flow of finance to Scientific Adviser’s research programme. provide vital military equipment, essential maintenance of existing kit and maximising the UK-led international Dstl is integral to the UK’s response to Russia’s illegal training programme for Ukraine’s armed forces. invasion with contributions across 22 separate S&T capabilities. We have provided ongoing operational The UK is at the forefront of providing vital military support and advice to customers such as the assistance to Ukraine. Since the outbreak of war the Permanent Joint Headquarters since the start of the value of total UK military support is £2.3 billion - more conflict covering a multitude of areas. than any country other than the United States. Support so far includes more than 5,000 NLAW (Next Dstl is able to deliver novel solutions to urgent generation Light Anti-tank Weapon) missiles made in challenges and crises because of MOD’s enduring S&T Northern Ireland, long-range multiple launch rocket investment in research, key capabilities and facilities, systems, artillery systems, including 155mm self- allowing it to provide an indispensable source of rapid propelled guns, and rapid design and production of and diverse technical support. We will continue to short to medium range persistent loitering munitions provide support to the UK response to the invasion by a UK start-up company. of Ukraine. 18 19 M A R I T I M E MAPLE INFLUENCES ROYAL NAVY’S DIGITAL STRATEGY A common framework for the command and control the centre of international collaboration with allied of uncrewed vehicles (UxVs), individually and in partners seeking to maximise interoperability and swarms, has been developed by Dstl. interchangeability of surface, underwater vessels and aerial vehicles. Maritime Autonomous Platform Exploitation (MAPLE) enables integration into a ship’s combat management The work was developed with industry partners over system, maximising data utility and minimising the eight years and has influenced the Navy’s strategy for operational impact on human operators. providing a digital backbone through the Naval Strike Network programme, and to date, specific applications MAPLE has been exploited by the Royal Navy, including have been trialled in harbour protection and anti-ship Navy X, the Navy’s autonomy and lethality accelerator, missile defence using recoverable decoys. through operational experimentation and has been at 20 MAST TARGETS TYPE 31 ANALYSIS LONGER DURATION STRETCHES OVERSEAS © Babcock Dstl’s Maritime Autonomy Surface Testbed (MAST) Our analysts proved that five Type 31 frigates could vessels have guided the Royal Navy’s understanding do the work of 11 with overseas basing at strategic of the capabilities of autonomous systems and locations around the world removing the need to underpinned the development of the RN’s innovation return to the UK for crew handover, saving around £10 unit NavyX. Having demonstrated proof of concept, billion in procurement costs. future work will focus on understanding the issues associated with operating uncrewed surface vehicle Dstl’s work also helped reduce the time from concept (USV) systems beyond line-of-sight and for longer to service, enabling Type 31 to be delivered in as little durations. as seven years compared to the 20+ years for previous frigates. Crewing has reduced by 30-40% from around Scientists across multiple Dstl programmes such as 170 to 105 per ship. The Type 31 has already been maritime, robotics and autonomous systems, and successful on export markets - with orders for UK future sensing, will collaborate to further explore the industry partners from Indonesia and Poland. integration of multiple crewed and uncrewed systems in swarms. The MAST vessels will continue to provide Dstl also provided the threat and evidence base for the a platform to trial technologies, such as sensors, Navy’s Type 32 frigate, the first of a new generation payloads, effectors and software, from industry of warships with a focus on hosting and operating and new concepts of operation, supporting NavyX’s autonomous onboard systems. operational experimentation. Scientists across multiple Dstl programmes such as maritime, robotics and autonomous systems, and future sensing, will collaborate to further explore the integration of multiple crewed and uncrewed systems 21 22 © BAE Systems PLC SUPPORTING THE DETERRENT Since April 1969, there has always been a Royal Navy and evaluation, threat evolution analysis, sustaining ballistic missile submarine at sea. Armed with strategic the capability of specialist personnel and annual table nuclear missiles, these submarines have acted as the top exercises, working with the RN, Defence Nuclear nation’s continuous nuclear deterrent, sending a clear Organisation, and Submarine Delivery Agency to message to would-be aggressors. maintain the credibility and capability of the fleet. A new class of ballistic submarine, the Dreadnought Dstl, through MOD S&T funding, has been instrumental class, is currently under construction, supported by in supporting the Continuous at Sea Deterrent Dstl, and is expected to replace the Vanguard-class by through numerous means such as materials testing the 2030s, ushering in a new era of at-sea deterrence. AUTONOMOUS HARBOUR PROTECTION Autonomous MAST vessels were deployed alongside shore-based surveillance systems to assess their benefits to harbour protection missions, in a three year joint UK-US project. The work culminated in a trial in Portland Harbour which showed the benefit that USVs and UAVs could play in enhancing the surveillance picture and providing a rapid interdiction capability against surface and underwater suspect contacts. This work adopted synthetic-based testing and autonomous system algorithms before deploying in a controlled exercise. 