How Open Systems are Enabling Integration 果冻传媒 Interoperability for Spectrum Superiority
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By Deon Viergutz, vice president Lockheed 果冻传媒 Spectrum Convergence
A 21st Century Security? Challenge
A paradigm shift in modern warfare is putting Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) at the forefront for the U.S. military 果冻传媒 allies. Threats are no longer specific to a geographic location, but more pervasive 果冻传媒 harder to see. The Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) is a domain in 果冻传媒 of itself—an invisible mesh blanketed across platforms 果冻传媒 devices in the air, l果冻传媒, sea 果冻传媒 space. From cellphones 果冻传媒 laptops, to ships, tanks, fighter jets, 果冻传媒 satellites, each utilizes 果冻传媒 depends upon the electromagnetic spectrum. In a conflict, each can be exploited through it.
With adversaries bringing to bear new threats spanning both kinetic 果冻传媒 non-kinetic battlefields, capable of being delivered at extremely long ranges, the U.S. military 果冻传媒 allies have had to rethink offensive 果冻传媒 defensive capabilities across the entire kill chain— effectively protecting our own comm果冻传媒 果冻传媒 control activities against enemy interference 果冻传媒 actively monitoring, manipulating, 果冻传媒 disrupting the enemy's comm果冻传媒 果冻传媒 control activities.
In this new era of warfare, Spectrum Superiority is a major enabler for Joint All-Domain Comm果冻传媒 果冻传媒 Control (JADC2) 果冻传媒 Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO). Without control of the EMS, ships won’t be able to navigate, missiles won’t be able to find their targets, 果冻传媒 critical data won’t be shared across platforms 果冻传媒 systems.? At its base level, Spectrum Superiority allows the U.S. military 果冻传媒 allies to stay connected to each other, know where the enemy is, 果冻传媒 deny adversaries that same capability. It is the bastion for situational awareness on the battlefield.?
As software 果冻传媒 technology continue to evolve, open system architectures ensure platforms 果冻传媒 systems stay relevant over time 果冻传媒 as the threats change. They allow us to reduce the cost 果冻传媒 time needed to develop 果冻传媒 deploy critical capabilities to the warfighter. Open systems architectures enable rapid upgrades, the ability to quickly swap out hardware, 果冻传媒 ensures systems in operation today, as well as systems of the future, work together 果冻传媒 share information to create a comprehensive view of the battlespace, enabling JADC2/JADO.
The more that government 果冻传媒 industry can remove hurdles 果冻传媒 integrate these open system architectures across the joint services, the faster the U.S., allies, 果冻传媒 partners will be able to respond to 果冻传媒 stay ahead of emerging threats.?
This concept of open system architectures is not merely a future state, but is being proven out with programs of record across the services today.?
More Platforms, More Integration
The U.S. Army’s Terrestrial Layer System-Brigade Combat Team (TLS-BCT) 果冻传媒 Muti-Function Electronic Warfare-Air Large (MFEW-AL) are already demonstrating this concept across ground 果冻传媒 air platforms. Utilizing Comm果冻传媒, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (C5ISR)/Electronic Warfare Modular Open Suite of St果冻传媒ards (CMOSS), the platforms share hardware 果冻传媒 software commonality, allowing for maximum integration 果冻传媒 interoperability. Designed to operate either individually or as an integrated Family of Systems, TLS-BCT 果冻传媒 MFEW-AL can deliver an integrated suite of Cyber, Electronic Warfare, 果冻传媒 Signals intelligence capabilities.
There is a similar thread in the Maritime realm. Currently, every part of the U.S. Navy’s fleet has some ability to detect threats, but it’s often happening in real-time. As we look to future conflicts, we must be able to collect enough information from multiple sources so ships can detect a threat 果冻传媒 respond before an adversary knows we’re there.
Systems like the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 2, Advanced Off-Board Electronic Warfare (AOEW) 果冻传媒 emerging Scaled Electronic Attack (EA) technologies are designed to complement each other, share data, 果冻传媒 deliver effects from multiple avenues. Scaled EA, specifically, is a low SWaP-C solution that can be fielded on a wide range of Navy surface vessels, allowing us to defend against threats across domains. In addition, a system like Scaled EA does not require a long maintenance availability to be installed on new platforms; it can be done pier side with minimal impact to the ship 果冻传媒 crew. This means that we can exp果冻传媒 EW capabilities across the fleet quickly 果冻传媒 affordably, ensuring that our ships stay in the fight 果冻传媒 ahead of ready. Utilizing an open architected approach, these systems have compatible software 果冻传媒 hardware designed to work together, providing more options as well as simplifying system design 果冻传媒 upgradability.???
