How IBM is powering 'decision advantage' for the Royal Air Force

13 January 2025 Consultancy.uk

In today’s global landscape, defence and military strategies have become increasingly complex, demanding greater collaboration and partnership between the defence community and technology organisations. Rahul Kalia, managing partner at IBM UK & Ireland, explains how the firm partnered the RAF to develop its next-generation Air Command and Control System, GUARDIAN.

IBM has delivered a comprehensive solution that processes data to generate a real-time Recognised Air Picture; GUARDIAN leverages technological innovation to ensure a highly effective, safe, and secure high-speed message transaction process. This enables RAF system operators to monitor airspace and, if necessary, deploy jets to identify, intercept, and neutralise any threats from suspicious or potentially dangerous aircraft. This task is fundamental to maintaining national security, enhancing air safety, and protecting the UK, 365 days a year.

The GUARDIAN programme represents the latest advancement in the UK's Air C2 technology, driven by the critical need for enhanced capabilities that provide a strategic advantage over adversaries. For over two decades, IBM Consulting has led the implementation of UK Air Command and Control (C2) systems, aiding the UK government in integrating each new generation. This innovative system is the result of a global coalition of companies from Australia, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the UK, all brought together by IBM Consulting to form an effective ecosystem.

The most recent and advanced iteration of GUARDIAN was deployed in the remote Falkland Islands in 2023, presenting one of the project team's most significant challenges to date. IBM coordinated international partners to navigate an inhospitable climate, overcome access challenges, and resolve logistical obstacles. GUARDIAN enables UK operators to control aircraft in the highly congested UK airspace, one of the busiest in the world. To achieve this, GUARDIAN meets stringent safety-critical assurance regulations. IBM successfully surpassed the rigorous criteria to be awarded accreditation from the UK Military Aviation Authority.

The resulting technology is now one of the most advanced C2 systems in the NATO alliance. It offers military leaders a single, real-time overview of the region, enabling informed decision-making based on a wide range of civil and military data, including contributions from UK and NATO partners. The latest generation of GUARDIAN will now be implemented in the mainland UK, following a prioritised delivery to the Falkland Islands. By providing unparalleled situational awareness, GUARDIAN underpins the RAF's critical mission of protecting UK citizens, enhancing the nation's safety and security.

The successful implementation of GUARDIAN highlights the power of collaboration and partnership in managing complex projects. The project received further recognition for its highly successful roll-out with a Chief of the Air Staff Team Commendation in the 2025 RAF New Year Honours List.

Looking to the future, IBM Consulting is developing many new innovative ideas for RAF and NATO partners to continually improve the GUARDIAN capability, for example, deploying AI to assist with higher volumes of data and quicker decisions. This will allow operators to dedicate their time to higher-value tasks and provide decision-makers with data and intelligence more quickly.

Cloud-based and multi-domain capabilities will be crucial for the future effectiveness of NATO, and IBM is well placed to bring the operational transformation that is required through multi-hybrid cloud, AI, and an extensive network of eco-system partners.

As the RAF evolves to address new challenges, GUARDIAN will continue to be a vital part of its air defence capabilities, safeguarding the nation's skies.

IBM’s work with the RAF won the firm a special commendation at the 2024 Management Consultancies Association Awards. A full list of the winners can be found here.