The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) is to replace its aging Autolog maintenance and logistics system with a new MRO IT solution as part of a wide-ranging upgrade program called EMDAD. While EMDAD means “logistics” in Arabic, the project actually covers all RSAF assets, both fixed-wing and rotary, and extends into flight simulators, armaments and equipment such as ejection seats. The program also includes modernizing the IT infrastructure and adding an information and communications technologies management solution, which will place the RSAF among the first militaries with a truly paperless MRO operation.

At the heart of this upgrade will be Miro Technologies’ latest enterprise service platform called GOLDesp, providing a fully integrated maintenance and supply solution for all aircraft operated by the RSAF. Hewlett-Packard will provide the hardware.

The RSAF’s Autolog system has been in use for some 30 years but was advanced for its time. It enabled each RSAF base to operate independently while collating data centrally. This means that maintenance data from, for example, RSAF Tornado squadrons operated from different bases could be managed centrally and decisions made on a fleet basis. When the RSAF looked to source a replacement system, it set the requirements bar very high. The RSAF’s choice, Miro’s GOLDesp, is a Java application built around Web services to enable it to link with other systems. Packaged with additional specialized functions from partners, this system met 95% of the requirements.

Miro developed its forerunner system, GOLD, 30 years ago, but it has progressively evolved to keep pace with military advances in technology, equipment and processes. Current iterations handle the maintenance and configuration requirements of the international space station and a number of air forces, including the USAF, Royal Australian Air Force and the UK military.

Importantly, the latest version for the RSAF connects to external supply chains such as the USAF or BAE Systems, etc., for parts and services through a protocol called MILS. Although aging, MILS enables users to watch the status of equipment serviced by outside providers. If the RSAF sends a part for repair to, say, Lockheed Martin or Boeing, the MILS transaction tracks it until it returns.

“This was a key facility that the Saudis wanted to retain,” says Geoff Hughes, director of business development at Miro Technologies, “so the system was built to plug into MILS without modification. This supply facility integrates with the maintenance function, making the demand management interface between supply and maintenance completely electronic.”

A further priority was that the system would provide a quality assurance function to manage aircraft safety issues. For this, a product called AQD (made by New Zealand-based Superstructure) was added. More than 100 airlines use AQD for this purpose.

Another addition is a purpose-designed inventory optimization tool. Made by IT tool designer Servigistics, it enables military managers to conduct cost scenarios, such as the implications of raising a fleet’s flying hours by 10% or deceasing spend on engine spares by 15%. In effect, this is a management information system for controlling part and component budgets for specified aircraft fleets.

The RSAF insisted that the system should be able to be decentralized and not rely on a network, but work as well in both a conflict and peace-time environment. Miro’s trump card was that its system already has been proven in conflict with the UK MoD, working autonomously in theater, but still providing the ability to centralize data when the situation allowed or during normal operations.

The RSAF is particularly interested in knowledge transfer and training to enable it to run and operate the new system without needing to rely on outside consultants and contractors to support it. To that end, a lot of effort is being put into training. Close to 4,000 people (all Saudi nationals) will be trained on the system over the three-year implementation period. To support this, Miro aims to open a ”GOLD Academy” at its Yeovil, UK, headquarters in mid-2010. This will deliver two-month, intensive courses to around 50 RSAF officers on best practices in modern military logistics as well as the RSAF’s new system. The academy also will offer courses to other users of GOLD-based systems.

Miro will implement the RSAF system in two, 18-month stages. The first will involve the rapid implementation of the GOLD system to enable the RSAF’s Autolog system to be switched off, while the second phase will upgrade the system to enable its integration and decentralization and to add some key capabilities. When fully implemented, the Miro system will manage around 600 aircraft of varying types—from fighters to transports, tankers, trainers and helicopters.

Given the RSAF contract, Miro is hopeful of further involvement with the UK MoD, primarily because it already operates a bespoke, GOLD-based program called RAM for its helicopter fleets. Hughes says discussions are underway with the UK MoD to potentially upgrade RAM to the GOLDesp-level.

If they choose to upgrade, Hughes says the potential exists for the UK MoD to look at the RSAF’s system, which will be running aircraft fleets of Eurofighter Typhoons, BAE Systems Hawks and Tornados and Lockheed C-130s—the same aircraft types currently operated by the RAF.