23 L A N D BOLSTERING ARMY STRIKING POWER A key element of the Army’s modernisation for the Advanced Modular Missile Station: Dstl is working 2020s and beyond will be achieved with Dstl research with Army HQ and DE&S to develop a technology into advance missile technologies to form future demonstrator to detect and destroy multiple armoured weapons systems. and air threats at ranges in excess of eight kilometres. This will allow the Army to adapt and enhance The systems will increase the combat effectiveness capabilities rapidly to meet the geopolitical and of Brigade forces to outrange and overmatch targets geoeconomic shifts. and long range Divisional deep effects to restrict adversaries’ freedom of operation and manoeuvre. Deep Fires Rocket Systems: A single platform with multiple effectors, capable of independent precision Dstl’s research and development include: targeting of threats out to 150km. Dstl is working with industry to develop a missile to engage high value, Battlegroup Organic Anti-Armour programme: The time sensitive moving targets (Land Precision Strike) importance of effective anti-tank capabilities has been and a dispensing rocket payload that provides target demonstrated in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, from acquisition, kinetic and non-kinetic effect against man-portable, shoulder-fired missiles to platform- multiple dispersed targets (long range area effect). mounted multiple missiles. Four future anti-tank capabilities will include: smaller, wider spectrum, low- Close Support Artillery: Dstl is developing a revolutionary cost sensors; non-line of sight capabilities; and third- new light gun replacement with industry, challenging party control of targeting and firing to increase the current commercially available systems to deliver a accuracy and range of engagement. capability to meet the needs of expeditionary forces. 24 ’BUBBLE’ SHIELD FOR RAPID BATTLE ARMOURED VEHICLES TRENCH INNOVATION Armoured vehicles will benefit from increased The Army requires its field infrastructure to be protection against current and future threats giving affordable and rapidly deployable with minimal operational advantage and greater survivability, thanks logistical burden, while effectively protecting to technology advances by Dstl and industry partners. dismounted personnel and assets against a range of threats across all operating environments. The Modular Integrated Protection System (MIPS) architecture supports the flexible teaming of a range Working in conjunction with DASA and two non- of technologies to create a suite of Active Protection traditional defence suppliers, Beardsell and Sons and Systems (APS). The combination of sensors to detect Quickblock, Dstl is developing deployable infrastructure the threats, and counter-measures to disrupt them, using innovative new materials and techniques. form a protective ‘bubble’ around the vehicle. The MIPS architecture enables the development of best of breed A 4-person soldier battle trench consisting of a modular APS capabilities, harmonising modular hardware and box frame and geotextile faces, and a rapid vehicle software components that can then provide protection check point utilising modular, foldable building blocks, across the current close combat vehicle fleet and future have been developed and successfully demonstrated. robotic and autonomous systems. User trials presented a major learning opportunity The work was developed through the Icarus Technology for the two suppliers with troops from Royal Engineers Demonstrator Programme, a collaborative industrial Trials and Development Unit deploying, operating partnership led by Leonardo. from and then recovering the structures before providing feedback. By developing these implementations using common principles, support for future information Blast trials were undertaken to understand performance interoperability across the digital battlespace is of the two structures against representative threats, designed in from the start. MIPS is also being applied including 155mm artillery shell. The systems are being to wider survivability and lethality functions such as refined based on user feedback ahead of progressing countering uncrewed air systems (UAS) using the same to a technology demonstrator programme. core architecture, allowing a single survivability suite to provide a growing range of capabilities. 25 ARMOUR EXPERTISE PROTECTS GREATER POWER FOR CHALLENGER 3 FUTURE SOLDIER Evidence from Dstl operational research underpinned Future soldiers will use multiple sensors and effectors key procurement decisions of the Challenger 3 Main to improve capability and situational awareness at the Battle Tank (CR3), which is in production to be the most tactical level. lethal tank in Europe. To achieve full benefit these capabilities must be able While future engagements with adversaries may be to share information both within the individual soldier conducted at greater distance than currently, CR3 will system and beyond via secure communication links. In provide the ability to fight and win the close battle. addition there is a need to reduce the battery burden and simplify logistics by powering such devices from Dstl informed lethality, mobility and capability a common battery rather than the multiple different options on CR3 which is protected with world-leading types of batteries often carried by a dismounted patrol. new modular armour developed through advances in armour