Royal Navy submarine tests new command-and-control system

LONDON, Feb. 29 (UPI) -- The Royal Navy's newest submarine has test fired her first torpedo using a new British-designed and built command-and-control system.

The common combat system used by the Astute-class submarine HMS Artful was made by BAE Systems in collaboration with Thales UK. It "functions as the digital 'brain' of the boat controlling its 'eyes', 'ears' and 'nervous system,'" the Ministry of Defense said.

In the torpedo test, the CCC interpreted sonar readings and then attacked a moving target with a practice weapon.

The system uses the latest technology to collect and process huge amounts of data from various sensors to provide information to aid in command decisions. It can also process information fed back from Sonar 2076, which the Royal Navy now uses to detect and track adversaries.

"This command and control system, designed as part of an innovative partnership between Defense and U.K. industry will allow British submarines to adapt more quickly to changing mission requirements, making operations even safer and more efficient," said Minister for Defense Procurement Philip Dunne.

"It is a next generation system, both highly capable and cost-effective, which can be installed right across the Royal Navy's submarine fleets, thereby guaranteeing the best capability for the Royal Navy and the best value for money for the taxpayer."

In addition to BAE Systems and Thales UK, Dell, Aish Technologies and VMWare contributed to CCC system development.

"The Common Combat System allows the Royal Navy to detect and track the quietest adversaries," said Rear Adm. Keith Beckett, director Submarines Support at the MOD's defence procurement organisation, DE&S. "It is a huge improvement in terms of resilience and flexibility and we're at the early stages of exploring the system's huge potential."