STFC PNPAS Meeting London, 17 th July 2008

1. STFC PNPAS MeetingLondon, 17th July 2008 Dr. Bryan Edwards C.Chem. FRSC 01959 892255, abedwards@dstl.gov.uk Dr. Jim Wilson C.Sci. C.Chem. MRSC 02392 217436, jcwilson@dstl.gov.uk

2. Purpose • To set the context and explain MoD’s involvement in collaboratively funded research. • Key features MoD would expect any proposal to exhibit. • To offer a small sample of illustrative topic areas in which S&T may be capable of offering enhancements in capability • Neither exhaustive nor prioritised. • Intended simply to stimulate discussion and the intellectual juices flowing.

3. General comments on context • MoD engages in research at all levels of technology maturity • In general, MoD does not operate on defined or ring-fenced budgets for technical disciplines. Instead, each proposal is considered on its individual merits • Potential improvement in military capability is a major consideration. • Clearly easier to establish this link as you advance up the TRL scale. • But cannot afford to ignore this, even at the lowest levels

4. Realism in proposals • Any proposed programme : • Must be affordable (which is, of course linked to benefit!) • Be well structured (technically and programmatically) • Contain clear statement on what, assuming all goes well, might emerge, the value to this advance and some indication of an exploitation route • Worth paying attention to the environment any devices will ultimately operate in : • May have to contend with extremely challenging environments (noise, shock, vibration, extremes of temperature, etc.) • Will inevitably impose additional burdens on (weight, space, power, thermal output, signature etc.) • Think about the operator • MoD is not looking for all of the technical problems or problems associated with operational deployment to be overcome in the first instance. However, it is not possible to see how they might be overcome in principle funding is unlikely to be a high priority.

5. Discussion Topic 1 • Improvised explosive devices • IEDs can be deployed against vehicles and/or dismounted soldiers. They range in complexity from the simple to sometimes quite sophisticated and can employ a range of trigger mechanisms. They are typically hidden in order to achieve surprise and may be covered by small arms or other fire. Are there any means by which they can be detected : • When travelling over terrain the force is unfamiliar with ? • Is the problem eased if longer term surveillance of an area of interest is possible and is so what form should this surveillance take? • Does any surveillance or anomaly detection technique that might solve this problem have wider defence and security applications ?

6. Discussion Topic 2 • Improved geospatial positioning • Military units must know their position at all times and be able to relay the position of targets and other features of interest accurately and precisely. Magnetic compasses are prone to external fields. Conventional GPS requires a signal strength which it is not always possible to achieve if the unit is operating in dense cover urban environments. Are there any techniques could improve 3-D geospatial positioning of observer and/or target?

7. Discussion Topic 3 • Power generation and management • Forces at all levels, from the infantry man up, are being equipped with ever greater amounts of computing, communications, sensing and other hardware requiring electrical energy. Are there : • Energy generation or storage techniques which can provide what is required with fewer penalties and burdens? • Novel materials and/or engineering techniques which can reduce demands or manage/balance them more efficiently?

8. Discussion Topic 4 • Detection and tracking of submerged submarines • Despite the growing emphasis on operations other than war (OOTW), UK forces will retain and maintain an effective war fighting capability. This includes anti-submarine warfare. What methods(s) would you propose for detecting and tracking submerged submarines? Solutions might be passive or active.

9. Discussion Topic 5 • Seeing through walls • House searching and clearing is a necessary activity in both warfighting and OOTW. It typically requires a large number of soldiers and is both dangerous and physically very demanding. Greater situational awareness would help enormously. • Is it possible to “see through” walls? Any device must be small, robust and require no a priori knowledge of the construction techniques, materials etc and should be robust to artefacts such as water pipes, power cabling etc embedded in the wall.