technology provided by the MOD Chief Dstl and its industry partners have prepared two future Scientific Adviser (CSA) funded armour expertise held concepts for the next generation of soldier architecture. within Dstl. This Dstl owned Intellectual Property (IP) The first was built to current Generic Soldier is being exploited through the close links between Dstl, Architecture and includes embedded power monitoring MOD and industry. to allow the scale of the future power problem to be understood. The second was a research demonstrator Dstl has also developed Veles, a Crown-owned generic that explored concepts for greater power transmission, camouflage generator tool. Veles produces the higher data rates and a range of on-body wireless optimum pattern for an environment in a few hours technologies to allow the removal of troublesome and can theoretically test an unlimited number of cables in some instances. patterns, all of which are original. Ultimately, this means that the Army can be much more reactive to the Ultimately, fully integrated systems will unleash the situations they are in, significantly improving signature power of combination allowing a soldier system to protection for their people and platforms. achieve more than the sum of its parts. 27 A I R EYES IN THE SKY Dstl is providing critical science and technology support scanned array, to human factors know-how, allowing to the acquisition of the E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early us to assess likely workload of the operators on-board Warning and Control aircraft, and to the P-8A Poseidon the aircraft. Established mechanisms for international Maritime Patrol Aircraft Programme as it approaches collaboration allowed us to reach out to allies who full operational capability. operate Poseidon and Wedegetail, and gain from the experience of equivalent organisations (principally in Both aircraft represent a step change in UK intelligence, Australia and the US) on data, analysis techniques and surveillance and reconnaissance capability, with Dstl modelling relevant to the platforms. delivering the operational analysis and decision support that informed the selection of both aircraft. Dstl operational analysis and technical advice continues to be sought on the optimisation, evolution Our advice has drawn on deep expertise from across and upgrade of the platforms, meaning that S&T input Dstl, from acoustics for P-8A sonobuoy systems, to is set to remain a central feature of Poseidon and radar knowledge for characterising E-7’s electronically Wedgetail into the future. 28 ADVANCING APACHE’S COUNTERING UNCREWED AIR SURVIVABILITY SYSTEMS (C-UAS) The Apache Mk 1 attack helicopter has been in The introduction of UAS represents a paradigm shift service with the British Army for 22 years, proving in military capability in many different states and to be an invaluable asset in support of operations in agencies. This capability is evolving rapidly and the Afghanistan, Libya, and worldwide. threat to UK and allied interests from the hostile use of these systems is growing exponentially. We need The latest Apaches, the AH-64Es, mark a leap in attack to understand next generation and generation after helicopter performance. Upgraded rotor blades and next threats, each of which may require a different engines allow it to carry a heavier payload of weaponry mitigation approach. with increased lethality. These weapons will have their targets acquired and guided by a vastly improved radar Dstl supports MOD and civilian authorities to ensure and sighting systems suite that will have the ability to that they have access to a range of viable capabilities integrate with uncrewed air systems (UAS). The aircraft to detect, track, identify and defeat hostile UAS also includes an advanced target prioritising system across a range of situations and scenarios, and that which helps with rapid reassessment and survivability stakeholders have access to impartial, evidence-based in countering enemy threats. advice to support their decisions. Dstl’s evaluation of the safety of the AH-64E’s software The Dstl C-UAS team coordinates the deep expertise and human-machine interface contributed to the of many different specialists in a broad range of aircraft’s release-to-service in 2022. Dstl’s assessment analysis, technical and operational specialisations of AH-64E’s defensive aids will contribute to the across the laboratory and in industry and academia aircraft’s acceptance into service and will help ensure both at home and abroad. We consistently maintain alignment with the Next Generation Air Survivability the golden thread from the stakeholder requirement Programme. Finally, Dstl is helping inform AH-64E through R&D to delivery. spiral development decisions to assure the aircraft’s future capability. 