New NITEworks Activities

30/05/2008 17:29:57

Following a recent meeting of the NITEworks Programme Board, NITEworks is taking forward three additional activities: Key Systems Advisor (KSA), Future Land Operations Interoperability Study (FLOIS), and NEC Battlelab.

Key Systems Advisor (KSA)

KSA will be a priority task for NITEworks to deliver DCDS(EC)'s strategic NEC imperative. The KSA will harness existing governance systems and processes, draw on industry innovation and best practice, ensure consistency and efficiency across MoD, and optimise MoD's integration with Other Government Departments and Allies. He should expose and exploit opportunities to deliver improved business effectiveness and promote standardisation and conformance throughout the MOD Enterprise. DEC CCII has tasked NITEworks to appoint a KSA and team to provide the skills and manpower to discharge this role. The KSA will be a trusted and effective advisor to the Joint Capabilities Board, Capability Management Groups and Capability Planning Groups .

Future Land Operations Interoperability Study (FLOIS)

The FLOIS activity will provide Technical C3I Support to FLOIS Capstone Event 2010. NITEworks is tasked to plan and conduct a live distributed Computer Assisted Exercise /Command Post Exercise experiment between a UK Bde HQ working to a modular US Div HQ using existing distributed infrastructure from locations in the UK and US in June 2010.

NEC Battlelab

MOD has identified a requiremet to improve near-term C4I capability testing and integration activity, in particular for the information layer prior to and beyond In Service Date. The NEC SRO intends to create an “NEC Battelab” to address this gap. The Defence Operating Board (Joint Command Group – Extended) identified the need to conduct a study to scope the requirement for an NEC Battlelab within the broader context of MOD’s Development and Integration facilities, paying particular attention to governance, resourcing and an indicative programme of work.

These activities are now being resourced through the Partner and Associate companies.

NITEworks office move

08/05/2008 15:57:11

NITEworks moves to its new office at the Farnborough Aerospace Centre site on Monday 12 May. The Brennan House name will transfer to this building, and all contact details will remain the same.

The new location can be seen on the attached link this link.

NITEworks at Military Intelligence Conference

02/04/2008 14:43:43

Jim Kenning, IRM&RT Theme Technical Lead, is to present at the upcoming IQPC-organised Military Intelligence Conference to be held at the Cafe Royal, London 28-30 Apr 08.

The aim of the conference is to advance the cause of the MI community through the provision of a facilitated, unclassified forum enabling MI practitioners to build social and professional networks with Allied military operators and analysts; to hear the perspectives of leading manoeuvre force commanders; and to interface and engage with industry and discuss requirements and keep abreast of private sector technology advances.

Jim will be talking on 'Customer-supplier Relationships' and, in addition to outlining how the NITEworks process helps industry to collaboratively provide solutions to operational requirements, will be drawing on his previous RAF service as the US-embedded Chief of ISR Operations in the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) to detail how the issues associated with Air-Land and J2-J3 divides can be someway bridged through improved engagement and education.

The conference agenda can be found from this link and more information on the conference is available on this link.

Llyr Jones joins NITEworks

12/03/2008 18:35:06

Dr Llyr Jones has joined NITEworks as Managing Director. He says: “I am delighted to be joining NITEworks at this stage and am committed to delivering on the challenge that we have received from MoD of providing vital contributions to current frontline operations, future acquisition decisions and major capability programmes. The NITEworks approach to solving problems has already proven its worth to defence, and its special ethos and culture is a benchmark example of MoD and industry working in partnership.” Most recently, Llyr was the Strategy Director for BAE Systems’ Surface Fleet Solutions business. In that role he was one of the original architects of the maritime industrial strategy involving a through-life approach underpinned by industrial consolidation and a long-term partnering agreement with MoD. Prior to that he held a number of senior positions with a focus on strategy and business development within MBDA, Thales and their predecessor companies.

NITEworks Re-launch Event

11/02/2008 16:22:33

Baroness Taylor, Minister for Defence Equipment & Support, confirmed the MOD's commitment to the NITEworks partnership and to the role of this important cross-capability defence asset during a formal Re-launch event held in the Institute of Directors in London on 31 January. The event was strongly supported by senior representatives of the MOD and pan-industry partnership. The Minister noted the strong links to the Defence Industrial Strategy, the recognised value delivered to defence, and the importance of the NITEworks model for collaboration and the sharing of domain expertise across the broad spectrum of UK defence capability.

Addresses were also given by Simon Jewell, NITEworks Managing Director, and by Lieutenant General Andrew Figgures, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Equipment Capability). Lt Gen Figgures explained his aspirations for the partnership in support of his vision for the future of UK defence capability, including the provision of direct support to current operations, the implementation of Through Life Capability Management, and for support and direction in the evolution of the MOD’s organisation to best fit future operational requirements.

NITEworks welcomes new five year contract

10/12/2007 16:58:29

The award of a new five year, £43 million contract to the UK MOD/ industry partnership NITEworks will ensure the continued enhancement of the British Armed forces’ operational capability.

Announcing the contract, Baroness Taylor, Minister Defence Equipment and Support said:

“I welcome the continuation of the NITEworks collaboration between MOD and the UK defence industry. NITEworks has proven its worth repeatedly to the Equipment Acquisition community and Front Line Commands.

“I am committed to exploiting simulation based capability. Through NITEworks we will be able to continue to test, in a simulated environment, new equipment and processes ahead of key investment decisions. This enables us to take more informed decisions, deliver more effective capability to our Armed Forces and ensure value for money.

“Today’s announcement underlines the Government’s commitment to UK research and development capability as outlined in the Defence Industrial strategy.”

Welcoming the announcement Simon Jewell, Managing Director of NITEworks, said:

“The contribution NITEworks has made to front line operations has been widely praised by the MOD and this contract underlines the strength of that contribution. The partnership’s focus on developing ideas into real deliverables has seen it evolve into a key factor in the MOD’s capability management and acquisition process.”

Originally established to examine the challenges of implementing effective Networked Enabled Capability (NEC), NITEworks has become a highly flexible decision support tool for the MOD. Using the finest people, experience and knowledge from across the UK defence sector, the partnership deconstructs complex problems facing the military and the MOD and offers recommendations and guidance on solutions and alternative approaches.

“NITEworks is a fully inclusive partnership between MOD and industry drawing on a broad spectrum of UK defence capability and providing direct access to emerging technology,” added Industry Board Chairman Dennis Prowse. “It embodies many of the values in the Defence Industrial Strategy and has proved to be an excellent example of the benefit MOD and industry can deliver when working in partnership,”