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Navy is using data and analytics to improve the lethality and survivability of the fleet, enabled by new Defence Data Standards making Defence’s data more accessible and usable.

No two ships, even of the same type, are identical. Each has unique operational characteristics, and quality data is required for a commander to capitalise on a vessel’s best attributes.

Characteristics like a vessel’s acoustic and magnetic signatures, weapon systems performance and state of battle-worthiness is all information that supports decision advantage.

Director of the Maritime Warfare Centre (MWC) Captain Ben Hissink said Defence had massive data holdings across the enterprise, but these data holdings are often siloed, duplicated and disconnected.

“Data needs to be discoverable and shareable, and at the speed of relevance, for senior decision makers and the warfighter in the battlespace,” Captain Hissink said.

The MWC is working with Data Division to implement new agreed Defence standards for data asset registration (DAR) – a standard endorsed by the Defence Data and Analytics Board in December 2023.

The new standard is designed to improve the sharing and interoperability of data between platforms and networks, including with allies and partners.

Essentially, the new DAR standard is a set of common attributes (metadata) applied when data is stored. The standards will enable the search and discovery of Defence data, which will improve data integration and interoperability.

‘This is not just about Navy, but all of Defence using the standard protocols to ensure data is shareable with all of our stakeholders.’

Many Defence people are familiar with the use of NATO Stock Numbers (NSN), which is a standard used by NATO member countries and their partners to manage supply items.

The NSN provides standardisation for supply items, which helps to ensure the efficiency of logistics. In a similar way, the data standards will ensure the efficiency of data.

The MWC’s first collection of data was from maritime exercises. By digitising and collecting data throughout exercises and applying the new data standard, MWC staff consolidated and used data from multiple sources in a virtual environment.

This allowed visualisations and replays showing the locations of red and blue forces, the actions taken by each, and the outcomes achieved.

MWC staff use the data to analyse the tactics and performance of platforms and weapon systems. They then use this information to identify opportunities for improvements to tactics, techniques and procedures.

The analysis can also be used to provide feedback into the development and upgrade of platforms and weapons systems.

“The end goals of all of this work in Defence are standards and interactive tools that span all Defence data stores and data types,” Captain Hissink said.

“This is not just about Navy, but all of Defence using the standard protocols to ensure data is shareable with all of our stakeholders.”