29 © BAE Systems PLC FUTURE COMBAT AIR SYSTEMS Dstl continues to expand the level of support it increasingly with international partners, to shape FCAS provides to the UK Future Combat Air Systems direction and technical content. Dstl’s support to FCAS (FCAS) Programme, which is seeking to develop covers almost every technical aspect of developing and a next generation combat air system to replace procuring an advanced combat air system, including: Typhoon from 2035, with strategic implications for operational analysis; air system concept design; military capability, UK prosperity, and international flight demonstrations; software and mission systems; influence. Dstl staff are working in close partnership propulsion and power systems; weapons integration; with stakeholders across MOD, RAF, UK industry, and and human-machine interface. PROTECTING AIR PLATFORMS The advent of increasingly capable Integrated Air Over the next decade, £100 million of RAF funding will Defence Systems and the spread of advanced weapons be aligned with MOD S&T research to develop, deliver, to less technologically advanced countries and test, assure and spirally upgrade the NGAS elements non-state actors is expected to threaten the UK’s to ensure advanced system-level solutions and operational independence. functionality keeps pace with threat developments. Dstl is at the heart of the innovative Next Generation Air Platform Protection will be progressively rolled Air Survivability (NGAS) approach which through Team out to current and future fixed-wing and rotary-wing PELLONIA, with strategic partners Leonardo, Thales and aircraft, with the potential to also adapt solutions for Chemring Countermeasures, will provide aircraft with use on UAS. The first platforms being equipped with advanced survivability solutions to counter emerging NGAS capabilities are Shadow Mk2 and E-7 surveillance and future weapon systems and thus maintain the UK’s aircraft, and the enterprise will sustain highly skilled freedom of access and manoeuvre (FOAM). jobs across the supply chain. 30 31 S EC U R I T Y A N D P O L I C I N G EXPLOSIVE EXPERTS SUPPORT COUNTER-TERRORISM INVESTIGATION Dstl scientists deployed to Liverpool at short notice to The FEL is funded by the Home Office to support the support the investigation into the explosion outside UK criminal justice system. FEL provides specialist Liverpool Women’s Hospital in November 2021. forensic science to support investigations into the mis-use of explosives by terrorists and other criminals Our experts from the Forensic Explosives Laboratory across the UK mainland. FEL’s remit includes providing (FEL) assisted police with the examination of the bomb scientific analysis within their dedicated laboratories, scene and suspected ‘bomb factory’. Following this, attending scenes to provide advice to first responders, they conducted detailed analysis to establish how the and extends through to providing expert testimony to Improvised Explosive Device was constructed. the courts. 32 SIMULATING EXPLOSIONS NOVEL CLONED NUMBER INCREASES VALUE FOR MONEY PLATE DETECTION The ability of numerical models to predict the Dstl is exploring methods to improve police forces’ consequences of explosions has been improved ability to detect cloned number plates on behalf of significantly. the Home Office and National Police Chiefs’ Council. One of these methods consists of a novel Machine World-class specialist experimentation capabilities Learning algorithm developed by Dstl. The overall in UK industrial and academic partners are providing aim is to test these methods on national data in order fundamental characterisation data on explosive to gain an understanding of the true scale of the propagation and blast. This data is being used to help problem of cloned plates. develop cutting-edge synthetic environments which harness increased computing power and reduce the Number plate cloning involves copying the identity need for large-scale explosive trials. of another vehicle by duplicating the number plate and most often attaching it to a vehicle of the same This important progress has enabled us to predict make, model and colour. Cloned number plates are accurately the performance of new systems for illegal and are becoming increasingly common but mitigating the effects of explosions in a range of are incredibly difficult to identify. Cloned vehicles are priority security and defence scenarios, for a fraction often used to avoid speeding or parking fines, paying of the cost and time of the equivalent large-scale tax or insurance, or for more serious criminal acts such explosive trials. as organised crime. 33 CLEAN SWEEP FOR COMMONWEALTH GAMES In advance of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in The team’s successful support of this search helped Birmingham, Dstl supported the military high-assurance to safeguard the 1.3 million people who attended, search of particularly sensitive areas. Dstl’s Explosive including Royalty and Commonwealth representatives. Detection and Identification team provided technical Dstl provides ongoing scientific and technical support assurance and subject matter expertise for the military to high-assurance searches nationwide, ensuring the in-service explosives trace detection capability. UK and its citizens are protected. NATIONAL SECURITY COLLABORATION Co-Creation is a new approach by the government S&T sensors, sensing and detection, RF Systems and community to collaborate with industry and academia antennas, smart materials and power sources. by sharing challenges before potential solutions have been identified. Established by NSTIx (the National The programme is in year two of four, and is scaling Security Technology and Innovation eXchange), up by taking on more challenges that prove, verify Co-Creation enables those solving the problem to and challenge our ambitious operating model, whilst collaborate and continuously engage with the people delivering impactful responses to challenges that who will use the solution. customers can really take forward. Novel commercial engagement approaches are needed to reach a far The Operational Technology (Op Tech) Co-Creation wider range of external partners, deliberately targeting Space is a joint programme between HM Government non-traditional defence and security suppliers. Communications Centre and Dstl with a focus on 34 35 W I D E R D E F E N C E LIVE AGENT TRAINING CBRN specialists are required actively to