| A major component of Dstl’s
duties for MOD is to support the Directorates of Equipment Capability
(DECs) that comprise the Equipment Capability Customer (ECC). Our technical
and capability advisers assist the Research Acquisition Organisation
in translating the military requirements for research into a coherent
programme.
We work with the DECs on all activities associated with the identification
and characterisation of capability gaps. We can provide advice for the
creation of a new piece of technology. For instance, we have invented
a new power source technology for use in unmanned underwater vehicles.
Once fully developed, the fuel cell will provide six to ten times the
energy density of other sources, making previously impossible operations
possible.
However, it is not always about creating new technology. Where appropriate
we encourage the novel exploitation of off-the-shelf technology to fit
the military requirements. We can also develop and characterise system
concepts, whether these are new concepts or an advancement of existing
ones.
We provide advice to a range of activities that fall under the science
and technology research programme, from the provision of balanced expertise
through our advice teams, to technical risk reduction activities. Exemplifying
our work in this area is a rapid analysis conducted by Dstl in response
to an urgent request from a DEC, where our advice helped them to decide
the future of Brimstone.
Our work with DEC deep target attack (DTA) further illustrates the
balanced expertise from the advice teams. During the last Savings and
Enhancement round our advice team, in collaboration with other MOD colleagues,
identified three savings options. These options were based upon capability
rather than specific technologies and, as a result, the DEC maintained
a balanced research portfolio that addressed the most important issues.
Protecting our Forces
in the Air case study
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