Session 1.6c Update: Development of a Navigation Warfare Vulnerability Assessment Framework
Tracks
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| Tuesday, November 14, 2023 |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
| Menzies Theatre |
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This submission covers our findings of a study to develop a framework for evaluating the vulnerabilities of Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR) systems to meet the requirements of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).
The ubiquity, importance and reliance of NZDF capabilities on Position Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions lead to a requirement to understand the risks when those PNT services are degraded, disrupted, deceived or denied by NAVWAR.
The NZDF Defence Technology Agency (DTA) conducted initial platform assessments and highlighted the need for a scalable, repeatable process that would lead to standardised output with categorised risks. Surprisingly, no suitable framework for evaluating vulnerabilities existed internally, amongst the NZDF’s military partners or via open-source.
Beca Applied Technologies, working with DTA on behalf of the NZDF designed a framework which uses existing and proven tools, techniques and methodologies adapted for NAVWAR vulnerability assessments. It is applied across 10 distinct stages which start with understanding the threat context and conclude with categorizing vulnerabilities and developing mitigations. The resulting assessments are both qualitative and quantitative by design and they help identify risk areas while providing clear recommendations that support operational decision-making.
This approach helps to make sure that NZDF can fully understand the risks of operating in a NAVWAR environment and can evade, prevent, recognise and recover against contemporary or future threats to their systems.
This presentation will include our experience and methodology for the framework design, implementation experience and initial results based on our collaboration with DTA and the wider NZDF NAVWAR community.
Speaker/s
Mr Chris Perks
Senior Associate Systems Engineer
Beca
Chris Perks is a Senior Associate Systems Engineer with Beca Applied Technolgies, based in Wellington New Zealand. A native of the United Kingdom, he spent 25 years proudly serving in the Royal Air Force and has extensive experience in military flying operations and test and evaluation of complex air vehicles, weapons, and associated training systems. He has also led multiple teams within large acquisition projects as part of multi-national defence programmes most notably the P-8A Poseidon. In this role, Chris conducted developmental and operational testing and held senior programme management roles across the US, UK, and NZ programmes across a 10-year period. As part of his military career, he was also fortunate enough to get some privileged opportunities to fly with other Forces and Nations. He flew maritime helicopters with the Royal Navy and operated multiple aircraft and unmanned systems, including the MQ-4C Triton, with the United States Navy. Chris started his military flying career as a Navigator and so is delighted to be presenting at MILCIS on assessing the vulnerabilities of satellite-based navigation systems, the very thing that replaced him! Chris holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Aero Mechanical Systems from Cranfield University, several project management qualifications, and numerous test and evaluation certifications.
Mr Thomas Power
Research Leader, Space Effects Team
Defence
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Thomas Power leads the Space Effects team within the Defence Science and Technology research branch of the New Zealand Defence Force. His portfolio includes space surveillance, space operations and navigation warfare and he has more than 25 years of experience in defence and national security research. He is a Chartered Engineer and has degrees in electronic engineering, with honours in satellite communications and radar, and data analytics.
