Five Powers buy QinetiQ joint air command and control system

A new command and control system that allows the planning and co-ordination of joint air operations has been bought by the multinational Five Powers' Defence Arrangements (FPDA) organisation. The system, a software tool known as FAST (Future Air Systems Tasker), has been developed by QinetiQ.

FAST provides a unique air planning capability to the armed forces of the FPDA members (Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom) who exercise together on a regular basis and for whom interoperability and safety are of vital importance.

Air Vice-Marshal Roxley McLennan, Commander of the FPDA's Integrated Area Defence System (IADS), welcomed the introduction of FAST, saying: "The purchase of FAST has enhanced the ability of the armed forces of the FPDA nations to rapidly mount integrated air operations. It will improve the effectiveness and interoperability of the members by allowing future FPDA exercises to increase in complexity without compromising flying safety."

FAST is the operational component of Agile C2, QinetiQ's integrated suite of air planning tools. Agile C2 enables joint forces to plan air operations from the highest strategic level all the way through to the tactical mission. These joint air operations can be planned within a PC-based architecture and Agile C2's collaborative structure ensures all command levels are working from common and timely data, reducing the potential for costly delays and errors.

Paul Blackford, Military Programmes Manager at QinetiQ, said: "QinetiQ is delighted to be contributing to the effectiveness of future FPDA activity. FAST and the other components of Agile C2 provide an easily deployable, low cost and easy to learn integrated command and control system that enables greater interoperability of both single nation and multinational operations and exercises."


About the FPDA - the Five Powers' Defence Arrangements were entered into in 1971 by the governments of Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Under these arrangements the five nations undertook to consult together for the purpose of deciding what measures should be taken jointly or separately in response to an attack, or threat of an attack, on Malaysia or Singapore.

The FPDA members participate in a series of bi-annual joint training exercises involving land, sea and air elements. The most recent exercise, Exercise Flying Fish 2003, was hosted by Malaysia and used FAST to plan the joint air operations. The Headquarters of the Integrated Area Defence System is situated at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base at Butterworth in Malaysia.