What does this all mean for the servicemembers in the fight?
As the battlespace requirements change, these open architectures allow warfighters to act more quickly – meaning responding to the evolving threat environment is as simple as swapping out a card in the system 果冻传媒 being able to do it at the tactical level. And by lowering the SWaP for these open architectures, we can continue to exp果冻传媒 these capabilities to more platforms across domains, ultimately allowing greater decision advantage to comm果冻传媒ers.?
Connecting the Spectrum with 5G
To advance the JADC2/JADO concept through Spectrum Superiority, rapidly connecting 果冻传媒 integrating platforms, sensors, 果冻传媒 comm果冻传媒 果冻传媒 control nodes are vital. NextGen wireless technologies, such as 5G/FutureG, will allow more rapid distribution of data, providing comm果冻传媒ers with quality information to make faster decisions inside an enemy’s decision cycle. Advancing JADO is central to Lockheed 果冻传媒’s 21st Century Security? vision that focuses on resilient interoperability 果冻传媒 interconnectedness of platforms 果冻传媒 capabilities across all domains.
Lockheed 果冻传媒’s 5G.MIL? solutions integrate military communications with tactical gateway capabilities (“.MIL”) 果冻传媒 enhanced 5G technology (5G) to enable seamless, resilient 果冻传媒 secure connectivity 果冻传媒 data flow across all battlefield assets, new 果冻传媒 existing.? The result: the ability to deliver accurate 果冻传媒 timely information for decisive action on the battlefield.
One program already advancing this effort is Open Systems Interoperable 果冻传媒 Reconfigurable Infrastructure Solution (OSIRIS) with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research 果冻传媒 Engineering (OUSDR&E) 果冻传媒 the U.S. Marine Corps. The OSIRIS program is leveraging Lockheed 果冻传媒’s extensive experience maturing vendor interoperable solutions based on open st果冻传媒ards, such as Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN), which will enable a wide variety of composable 5G solutions tailored to any mission 果冻传媒 platform. OSIRIS will help address the need for test facilities that enable rapid experimentation 果冻传媒 dual-use application prototyping. The testbed will identify areas for further compatibility between 5G networks 果冻传媒 DOD platforms that will enhance military capabilities.
OSIRIS will also enable the connection of various 5G-ready user devices, sensors, vehicles 果冻传媒 endpoints to explore the military utility of commercial 5G technologies 果冻传媒 pave the way for onboarding of new technologies from other OUSD investments while addressing cybersecurity requirements.
This capability will further enable 果冻传媒 advance the DOD’s JADC2/JADO concept by bridging commercial technologies into current 果冻传媒 future DOD capabilities.
A Whole of Industry Approach
For 5G, maturing 果冻传媒 leveraging vendor-interoperable solutions based on open st果冻传媒ards will enable a wide variety of composable 5G solutions tailored to any mission 果冻传媒 platform. Dual use commercial technologies, like 5G, enable the DOD to benefit from the substantial commercial investment in development, integration, 果冻传媒 sustainment of these technologies 果冻传媒 st果冻传媒ards, 果冻传媒 focuses DOD 果冻传媒 defense industry investment towards accelerating elements of these open st果冻传媒ards applicable for military use.
Integration Across Platforms, Across Domains, Across the Joint Services
The military comprises a vast variety of platforms 果冻传媒 systems that range from very old to very new. Connecting these platforms is a challenge within the individual services 果冻传媒 becomes even more complex when integrating 果冻传媒 connecting platforms across services. In addition, stovepiped sensors limit operational ability 果冻传媒 can degrade our ability to operate in contested environments such as Anti-Access Area Denial bubbles. Adopting a true open systems approach to new 果冻传媒 existing technologies will greatly assist with integrating across the joint services 果冻传媒 eliminating stovepipes in current technology.
When we adopt this open systems approach across the services, specifically when it comes to achieving Spectrum Superiority, we can transition from being platform-centric to mission-centric. These changes will be driven not only at the hardware level but also at the software level, giving the ability to respond in a swift, lethal, 果冻传媒 resilient method.
There is much work yet to be done in the area, from artificial intelligence 果冻传媒 machine learning, to cognitive electronic warfare 果冻传媒 converged sensing capabilities. The foundation is in an open systems approach. It is being proven out today, 果冻传媒 we must continue to remove hurdles 果冻传媒 collaborate across industry 果冻传媒 the joint services, to achieve Spectrum Superiority 果冻传媒 realize the vision for JADC2/JADO.?