Page 20 - ADT MARCH / APRIL 2020 Digital Magazine | GBP

COLUMN: Jeff Pike, Head of Aerospace & Defence
Strategic Programmes & Initiatives

Flaws in Fossil Fuels [ OPINION ]

WE HAVE SEEN THE ELECTRIFICATION OF CARS AND
PUBLIC TRANSPORT TAKE CENTER STAGE AS CONSUMERS
AND GOVERNMENTS TACKLE CARBON EMISSIONS. BUT
THE MILITARY NEEDS TO PLAY ITS PART

The Pentagon, for example, is the biggest consumer of fossil fuels
in the world according to some sources. The benefits of an elec-
tric transition for the defense sector doesn’t just boil down to a
reduced carbon footprint. They could also save money and, more
importantly, increase operational capability and perhaps save lives
as well by going electric on the front line. Unfortunately, there are
obstacles—limited range, cost and lacking battery technology—hin-
dering widespread electrification of vehicles themselves, but there out a ten-year goal for full electrification of its
are secondary applications to be realized in the immediate future. assets and equipment. They are promising two
Military conflicts rely on logistics—to transport equipment, to prototype tanks by 2022—change is imminent.
move personnel to remote bases, and to deliver essential supplies to Electric and unmanned assets come with a
keep them going. The efficiency of the logistics operation is crucial range of advantages. With a reduced logistic
to determining the success of the campaign. Fossil fuels currently footprint and lighter, easier to maintain vehicles
play a key role. Gas guzzling military vehicles can get as little as that run on renewables it is in the best interest of
0.6 mpg. Fuel consumption on this scale obviously has extreme a military organization to make the transition as
environmental costs. But with the added task of transporting the soon as possible, as more electric assets enter
fuel to the remote location, there is a large financial cost to bear as the battlefield in the decade to come.
well. In the Afghanistan war a gallon of fuel cost the military about
USD400 by the time it arrived at the base—a costly problem that Software Holds Key to Success
needs to be addressed. The electrification of military assets will expand
the portfolio of equipment and inventory types.
Unfortunately, the drawbacks of using fossil fuels don’t just stop here; It will also further complicate support models
they can incur a human cost too. The large logistics footprint of a mil- across military operations that are already very
itary operation increases the vulnerability of a base. Transporting and complex. To cope with this change and ensure
storing the fuel alone makes convoys and bases vulnerable to attack. all the benefits of electrification are realized,
The convoy and broader logistics support machine also needs secu- sufficient supply chain and asset management
rity, feeding, accommodation and support. In the Afghanistan war software must be in place.
there was almost one casualty for every 24 fuel resupply convoys.
Scale this up with the thousands of fuel convoys used in long-term Military forces need enterprise asset manage-
conflicts and the casualty rate becomes alarming. Using less fuel ment solutions with built-in adaptability for new
means less people on the ground and fewer casualties. So, we know assets and logistics principles—from procure-
that moving away from fossil fuels could save money and lives. But ment of the asset, right through to frontline
what are the other operational benefits that can be seen both in the maintenance and support. With IFS Applications,
short and long term on the battlefield? military forces will see flexibility and transforma-
tional agility driven into the process—the two
Hybrid Solutions in the Short Term fundamentals for electric success and optimi-
Battery technology is not yet advanced enough to be able to convert zation.
all army vehicles to electric. In the meantime, it is far more likely we
will see electrification of support and secondary systems as the QinetiQ, a British multinational defense tech-
initial military focus. Forward operating bases consume thousands nology company, hangs the success of electric
of kWh of electricity a day. Use cases show by using a mixture of defense technology on the supporting infra-
diesel-powered generators and “hybrid sites”, consisting of gener- structure. This doesn’t just mean charging
ators, battery packs and solar panels, to power bases and specific points, as the supply chain and software which
missions, military organizations can save thousands of gallons a support military assets are also part of this infra-
week in fuel. Logistics personnel and engineers also save hours structure. As it stands, physical infrastructure
refueling and maintaining fuelling equipment vehicles—more time and battery technology have engineering chal-
and money spent on more pressing matters. lenges to overcome before full electrification
can be implemented. But asset management
Electric Fleets to Come this Decade and supply chain software is ready to deliver the
We are already seeing electric unmanned aerial, land and sea vehi- electrification secondary support on the battle-
cles entering service. The bulk of this demand had been for air (UAVs) field today, and the complete electrification of
and is now for military vehicles on land and sea. The U.S. Army has set operations in the future.

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