Technical Applications
Connecting technology to the deterrence mission requires a team that has a thorough understanding of the capabilities and limitations of current science, yet experience with applications and operational concepts. NIDS has both. Thus, our primary objective is to assemble the best team based upon the strategic need, client capabilities, and NIDS’ vast expertise and experience.
Our approach:
- Evaluate the objectives: Connecting technology to operational needs is essential to finding solutions. We appraise the impact of any innovation and how it fits into the complex national security and operational environment with a focus on how the technology fits strategic and operational requirements.
- Understand the capabilities: Knowledge of a client’s capabilities and planned approach is important for finding the best solution and determining the art of the possible.
- Apply the operational environment: National Security requirements, especially those associated with nuclear weapons, are specialized and complex and require years of experience to capture the details needed for success. NIDS can provide detailed support to a client related to testing, assessing, evaluating, and mitigating effects on equipment, people, and operations.
- Assess risks and vulnerabilities: Every plan includes options based upon outcomes of experimental results that must be continuously evaluated as a plan comes to fruition. Our team uses computational models, data analysis, and experienced judgment to quantify risks and offer options as problems arise or decision points are reached.
- Communicate the results: Communicating the results of complex technical concepts to various audiences in the decision chain is an essential component to a successful project outcome. Our members have substantial experience communicating to mixed technical and operational audiences. We can review reports, findings, and updated plans to ensure that communications are audience aware and connected to relevant information.
NIDS consultation areas:
- Radiation Hardness: All systems operating in nuclear environments must function in and potentially through the harsh environment produced by nuclear weapons. A multidisciplinary approach to these problems is necessary to capture all aspects of the interaction and response.
- Electromagnetic Pulse: The devastating effects of a nuclear weapon generated EMP can result in multiple failures in key systems in military, state, and local civil systems. A full systems approach for assessing and mitigating performance following an EMP is necessary to ensure system resilience and continuous operations.
- Nuclear Modernization: The modernization effort is too important to exclude any expertise that can ensure near perfect performance under austere conditions. This not only includes the technical needs for weapon delivery and communication systems, but a full understanding of the decision process and execution.
- Integrated Operations: Deterrence is not just focused on nuclear weapon systems, but includes operations and decision making in land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace domains.
- Decision Making Process: All technology associated with nuclear command and control must assess the stringent timeline placed on the decision-making process. Assessing the vulnerabilities and risks of any technology integration must include an assessment of its effect on the decision timeline.
