Reflections on Project ASGARD Digital Networks

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

By Col PJ Brunton

Project ASGARD was the British Army’s intervention in support of the NATO Forward Land Force commitment for Estonia, in line with CGS’ direction to triple lethality across the force by 2030.  The digital network element of ASGARD provided a Dismounted Data System, Range Extension, Power and Interoperability solutions.

The digital network element of the ASGARD intervention proved to be an enormous success, with one Commanding Officer in 4 Light Brigade describing it as “the greatest single leap forward in lethality” over his career.  It applied to and validated the principles enshrined within Project IRIS, and clearly showed what could be achieved collaboratively by the Programmes Directorate, our delivery agents and industry partners when a clear demand signal is aligned with appropriate resource.

It would be foolish, however, to overstate these achievements.  ASGARD remains largely an equipment drop only and, though the technology could easily scale up, the workforce intensive processes used to deliver cannot.  ASGARD has generated a level of enthusiasm for new digital capabilities that I have not experienced in the previous three decades, with positive buy-in from the very highest echelons of Defence and Army leadership.  It has shown what our genuinely brilliant people in the Equipment Programme and Delivery Agents can achieve when given the resource and authority necessary, and highlighted the benefits of a much closer, collaborative relationship with both industry and the user community in increasing our lethality.

ASGARD is not a panacea, however.  To be able to deliver full Defence Lines of Development wraps for capabilities at the pace of ASGARD in the future will require significant reform of our collective priorities, funding allocation processes, approvals and scrutiny.  Defence and Army Reform, including the formation of the National Armaments Director Group, recognises this situation, but has yet to provide any concrete solutions or changes.

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