Operations in Afghanistan are rapidly expanding the use of networks and applications for command, control and administration of the deployed forces. The coverage and complexity of these systems are increasing and the Royal Corps of Signals are pivotal to their support in the Land Environment. On Operation HERRICK, the OVERTASK network is now being used from the strategic through to the tactical levels of command to support applications that deliver situational awareness, collaborative working and office tools, such as E-mail. The pervasive use of OVERTASK is shaping the Army’s view of how information systems will be used into the future.

In addition to OVERTASK which supports Secret coalition force command and control, the J1/J4 Interim Operational Support (J1/J4 IOS) system remains in operation in Afghanistan but now serves significantly more users. J1/J4 IOS supports Restricted information exchanges and applications such as Joint Personal Administration (JPA) and it will soon begin to host other medical, logistic and administrative applications. J1/J4 IOS will continue to be in service in Afghanistan for several years to come.

The future of fixed and deployable networks lies in the delivery of the Defence Information Infrastructure (DII) system, at Restricted, Secret and Above Secret. The initial delivery of DII(Future Deployed) (DII(FD)) as a UK Secret system is expected to be available for contingent operations in mid 2010 with its full complement of command and control applications provided from early 2011. DII(FD) is expected to be ready to replace the Joint Operational Command Systems (JOCS), which continues in use in Afghanistan, from mid 2011.

In addition to the core networks, HQ ARRC now have their own ARRC Command and Control Information System (ARRC C2IS) to provide a Battle Management System with collaborative working, information management and office automation.  For the military support in the UK to the Police in the event of certain terrorist incidents, the Corps is now equipped with Tyndale which can deliver both Secret and Restricted deployable networks to incident scenes to assist military and civil agencies.

To keep up with this evolution in information systems, the Royal Corps of Signals is enhancing the skills of its technical trades to meet the challenges of the future networks and applications.