Masters Project: Current and Emerging Networking Trends in Defence

This project report provides an in-depth analysis of current and emerging networking trends within the defence industry. It begins with an overview of the industry context, highlighting key challenges such as lack of innovation, reduced profits, and high fixed costs. A comprehensive literature review examines emerging computer technologies like Joint Networking Node (JNN), Airborne Integrated Networking, and the Future Soldier concept. The report includes a case study and presents findings, analyzing the impact of these trends on the industry. The conclusion summarizes the key takeaways, reflecting on shifts in thinking and implications for personal and professional development. References are also included.

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Unit Code Unit Title CURRENT TOPICS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE
Name of Lecturer Due Date 31/05/2019
Topic of Assignment Current and emerging trends in
networking in the defense industry Group or Tutorial (if applicable)
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PROJECT REPORT
ON
CURRENT EMERGING TRENDS OF
NETWORKING IN DEFENCE
INDUSTRY

Table of Contents
Background of Industry Context................................................................................................5
Challenges faced by industry with respect to specific issue..................................................5
Literature review......................................................................................................................11
Emerging computer technologies........................................................................................11
Recent internationalization and globalization trends...........................................................13
Novel research areas............................................................................................................16
Case Study...........................................................................................................................17
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS FINDINGS ANALYSIS.............................................20
Summary of the findings.....................................................................................................20
Brief discussion over the ways in trends are influencing the industry................................23
CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................24
REFLECTION.........................................................................................................................26
Shifts in thinking.................................................................................................................26
Implications for your personal and professional development...........................................26
REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................27

Background of Industry Context
Defence is a global industry which manufactures and market the
weapons, tools and technologies that are used by military. It involves
operations like research and development, production, engineering and
servicing of military material, facilities and equipments. The defence industry
cover up everything from land, air and sea capabilities to electronics as well as
cyber security for providing technology that help in protecting nation from all
over the world. The Australian defence industry employ approx. 27000 people
and supply its product and services to Defence Material Organisations and
Australian Defence Force. It exports over A$750 million of defence product and
services to countries like US, New Zealand and Europe as there is less
requirement of such products as well as technologies in Australia as
government is infrequent in upgrade and purchasing of such technologies
(Australian Defence Industry, 2019).
Challenges faced by industry with respect to specific issue
The defence industry works over providing number of technology which
Land, Sea and Air forces used in their wars and other activities performed
related with defence. The players within Australian defence industry
manufacture large number of technologies and equipment that are used for

dealing within the wars. These help a lot in keeping the nation safe by dealing
with the attacks from enemies. But despite of all these benefits and
development there are number of issues that are presented in from of defence
industry within Australia. One of those issues is that it is easier to manufacture
technologies related with defence but marketing of such equipment is very
difficult as the cost of such technology is relatively higher (Martin, 2014).
Hence, the major issue faced by Australia Defence industry is that even though
the demand of Defence product is higher but still the Australian government is
relatively infrequent in term of purchasing, upgrading and modifying its
weapon used for defence. This in turn has affected the networking of country's
soldiers as they can work more effectively with the help of new or upgraded
system. Because of this various challenges have been faced by the Defence
Industry such as,
 Lack of innovation development: Due to less demand of upgraded
technologies as well as equipment by government in term of defence it
become very difficult for industry to grow higher. This is because due to
less demand of defence technology upgrading as well as new product
the players within the industry like Boeing defence organisation, ASC Pty
Ltd and many more leads to minimise their manufacture regarding such
product for reducing cost. But this in turn may leads to affect the

capability of industry to more innovative and technically advanced
defence products which may affect the future practices. This is because
with the help of advanced technologies Australian government can
improve the practices performed by its army or soldiers by working over
their networking through which soldiers interact with one another. In
addition to this they can also be able to connect the system with soldiers
so that can predict the actions of enemy in advanced and take corrective
actions. This will happen because when demand is lower the high skilled
engineers started seeking new options to achieve more career growth as
a result of which industry may lose competent engineers which may
bring technological innovation that leads to success of Australia's
Defence industry (Defence - challenges for the future, 2019).
 Less profit:- Australia's defence industry is one of the most
technologically advanced sector as it bring up several innovative
technologies and specialised product such as multi-sensor data fusion,
underwater system, phased array radar navigation and positioning aids
etc. These all help militaries to perform their projects in term of defence
very well. But despite of this due to infrequency up-gradation demand of
government in defence technology reduces the profit of industry which
is one of the biggest challenge which defence sector is facing. This is

because infrequent up-gradation reduce the purchasing demand of
latest product which costs higher hence it leads to increase in expenses
of company (Matlary and Østerud, 2016). Despite of this less demand
lead companies in defence industry to produce less and as a result of
which these organisations doesn't become able to commercialise their
product at international level as the innovational base become affected.
This in turn affect the profit of company as by upgrading technologies,
defence industry become able to improve the practices performed by its
tools & techniques that can improve the networking as well as
connection between its instruments. This in turn provide a medium
through which Australian country can also implement the concept of
future soldiers where there are lots of devices that are attached within
its uniform and provide an interaction between then which reduces the
risk of getting harmed by provide information much quickly.
 High Fixed Cost: - With the issue of less up-graduation requirement of
technology regarding the products or services of defence industry one of
the major challenge faced is increase in cost of production. This is
because with the minimization of innovation within the industry there
remain less availability of resources and technologies that are used to
manufacture the defence products or equipment. In addition to this, the

