Case Studies - Defence

A research database designed by QinetiQ for ships and aircraft that can be used to help control mainline trains or improve the flow of traffic.

QinetiQ's Ship Aircraft Requirements Capability (SHARC) is a colour-coded computer-based programme that lays out simply a capability, shortfall and score for any combination of ship or aircraft. Red might be applied to a twin-rotor Chinook helicopter considering landing on a Type 23 frigate, yellow for a replenishment vessel and green for an aircraft carrier.

The database was developed for the Royal Navy to indicate difficulties its aircraft might have in landing on ships. With Fleet Air Arm pilots increasingly engaged in multinational operations and on humanitarian or rescue operations world-wide, it was likely sooner or later that a helicopter attempting to land on, say, a new cruise liner could find its rotor blade in danger of striking part of the superstructure.

With the navy itself now operating such new aircraft as the Merlin helicopter, much larger than the standard Sea Kings, NATO and non-NATO navies need to assess the practical issues involved in managing aircraft at sea. For example even if an aircraft could land easily the ship itself may not have maintenance facilities for this type of aircraft.

The SHARC database can identify this kind of problem. The database also indicates if the aircraft/ship combination is likely to change as a result of modifications in future years.

The database could be applied it to any large dynamic organisation such as heavy goods hauliers or the railways, where different trains use different routes and where a matrix could be laid for operators to quickly cross-check if their routing plans get a red, yellow or green SHARC score.