Drayson added: “Technology plays a huge role in our forces; it often makes the difference between success and failure - and sometimes life and death.” Only through innovation at home will troops abroad be able to perform their missions safely and efficiently. Companies such as EADS Defence & Security (DS) focus on how existing technologies can be adapted for defence purposes, pushing Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technology to its limits to reduce development time and cost, ensuring the latest technologies are available for governments to deploy with their troops.

EADS Defence & Security pioneered the ruggedisation of COTS communications equipment in the mid 90’s, which has been extensively deployed throughout the UK MoDs infrastructure. The trend continues today as demonstrated by CORMORANT - a rapidly deployable communications system for a UK Joint Force Headquar

ters (JFHQ). The system uses ruggedised COTS equipment integrated with Military Off The Shelf (MOTS) equipment delivering a communications system that leverages the best of commercial technology with robust military technology.

Another example, is the UK MoD’s ambitious £3.6bn Defence Information Infrastructure (Future) programme. EADS DS UK is a key member of the ATLAS consortium and provides the network communications, security, service management and deployed services for the programme. DII covers all fixed sites within the UK and abroad, maritime platforms and deployed HQs, supporting a predicted 300,000 users in over 2,000 locations world-wide.

Defence procurement has never had a reputation for being particularly fast, streamlined or cost efficient, despite the use of