seek out, The units are able to practice with their in-service identify and deal with chemical, biological and detection, identification, monitoring (DIM) and safety radiological hazards. While the majority of training equipment during the training in order to develop for CBRN specialists is carried out using simulants confidence, maintain their own effectiveness and and on exercises, this is supplemented with live CBR to preserve the capability of their units in this very materials in order to gain experience in a controlled important area. Specialists usually first attend a basic environment to fully prepare for operational roles. course at Dstl focusing on individual skills before returning to conduct more advanced, role specific Live agent training (LAT) includes a range of traditional training. Dstl delivers 10 LAT events annually, advises Chemical Warfare Agents, Biological Toxins, Biological on policy and safety, and also ensures that training Warfare Agent Surrogates, and sealed and unsealed conducted by UK troops overseas meets the same high radiological sources. standards as that delivered in the UK. 36 FUTURE OF SHAPING DEFENCE EXPLOSIVES EXPERTISE DECISION MAKING Dstl hosts a wide range of capabilities in energetic We provide impartial and robust evidence, across material technologies spanning; synthesis and defence, to support decisions by senior MOD officials manufacturing, detection, characterisation, forensic and operational commanders about policy, planning, analysis, breakdown and render-safe of explosives operational and support issues. Between 2017-22 and energetic devices. This expertise is essential and analysts delivered a range of policy options, costed underpins both UK defence and homeland security. whole force structure designs, evaluated and compared their efficacy, and led department leadership through MOD has invested millions of pounds into research balance of investment to enable them to weigh up and development through Dstl to ensure we retain this courses of action. critical sovereign capability. This includes investment in people, with graduates and apprentices working The programme’s input directly shaped the department’s alongside experienced staff, as well as next generation 2019 Spending Round uplift of £2.2 billion for two years energetics technologies, such as, 3D printing of and the contents of the 2020/1 four year settlement of explosives, Resonance Acoustic Mixing (RAM) and novel £16.5 billion delivered with the Integrated Review. diagnostic methods. This work directly impacts how the UK responds to threats, whilst rapidly building up Working with NSC/QinetiQ Dstl has developed Lance, skills in people to meet future requirements. a new campaign-level joint warfighting model that enables analysts to assess the effectiveness of force Dstl is also funding early stage research aimed at using structures within scenarios. It simulates the multi- automated, innovative and emerging technologies domain interactions between air, land, maritime, space to both accelerate the discovery of new energetic and joint force elements; and will expand to represent materials and to identify alternative synthesis cyber and information effects. routes to novel and existing explosives to deliver generation after next capabilities. The team is working Lance simulates warfare to discover what it takes to collaboratively with industry and academia to invest win to help defence assess the effectiveness of force in a range of multidisciplinary technologies including structures within scenarios - including a force’s ability synthetic biology, flow chemistry, robotics, Machine to achieve specific military objectives, the time taken, Learning and computational chemistry. losses of assets, casualties and other costs such as fuel and munitions consumed. 37 TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE The impact of climate change poses both challenges advantage through embedding sustainability into and opportunities for defence and security. military capability, working closely with UK Strategic Command, Defence Support, and MOD Head Office Science and technology is integral to futureproofing Climate Change and Sustainability Directorate. defence’s ability to outpace, outlast and outrange its adversaries within a climate changed world. The new programme will support Dstl’s own sustainability committee, which implements the Through established and innovative research Dstl has organisation’s strategic direction, provides senior created a new Support and Sustainability Programme leadership support and governance, and widens the to help the armed forces exploit cutting-edge understanding of sustainability across Dstl. technologies that create advantage for defence and wider government. The programme will also assist the UK’s first critical minerals strategy that aims to improve the security These include integrating a range of technologies of supply of critical minerals, specifically in the future across logistics and support; climate change and operating environment for defence and in the context sustainability; and power and energy. of Net Zero and decarbonisation of the UK economy. The MOD-funded programme will deliver science By 2040 it is expected the world will need four times and technology solutions to help defence adapt as many critical minerals for clean energy technologies and become resilient to a climate-changed world, than it does today. seizing opportunities to achieve operational 38 39 T +44 (0) 1980 950000 E [email protected] For more information about Dstl’s work, DSTL/STO144608 visit www.gov.uk/dstl © Crown Copyright (2022), Dstl