b'16 Partner News Autumn 2022Enterpriseflexibility for user effectiveness. SA Group consultants worked with pan-organisation engineering and security specialists to ensure the systems would meet MOD accreditation standards and operational requirements. Risk managementThe most significant risk to the Protector Programme was identified as information and communications, which is an area that SA Group consultants specialise in. Using Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO) sanctioned tools for project management, and Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies and Opportunities (RAIDO) management to ensure the correct level of visibility for representative plans and milestones, SA Group consultants escalated appropriate risks for representation at programme working group and board level. Architecture developmentCrucial infrastructureAcross the programme, architecture had been seen as a significant impediment to delivery, but SA Group consultants design and engineering forwere able to identify the architectural requirements of key stakeholders and use this information to design an effective remotely piloted air system development process. They managed a team of contractors and crown servants to deliver the architecture in accordance with defence architectural Leading technical consultancy, SA Group, areprinciples and standards. SA Groups consultants worked to the Royal Air Forces supporting the delivery of this innovative system.requirements, aligning deliverable solutions with defence digital programmes, enterprise architecture and security requirements. ComplianceThe Protector Programme is a remotelyCommunication and coordinationThe project needed to be compliant with piloted air system which is set to enterSA Group consultants coordinatedthe MOD network joining rules, and by service by mid-2024. Delivering nextdevelopment and delivery activities withworking in collaboration with DE&S and the generation technology to the UKs Armedvarious teams within Defence Digital, andprogrammes digital applications case officer, Forces, Protector offers improved rangeacted as the focal point for Air Commandsthey ensure that the project will reach the and endurance, greater weapons capacity,capability branch, Defence Equipment andagreed standards.automated take-off and landing, and betterSupport (DE&S) delivery teams and the end resilience against the elements than thecustomer.Protector will be enabled by UK current Reaper fleet. communications and information systems, Their activities and dependencies wereensuring the platform can conduct Specialists consultants, SA Group, havedocumented, and the information aspectsindependent worldwide operations for been involved in key aspects of Protectorswere brought in line with the programmesthe UK and its interests, whilst capable of development, including the integrationschedule to guarantee timely delivery ofinteroperability with allies. It is ongoing up to of MOD core information systems,planned outputs. This was achieved using2035 and beyond, and SA Group are pleased Local and Wide Area Network (LAN/ MOD commercial and financial frameworksto be part of it.WAN) development, satellite and groundto ensure the right funding and resource communication elements of the command- was planned for. To find out more about the rangeand-control network, and the development ofof services SA Group provide, visit:an enterprise architecture for Protector andSecurity assurance of the remotely pilotedwww.sa-group.com or telephone its supporting systems. air system is paramount but must maintain+44(0)1249 280111'