32 European Security & Defence 2015
Defence Technology
Performance: » Load balancing within the SOLID cluster
successes were achieved in 2010 and, after several years of
» Self-optimised routing in the SOLID network
same time, secunet is awaiting the solution’s BSI certification for
» Faster connection setup for VoIP scenarios
VS-NfD (restricted) use in the first quarter of 2016.
Security: » Holistic IT security concept for the SINA L3 Box S
configuring security associations. This means administrative
» Hardened, evaluated SINA OS system platform
system’s error rate. The SOLID cluster also guarantees reliability
» Smartcard technology
and a high throughput. Particularly large infrastructures can use
» Approval-compliant software and features
SINA SOLID to simplify complex rules, all while maintaining IT
development, SINA SOLID has reached product maturity. At the
SINA SOLID improves the VPN approach by automatically
SINA SOLID was the brainchild of an award-winning research partnership with the Ilmenau University of Technology. The first
resources can now be used elsewhere without increasing the
security in the meaning of the BSI’s approval for VS-NfD (restricted) use.
International programs (BSC/Sergei Sikorsky) In September of 2012, I was honored
International programs could benefit by sourcing plat-
by being invited to speak to NATO’s Dr Manfred Wörner Circ-
forms, systems, production and sustainment capabilities from
le. The subject was International Programs, and my remarks
acknowledged centers of excellence, and by spreading the
reflected experiences and conclusions gained in some 50
cost over the entire life cycle, not just the individual phases.
years of participating (and observing) a variety of such pro-
For instance, off-the-shelf acquisition of a platform by more
grams.
than one Ally within the transatlantic community could easily
Today, three years later, it is interesting to review some of these comments and conclusions to see what has changed. As before, these remarks are strictly personal opinions.
be balanced by including other Allies in the multi-decade sustainment phase. Commercial airliners are a different story. The major play-
Perhaps the single most important change is the fact that
ers, such as Airbus and Boeing, are fairly comfortable with
the world has become a slightly less comfortable place to live
thousands of aircraft on order. The international programs
in. Radical Islamist terrorism is a growing problem. Russia
that these two aerospace giants have created continue much
and China are flexing their muscles. Europe now faces pro-
as before; the flow of American engines and equipment to
blems that will eventually force uncomfortable decisions and
Airbus and the flow of European engines and equipment to
programs that will suddenly require funding that was never
Boeing average over 15 billion Dollar annually. Though there
planned for.
may be cancellations from some airlines, there is every reason
All these factors will influence the preservation of current international programs. It is probable that military systems such as aircraft, will continue in service well beyond currently-
to expect the civil aviation industry will continue to grow and generate more international programs as a result. A recent example is the opening of an Airbus-320 assem-
planned retirement dates. The same companies that produ-
bly plant in Mobile, Alabama. It will assemble the A-320 with
ced these weapon systems will generate a variety of up-grade
aircraft parts that are being built in France, Germany, the UK
proposals to modernize them and keep them relevant in
and Spain.
tomorrow’s world. The up-grading of current military systems will also be influ-
As the Ruble weakens, western aircraft and equipment will become increasingly expensive to Russian customers.
enced by the relentless growth in the price of new weapons
However, Russian aircraft and helicopters will become more
entering production. Military aircraft, for example, are increa-
attractive to countries able to pay in hard currency. Very
sing in price to such a degree that international programs are
probably, Russia will “turn inward”, reducing its import of
the only way to finance them. Despite this “cost-sharing”, I do
western engines and equipment while developing domestic
not know of any major European or American program that
copies. Joint programs with China will increase. We should
has not suffered significant reduction in number of aircraft to
not underestimate Mr. Putin’s potential impact on international
be built, primarily as a result of cost overruns.
programs in Europe.