resources used for product manufactured earlier are now get reduced
which increases the costs of these equipment’s. Apart from that these
technologies can only be used in Australian country as another nations
are technologically advanced where these technologies cannot be able
to formulate an effective network and interact with other devices. The
major drawback of this is that new technologies provide higher
networking bandwidth at relatively lower cost because demand is higher
which increases the availability of resources for manufacturing those
networking related devices. Hence, with the manufacturing of outdated
techniques, as a result of which it become difficult for companies to
arrange resources and other stuff which is required for manufacturing of
defence related products (Heidenkamp, Louth and Taylor, 2015). As a
result of which cost of manufacturing get increases which leads decrease
in profit earned by company.
These all are the challenges that Defence industry of Australia is facing
and among them the main challenges is lack of innovational development that
may improve the networking of systems used by soldiers. As a result of which
it become less competitive as compare to other countries. Hence, there is
requirement of enhancing innovational capability in term of developing a base

to work over emerging technologies related to networking that are now in
trend of global Defence Industry.
Literature review
Literature review is defined as the process of gathering information from
previously published scholars and then critically evaluating it to extract the
more reliable information suitable for current topic of concern (Bitzinger,
2014).
Emerging computer technologies
With the advancement of technologies and computer science there are
number of development that can be seen within defence industry throughout
the world. These all has improved the way defence forces work and deal with
the attacks that country faces. In defence industry, networking technologies
are emerging trend within this sector over which engineers are working.
Following are some emerging technologies that are expected to grow and
improve the operations of defence industry these are:
 Joint Networking node (JNN): As per the article published by Global
security. Org, 2019, it has been presented that Joint Network Node is
considered as an essential elements which help in Army's Joint Network
Transport Capability by using a satellite based communication. The
system is basically designed as a collaborative effort that can be used by

Army's project manager for Tactical Radio Communication System by
replacing the mobile subscription equipment to make network stronger
(Joint Network Node (JNN), 2019). This network take advantage of
access to satellite and updated commercial internet technology for
increasing bandwidth throughout the division by securely connecting
headquarters, battalion echelons and brigade combat team.
 Airborne Integrated networking: - It is an infrastructure which is
basically developed for Air force to provide them and network where
which they can interact with one another and perform operations
effectively. This technologies is named as Tactical data links or Link 16.
According to the article published by TONEX, 2019, Tactical Data Links
offers an essential communication route among forces to help in
interoperability. Its application helps in sharing tactic information
securely and sustainably to all force components which is very crucial for
battle space Management as well as Shared Situational Awareness
within the operations.
 Future solider:- This is a concept which is invented by French Ministry of
Defence Procurement Agency that contains an system of integrated
network which connect several devices with solider. This concept is
named as Future Infantry Soldier System of FELIN system which will be

integral part of French Army's future land and air network-centric
system. This will provide a soldier with improved close-combat capability
in context of survivability. Mobility, lethality and C4I (Command,
computer, communication, control and information). These al
technologies will be inserted over the uniform of soldier and for which it
has been targeted to kept maximum weight up to 25kgs which includes
weapons, ammunition, water provision and 24-hour energy, food etc.
(Future Infantry Soldier System, 2019)
Recent internationalization and globalization trends
As per the information published by EMS Now, 2019, the international
Aerospace & Defence sector is expected to raise up-to US$2.5 trillion by the
year 2024. This growth expectation of industry has increased due to several
trends has been anticipated with the integration of several countries
technology through globalisation. These growth factors includes global defence
spending, myriad technology trend and healthy commercial aviation revenue
potential which are contributing toward improving the supply chain, life-cycle
dynamics of Aerospace and Defence industry, operations and business models
of A&S companies. The integration of countries through globalisation has
enhanced the capability of organisations to perform well and bring new
technologies to improve networking and other equipment that can be used by

defence soldier to improve their operations. The emerging technologies at
global level are 3D Manufacturing/additive manufacturing, cloud networking,
innovative battery technology and smart wearable military technologies etc.
These all will support in improving the networking among the devices or
system that are used by soldiers to perform their actions effectively. Despite
of this there is also a trend is prevailing regarding improvement performance
through networking or cyber security which includes digital manufacturing,
smart factory, IT agility aided by cloud computing, Internet of things(IoT),
automation and artificial intelligence for predictive insight and faster decision
regarding the technological development.
(Source: Breakdown of global arms export market, 2019)
On the other side as per the article published by IHS Market on 30
January 2019, it has been identified that geopolitical trend is more prominent
now a days. This is because organisations in defence industry are focusing
more over internationalising their operations. It has been seen from above
graphical figure that growth in Auto, Aerospace and Defence industry has been
increased. The export market expanded in countries with 23% Russia, 33% in