| Recurring |
one_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the cutting-edge radar system on the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince Of Wales is an example of a software failure happening again within the same organization. The incident with the Crowsnest radar system, which is worth £269 million, has caused delays and concerns about the readiness of the system for operational deployment [94794].
(b) There is no specific information in the provided article about a similar software failure incident happening at other organizations or with their products and services. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase is evident in the article. The Royal Navy's cutting-edge radar system, Crowsnest, faced software difficulties following a test of the radar system just before Christmas. Sources close to the project warned about IT issues with the sensor array, which could delay its roll-out and potentially impact its readiness for HMS Queen Elizabeth's first mission [94794].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is not explicitly mentioned in the provided article. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers' radar system, Crowsnest, can be categorized as within_system. The article mentions that there were software difficulties reported following a test of the radar system just before Christmas. Insiders reported that people were struggling with delays in the entire system, including software development for components that were not ready yet [94794]. This indicates that the issues leading to the software failure originated from within the system itself. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers was primarily due to non-human actions, specifically software difficulties with the cutting-edge radar system known as Crowsnest. The radar system was reported to be 'too sensitive to use' and faced IT issues that could delay its roll-out, potentially leaving the carriers vulnerable to attack [94794].
(b) Human actions also played a role in the software failure incident as there were delays in the flight trials using the Merlin Mark 2 helicopters due to technical issues. Additionally, there were concerns raised about the delays in seeking 'independent help' when issues arose, indicating a potential reluctance to address problems promptly [94794]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware:
- The article mentions problems with the cutting-edge radar system, Crowsnest, which is a hardware component designed for the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince Of Wales [94794].
- The delays and issues with the radar system, including software difficulties, were reported following a test of the radar system just before Christmas [94794].
- The delays in the flight trials using the Merlin Mark 2 helicopters were also due to technical issues, indicating hardware-related problems [94794].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to software:
- The article highlights IT issues with the sensor array of the Crowsnest radar system, indicating software-related problems [94794].
- There were mentions of having to write software for components that were not ready yet, suggesting software development challenges [94794].
- The delays in the roll-out of the radar system and the need to train flight crews due to software and simulator readiness issues point to software-related challenges [94794]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
non-malicious |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales was non-malicious. The failure was attributed to software difficulties with the cutting-edge radar system, Crowsnest, which is the most advanced aerial early warning sensor ever built for the Royal Navy. The issues with the radar system were reported following a test just before Christmas, and insiders mentioned that IT issues with the sensor array could delay its roll-out and may not be ready for HMS Queen Elizabeth's first mission [94794].
The delays and technical issues with the radar system were causing concerns among naval officers and officials, with a formal inquiry launched into the delay by the Shadow defence procurement minister. The delays were described as worrying, and there was a reluctance to seek independent help when issues arose. However, it was emphasized that the development tests were designed to iron out potential problems with the cutting-edge systems before entering service, indicating that the failure was not due to malicious intent but rather technical challenges in the software development process [94794]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales was primarily due to poor decisions. The failure was attributed to problems with the cutting-edge radar system, Crowsnest, which was reported to be 'too sensitive to use' and facing IT issues that could delay its roll-out [94794]. The delays and issues with the radar system were a result of poor planning and decision-making, leading to concerns about the readiness of the system for the carriers' missions. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident in this case seems to be related to development incompetence. The article mentions that there were IT issues with the sensor array of the Crowsnest radar system, causing delays in its roll-out and potentially impacting the readiness for HMS Queen Elizabeth's first mission. There were reports of software difficulties following a test of the radar system, and insiders mentioned that they were behind on the entire system, having to write software for components that were not even ready yet [94794].
(b) The software failure incident could also be considered accidental as there were technical issues and delays in the flight trials of the Merlin Mark 2 helicopters, which are part of the Crowsnest system. These delays were due to various technical problems, floods, and electrical blackouts affecting the aircraft carriers. Additionally, the delays were described as worrying, and there was a reluctance to seek independent help when issues arose, indicating a lack of preparedness for such challenges [94794]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident related to the radar system on the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales can be categorized as a temporary failure. The incident involved software difficulties reported following a test of the radar system just before Christmas, leading to delays in the roll-out of the system and potential impact on the carriers' operations [94794]. The delays in flight trials using the Merlin Mark 2 helicopters and the need to write software for components that were not ready indicate that the failure was temporary and caused by specific circumstances rather than being a permanent issue. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident related to the cutting-edge radar system for the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince Of Wales, resulted in a crash. The article mentions that software difficulties were reported following a test of the radar system just before Christmas, causing delays in the roll-out of the system and impacting the training of flight crews due to simulators not being ready [94794].
(b) omission: The software failure incident also involved omission, as the system was not ready for HMS Queen Elizabeth's first mission due to IT issues with the sensor array. This omission of readiness to perform its intended function could leave the aircraft carriers vulnerable to attack [94794].
(c) timing: The timing of the software failure incident was crucial, as delays in the development and readiness of the radar system could impact the overall defense capabilities of the aircraft carriers. The system needed to be fully operational in time for the carriers' missions, highlighting a timing issue in the software failure incident [94794].
(d) value: The software failure incident did not specifically mention a failure due to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. Instead, the focus was on delays, IT issues, and readiness of the radar system, indicating more of a crash and omission rather than a value-related failure [94794].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident did not exhibit characteristics of a byzantine failure, which involves inconsistent responses and interactions within a distributed system. The focus was more on delays, technical issues, and the importance of the radar system being fully operational for defense purposes [94794].
(f) other: The other behavior observed in the software failure incident was the need to write software for components that were not yet ready, indicating a level of unpreparedness and lack of synchronization in the development process. This aspect could be categorized as a form of unanticipated behavior or lack of system integration readiness [94794]. |