Nottingham, United Kingdom: Nexor Limited has been contracted as the Security Partner in a consortium, led by Roke, for Project ZODIAC. The project is the backbone of the Army’s Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) programme which aims to deliver a system of sensors, applications and an underpinning system architecture that can collect and integrate all available sources of information to provide intelligence throughout the Land environment. This capability will transform how the Army undertakes data-led decision making to gain operational advantage.

Nexor will manage Information Assurance practices and processes across the project with an agile approach to ensure the system is ‘Secure by Design’. Nexor’s approach will apply modern cyber security practices to ensure threats are understood and any security weaknesses are identified earlier in the project lifecycle. Exploiting opportunities in the development of the design to embed appropriate security controls will reduce cost and risk to delivery and enhance the capability.

ZODIAC will provide the platform for the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the Army’s ISTAR processes. Through the integration of battlefield sensors with tactical C2 and effectors, it will enable the Army to operate with greater precision and speed in the Degraded, Denied, Intermittent and Limited-Bandwidth (DDIL) communications environment of the modern battlefield. Project ZODIAC will also provide:

• An Integrated ISTAR system that coheres and integrates FIND to EFFECT processes.

• A Defined ISTAR system architecture.

• Spiral acquisition model for future capability.

• Open standards and interface control specifications.

• Ability to integrate future automation, AI and machine learning.

• Ability to conduct PED and cross-cue sensors and effectors.

• An ISTAR Design Authority to assure new capabilities.

• Greater survivability through enhanced FIND.

• Increased coalition/joint interoperability, widening collection assets available.

• Increased opportunity to deliver future capabilities, improvements and upgrades.

• Enhanced Situational Awareness as a key benefit.

• Enhanced potential to exploit tactical opportunity and stimulate Mission Command.

• Significantly reduced sensor to effector information exchange.

“We are delighted to continue to support Roke, its partners, and the British Army on this important project, as we have done for the last two years. Nexor’s experience of Secure By Design – developed over our 35 years of working in this way – enables Roke to bring high value to UK MOD through ZODIAC. We look forward to working further with Roke and UK MOD through both our Secure By Design services and cross domain gateways” said Tim Thompson, Managing Director at Nexor.