Defence invests £2.01 Billion into Scotland annually but is there more to be gleaned from the industrial, academic and innovation sectors to support the British Army gaining the winning edge in the delivery of land capabilities in the next 10 to 30 years?
Under the direction of the General Officer Scotland, Maj Gen Bill Wright CBE, the inaugural British Army in Scotland Technology Innovation Seminar (BASTECH) meeting was held in the National Robotarium at Herriot-Watt University in late April with the intent of generating multi-agency discussion to explore how Scotland’s research, technological and industrial engines might enhance the next generation of capability in the land domain.
The venue proved ideal, showcasing the cutting edge in the delivery of current research, the veritable home of the future in Scotland, with innovation at its core. -Professor Mark Briggs, Vice-Principal and Provost Heriot-Watt University, kindly supported the event, allowing the use of the National Robotarium, whilst Stewart Miller, the CEO, and his team facilitated the delivery of the Seminar and the overall hospitality.
Initial presentations from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) keynote speakers set the scene; the strategic context within which Defence and the wider UK currently operate is becoming more complex, with long held assumptions changing daily. There is a recognition that the current perverseness of information and the pace of technological change are transforming the character of warfare, the military instrument and the way it is used. In his introduction, Gen Wright went on to express his desire to build relationships in the thriving and diverse innovation community here in Scotland, to understand the current state of activity and to then explore what the future might look like – the overarching principle was to bring the best of Scotland to the British Army and, indeed, wider Defence for mutual benefit.
He was followed by three of the British Army’s key leaders in the areas of Futures, Information and Programmes who explained the significant changes in British Military thought over the last several generations in the development of the Integrated Operating Concept 2025 (IOpC25)1 and the delivery of the recently published Land Industrial Strategy (LIS). IOpC25, as delegates were informed, increases the importance of the Deep Battle (i.e. activities at range) and the need to utilise systems and robotics to process critical information to allow for the best and most efficient use of resource to win across the land domain.
The LIS section of the introductory scene setting presentations focused on the opportunities presented through the £41.3 bn of investment in the Army’s need to modernise and transform programmes – something that is, in itself, innovative. This financial drive to rationalise vehicle fleets, increase transparency, improve R&D pull through and coordinate cross-Governmental exports is aimed at fusing enhanced capability and industrial objectives. The intent in delivering the LIS is clear and the ways that the MOD and Industry will collaborate to maximise the value from investment into the Army’s modernisation and transformation programmes are being refined from the examples set in the National Shipbuilding Strategy and incorporated in the LIS now.
Science and digitisation in Defence were addressed by Mr Jonathon Ashcroft, Senior Scientific Advisor, and Ms Sally Wareham, Assistant Head Digitisation. In the science arena, Jonathon laid out the methodology for the strategic approach in the current innovation and scientific initiatives (including the hard, soft and human factors) he and his team are working on. He dwelt on the key observation and importance of bringing in young people who are not bound by funding restrictions research limitations or policy governance into the equation. In her presentation, Sally introduced the Army’s Digital Transformation programme (Project THEIA) and pointed out that conflict in the digital age requires an Army that can relentlessly out-compete its adversaries, integrate seamlessly with partners and enable people, equipment and resources to operate at maximum efficiency. She continued by stating that the Army is embracing efforts to understand the necessary technologies, ideas and approaches to enhance operational effectiveness and improve the delivery of effect in the land domain.
These presentations were then considered by the audience in a series of discussion groups and the main themes that were reported back at the concluding session covered the following observations:
- What we do well. Defence responds well in a crisis. To respond and find the resources. Challenges include stamina and the political will to continue with supporting resources. International supply chain challenges on technology and expertise. Maturing the military academic interface is a key theme to evolve going forward.
- There are vulnerabilities with ChatGPT and similar algorithms that could be targeted by adversaries. Automated systems are not a new thing to the Defence community, there is a process in place that is robust and tested over a number of years with regards to unnamed aerial systems and other capabilities. Are there utilities to Chat GPT for design and translation?
- Obstacles to innovation are bureaucracy within the MOD, procurement models can be quite unwieldly. Culture of innovation needs to be embedded within our everyday lives to match our strategic ambition. Metrics for judging success can also be flawed. Recognise the benefit of short-, medium- and long-term relationships and their benefits.
- Ethical issues with AI raise great debates, but the implications from a legislative perspective are not fully captured. For example, non-state actors also employ AI systems which creates their own set of problems. Increasing the transparency of the challenges the Army face, whilst simultaneously blocking our adversaries would be beneficial. Trusted research, bringing out the best parts of research, from the routine background research. Technology as an enabler needs to have a culture that embraces change not resit it. At the moment, the role of AI will be optimisation rather than the replacement decision making processes. Collaboration with commercial R&D is an area that defence must utilise.
The Seminar concluded with observations from across the floor which stated that Defence, academia and industry must stay connected for effective and enhanced collaboration, that R&D in many fields of innovation and in the development of Artificial Intelligence may have implications in the way Defence assets are structured, protected and exploited, that the route to market has increased its pace and that the future is most likely to change our people’s culture, skills and jobs; staying connected is key.
What is in this for the readers of Business Scotland? The opportunity presented by the £41.3 bn available to modernise and transform the Army over the mid to longer-term. Scotland’s academic and innovative horsepower, realised across Industry for the benefit of UK Defence, and historically, many of these developments have had significant effects across many other unrelated sectors. Finally, for employers looking for high quality, very well trained and well-motivated workforce, the Service Leaver and their Reserve counterparts offer a wealth of abilities that will continue to help Scottish Business in its quest to be world leading. If you want to be involved, please contact 51x-engt-mailbox@mod.gov.uk
1 Ministry of Defence (MoD), 2020.
Integrated_Operating_Concept_2025
Valedictory statements:
“Today has been a fantastic opportunity to bring together academics, industry leads and the Scottish Games Network to discuss the Army’s future challenges and how expertise in Scotland can contribute to that process. I have met lots of fascinating people and the interactions have been excellent.”
Maj Gen Bill Wright CBE, General Officer Scotland.
“Today has been extremely powerful way of engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders to address some of the challenges the Army is facing. It is good see the British Army taking the lead, recognising the national and international nature of the problem with various leads here in Scotland.”
Prof Graham Wren OBE, Senior Executive & Special Advisor to the Principle, University of Strathclyde.
“BASTECH has been a fascinating event. SGN has been engaging with the Army for a long time, building upon Scottish Games Week. It has been eye opening learning about the amount of change the Army is facing. Learning more about the Army and how it is addressing these challenges. Being able to contribute for a SGN perspective on things like transformational technology, learning & development builds on our wider engagement.”
Mr Brian Baglow, Director Scottish Games Network.
“Honour and a privilege to host the BASTECH seminar. All attendees have been very engaging in all aspects of robotics and the Army has been a pleasure to work with in organising the event in this great facility.”
Mr Steven McLaren, Robotarium, Heriot-Watt.
