The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has
announced a £7 million investment in the Electromagnetic
Environment (EME) Hub.
The electromagnetic environment is critical to defence. In an
increasingly contested environment, this involves the ability to
protect and maintain our own capabilities but also
countermeasures to disrupt those of an adversary. The challenge
is to maintain freedom of manoeuvre and action in the
electromagnetic spectrum in order to retain operational
advantage.
The EME Hub is a
centre of excellence led by academics working in collaboration
with industry partners to drive innovation in electromagnetic
activities. The focus is on generation-after-next capability for
the wireless delivery of offensive and defensive effects – the
ability to degrade, deny, destroy, deceive and disrupt – and
assessing the impact of these effects. It will also concentrate
on the synchronisation and coordination of wireless activities
across deployed assets regardless of defence operating domains
(air, space, land, sea, cyber and electromagnetic).
The Hub also has a mandate to grow the science and technology
(S&T) community and to contribute to development of
specialist skills and education. Led by Loughborough University,
the academic consortium has a strong regional representation
comprising Queen Mary University of London, the University of
Leeds, the University of Glasgow, and Queen’s University Belfast.
The 5 UK academic partners
each bring a history of sustained specialist research, as well as
working with national and international academics, government
agencies and industry. Importantly, the consortium is supported
by defence primes and industry including BAE Systems, CENSIS,
Hensoldt UK, Kromek Group,
Leonardo, MDBA Missile Systems, the National Physical Laboratory
and QinetiQ.
The initial operating capability will include five post-doctoral
researcher positions, a Hub management team, and at least 17 PhD
students of which 9 are directly funded. This diversity, not only
in academic strength, but in geographic coverage of the
UK, ensures that the Hub will
provide a national network that exploits the best of UK capability and research diversity.
The Hub will provide outstanding training for future leaders and
talented researchers, enhancing defence capability and securing
the UK’s place as a global
leader in EME
related research and generation-after-next electromagnetic
activities. The consortium’s track record underpins its ability
to deliver the research, to develop networks, and to undertake
and support engagement activities, both within and beyond the
five-year funding lifetime of the Hub.
Dr Paul Hollinshead, Dstl Chief
Executive, said:
It’s a privilege to announce this new investment during British
Science Week. The EME Hub brings together the
best minds working in the electromagnetic environment from
industry and academia with the drive and leadership from
government. As well as innovating generation-after-next
technology we will be nurturing the next generation of talent to
continue this crucial work into the future.
