In 2007 Boeing and British firm QinetiQ opened The Portal, an analysis, modeling, simulation, and experimentation (AMS&E) centre in Farnborough, England. The facility is part of Boeing’s growing footprint in the United Kingdom. Both companies see it as a decision-support center for collaboration and experimentation with programmes and customers—primarily the UK Ministry of Defence.
“The Portal gives us local capability to engage the MOD, to understand their needs and to explore solutions,” said Guy Higgins, Boeing vice president, Analysis, Modeling, Simulation and Experimentation. “In addition, we bring extensive experimentation experience and large-scale systems integration and production expertise, and QinetiQ, the largest UK research firm, brings an intimate knowledge of the customer.”
QinetiQ has a long history supporting the MOD. It has developed fundamental technologies, supported ongoing operations, and tested and assessed equipment before it is brought into service.
“The Portal will enable us to bring together complementary expertise from QinetiQ and Boeing to support customers’ aspirations, and cost-effectively deliver state-of-the-art network-enabled capabilities,” said Jeremy Ward, QinetiQ’s sales director, Command and Intelligence Systems Division.
The Portal is another step in growth for IDS in the UK. In April 2008, Boeing opened a systems engineering and integration facility in Bristol, England. The openings of the Farnborough and Bristol facilities come as the MOD implements a Defense Industrial Strategy (DIS) that strongly emphasises procurement of U.K.-developed products, systems and intellectual property.
The centre conducts experiments at all levels of conflict, as well as homeland security scenarios, in a facility that’s near MOD personnel. Using the Boeing Laboratory Network - a network with multiple locations to conduct simulation and test activities - The Portal can tie into Boeing’s integration centres, Virtual Warfare Center and other U.S. facilities; the Boeing Systems Analysis Laboratory in Australia; and Global opportunities.