JMATS - UK MOD air traffic management benefits from QinetiQ expertise

It engaged QinetiQ to provide technical and operational support through the Concept Phase and Assessment Phase 1 of the Joint Military Air Traffic Services (JMATS) project, initiated to bring together all systems and contracts under one management umbrella, in an effort to be more cost-effective and efficient. To assess the current situation and future requirements of the project, QinetiQ consultants visited 53 JMATS sites to conduct an operational analysis of each, and technical consulting experts carried out studies on emerging technologies to increase understanding and make recommendations on their future use. QinetiQ also attended international forums on some of the major air traffic initiatives to keep the MOD informed of upcoming changes in national and international standards and legislation, and provided subject matter expertise on areas such as safety, risk, security and procurement. QinetiQ has helped ACCS achieve a huge increase in the understanding of the JMATS operational and technical architecture, enabling it to go armed with the information it needs to enter competitive dialogue with industry in Phase 2.

Some of QinetiQs thinking is outside the box. Where theyve said Have you thought of this yet?, theyve not only come up with the suggestion, but also the solution to do it. Squadron Leader Derek Boxell, Requirements Manager, ACCS, MOD.

Challenge

• The Air Command and Control Systems (ACCS) team has the role of managing air traffic management equipment for all three forces in the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), for all airfields and air weapon ranges across the UK and overseas. Over the years, equipment was being replaced piecemeal which made the situation uneconomical, complex and difficult for the MOD to manage. The Joint Military Air Traffic Services (JMATS) project was launched to put all equipment and contracts under one management umbrella.

Solution

• QinetiQ was selected by the MOD to provide technical and operational support for the Concept Phase and Assessment Phase 1.
• QinetiQ visited 53 JMATS sites to analyse them and document the analyses.
• Technical consulting experts also carried out studies on emerging technologies to improve understanding and make recommendations for future use.
• QinetiQ attended international forums on some of the major air traffic technologies and initiatives to keep the MOD informed of upcoming changes in national and international standards and legislation.
• QinetiQ provided subject matter expertise on areas such as risk, safety, security and procurement.

Results

• There is a huge increase in the understanding of the JMATS operational and technical architecture.
• This will enable the MOD to go armed with the information they need to enter competitive dialogue with industry in Phase 2.
• The documents are now used for routine tasks by the rest of the military community
• QinetiQs team of consultants include world leaders in air traffic management both in military and civil aerospace, which has brought not just academic but also operational expertise to the project.
• The project team remained constant throughout the duration of the project, minimising disruption.
• QinetiQ has been flexible with the use of man-hours allocated to its schedule, allowing the MOD to be more flexible in the areas covered in the project.
• Top marks were awarded to both the MOD and QinetiQ in the Supplier Customer Performance Review, a reflection of the good working relationship between the two.