In this edition... Winter 2024

It gives me great pleasure to introduce the 2024 winter edition of the Journal of the Royal Corps of Signals. It was particularly pleasing to receive such a breadth of material spanning Defence level issues and the perspective of some of the Royal Signals Institution’s Corporate Membership.

I’m most grateful to Caroline Bellamy, the MOD’s Chief Data Officer for writing the lead article in which she discusses the the need to leverage the power of data as a game-changing critical asset to enhance and enable Defence. This she sets in context at a time of geo-political tensions, rapid technological advances and high fiscal and economic pressures.

I welcome for the first of what I hope are many contributions resulting from joint Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) – King’s College initiative the purpose of which is to undertake a program of co-operative research between master’s and PhD students of King’s College London (KCL), and ARRC Soldiers and Officers. For the ARRC, this project supports the development of a wider understanding of contemporary tactical and operational topics from an academic perspective. In this edition you will find articles of direct relevance to the RSI covering Russian cyber warfare, Russian use of Artificial Intelligence in urban operations and the release of intelligence as a means of communication.  

We recognise our distinguished officers. Within Old College, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, there hangs a series of Distinguished Officers Boards that serve to honour deceased senior officers of the Army’s regiments and corps. On 10 September 2024, Brigadier (Retired) Pete Drew and the Corps Colonel, Nik Bruce welcomed the family members to celebrate the rededication and unveiling of the additions.  

YofS Project Reports. The Corps’ Supervisors’ courses produce some insightful and informative project work. In this edition we feature the best to the Yeoman of Signals course which has benefited from their extensive training in military studies, networking principles, technical project management, COMSEC management, Communications Management principles, Electronic Warfare and military Network Planning.

We have a strong contribution from Defence industry….

General Dynamics UK reinforce much of Caroline Bellamy’s points concerning the importance of data. In collaboration with Helsing, they argue that the UK’s ability to transition to the data-centric era will determine who wins or loses future conflicts. They examine how collaboration between General Dynamics and Helsing is leveraging their respective areas of expertise to offer the British Army an unfair advantage on the battlefield. In an article co-authored by the Enhanced Command and Control Spearhead (EC2SPHD) team and the Land Systems Reference Centre they explain the importance of innovation and the impact that it is having. Hertz and Minds was submitted through CRFS and examines the significant role of electronic warfare (EW) in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. It’s Based on interviews and open-source material, the analysis focuses on the tactical land battle and how both sides have adapted their EW strategies over time.

As always, we have insightful engineering and technical contributions from Specialist Group Information Services (SGIS).  Major Andy Sutton explores the use of electromagnetic spectrum in modern digital mobile communications networks, with a particular focus on 4G Long Term Evolution and 5G. He explains that through evolution, a wide range of radio frequency bands are being deployed in support of mobile communications, with spectrum neutrality enabling bands which were traditionally licenced for a particular Radio Access Technology (RAT), to be repurposed for any technology. In Cloud Security in the Modern Age, Captain Heath Groves delves into the complexities and crucial importance of cloud security in the modern digital age.  As cloud computing continues to evolve as a ubiquitous infrastructure for businesses worldwide, understanding its security implications has never been more critical. In Challenging the Cyber Risk Status Quo: Experiments in Cyber Risk Quantification, Cameron Prescott-Young explores some of the limitations of existing cyber risk management methods and proposes that by making greater use of data and quantitative risk modelling techniques this could provide the Army with a modular model for cyber risk management.

The Corps has much to report in awards and competitions, The Dean-Drummond Essay Competition focussed entrants on the implication of space as an operational domain. Royal Signals Apprentices Awards 2024 are summarised, it is pleasing to report that all six trade categories were filled with entries. This section is completed with the Through Award. This was presented by the Worshipful Company of Information during their Summer Banquet at the Mansion House, London on 10th July 2024.

This edition is completed with several historical articles.  Brigadier (Retired) Nigel Jackson has described the evolution of 2nd (National Communications) Signal from 1999 to 2005. It developed rapidly from a non-deployable formation providing essentially static communications to an agile and responsive formation providing ICS throughout the Command, both at home and on operations. In Divided Island in the Sun, Nigel Pullman describes his experiences 50 years ago as a young captain in Royal Signals when he found himself in the midst of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Ryan Ellis continues with Storytelling and covers the 1955 McLeod Committee recommendations for structural change, relocation of the School of Signals, and long-term equipment planning. Dr Brian Austin charts the progress of a remarkable signaller Georg Meiring in parallel with the history of South Africa. Meiring clearly served during the most challenging of times eventually becoming Chief of the South African Army.

It is with my sincere apologies that the complete obituary for Brigadier Ian Rose has been published. Due to an editorial error this was only partially published in the Summer Edition and the complete version has been included in this edition.  

Joe