July 10, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Other Defence

Here’s the No. 1 rule for US Air Force’s new advanced battle management system

LE BOURGET, France, and WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force has started work on a data architecture for its Advanced Battle Management System, the family of platforms that will eventually replace the E-8C JSTARS surveillance planes.

But the “biblical” rule for the program, according to the service's acquisition executive Will Roper, is that “we don't start talking platforms until the end,” he told Defense News at the Paris Air Show in June.

“It is so easy to start talking about satellites and airplanes and forget what ABMS is going to have to uniquely champion, which is the data architecture that will connect them,” Roper explained.

“I'm actually glad we don't have big money this year because we can't go build a drone or a satellite, so we've got to focus on the part that's less sexy, which is that data architecture,” he said. “We're going to have to do software development at multiple levels of classification and do it securely. All of those are things that are hard to get people energized about, but they're going to be the make-or-break [undertakings] for this program.”

Some initial work has begun on identifying the requirements for ABMS data architecture. The service in March named Preston Dunlap, a national security analysis executive at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, as the program's “chief architect.” Dunlap will be responsible for developing the requirements for ABMS and ensuring they are met throughout the menu of systems that will comprise it.

The Air Force Warfighter Integration Center, or AFWIC — the service's planning cell for future technologies and concepts of operation — provided feedback to Dunlap about how ABMS should work, Roper said.

The Air Force is still deliberating what ABMS will look like in its final form, although officials have said it will include a mix of traditional manned aircraft, drones, space-based technologies and data links.

The effort was devised as an alternative to a replacement for the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System.

While the service first considered a traditional recapitalization program where it would buy new JSTARS aircraft equipped with more sophisticated radars, leaders ultimately backed the more ambitious ABMS proposal, believing it to be a more survivable capability.

But defense companies are hungry for more information about the platforms that will comprise ABMS, seeing the opportunity to develop new systems or upgrade legacy ones as a major potential moneymaker.

Once the service has defined an ABMS data architecture — which Roper believes will occur before the fiscal 2021 budget is released — it will need to form requirements for the data that will run through and populate it as well as the artificial intelligence that automatically sorts important information and passes it to users.

“Maybe one sensor needs to be able to fill a gap that others are creating,” he said. “We're going to have to look at requirements at a systems level and tell satellites that you need to be able to provide this level of data at this refresh rate. UAVs, you need to be able to do this rate and so on and so forth. Once we do that, then we'll be in the traditional part of the acquisition, which will be building those satellites, building those UAVs.”

The Air Force intends to conduct yearly demonstrations throughout this process, the first of which will involve “ad hoc mesh networking,” which will allow platforms to automatically begin working together and sharing information without human interference. By FY21, full-scale prototyping could start, he said.

In the commercial sector, where devices can be seamlessly linked and monitored over the internet, this concept is known as the internet of things. But that construct — where companies build technologies from the get-go with open software — is difficult to replicate in the defense world, where firms must meet strict security standards and are protective of sharing intellectual property that could give competitors an edge.

“Openness in the internet of things makes sense because you can monetize the data,” Roper said. “That's not going to exist for us, so we're going to have to have a contracting incentive that replicates it. The best theory we have right now is some kind of royalty scheme that the more open you are and the more adaptation we do on top of your system, the more you benefit from it.”

The service wants to hold a series of industry days to see whether such a construct would be appealing to defense companies, and how to structure it so that it will be fair and profitable. One unanswered is how to incentivize and compensate defense firms that build in new software capability.

“If you create the system that allows us to put 100 apps on top of it, you benefit differently than if we can only put one. But the details are going to be difficult because maybe that one app is super important,” Roper said.

“But if we can't replicate profit and cash flow on which their quarterlies depend, then they're going to have to go back to the old model of saying they are for open [architecture] but secretly giving you closed.”

https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/paris-air-show/2019/07/09/rule-no1-for-air-forces-new-advanced-battle-management-system-we-dont-start-talking-platforms-until-the-end/

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September 13, 2019 | International, Naval

Babcock Team 31 selected as preferred bidder for UK Type 31 frigate programme
September 12, 2019 - Babcock Team 31 has been selected by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) as the preferred bidder to deliver its new warships. Led by Babcock, the Aerospace and Defence company, and in partnership with the Thales Group, the T31 general purpose frigate programme will provide the UK Government with a fleet of five ships, at an average production cost of £250 million per ship. Following a comprehensive competitive process, Arrowhead 140, a capable, adaptable and technology-enabled global frigate will be the UK Royal Navy's newest class of warships, with the first ship scheduled for launch in 2023. At its height the programme will maximise a workforce of around 1250 highly- skilled roles in multiple locations throughout the UK, with around 150 new technical apprenticeships likely to be developed. The work is expected to support an additional 1250 roles within the wider UK supply chain. With Babcock's Rosyth facility as the central integration site, the solution provides value for money and squarely supports the principles of the National Shipbuilding Strategy. It builds on the knowledge and expertise developed during the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier modular build programme. The announcement follows a competitive design phase where Babcock Team 31 was chosen alongside two other consortia to respond to the UK MOD's requirements. Work on the fleet of five ships will begin immediately following formal contract award later this financial year, with detailed design work to start now and manufacture commencing in 2021 and concluding in 2027. Archie Bethel, CEO Babcock said: “It has been a tough competition and we are absolutely delighted that Arrowhead 140 has been recognised as offering the best design, build and delivery solution for the UK's Royal Navy Type 31 frigates. “Driven by innovation and backed by experience and heritage, Arrowhead 140 is a modern warship that will meet the maritime threats of today and tomorrow, with British ingenuity and engineering at its core. It provides a flexible, adaptable platform that delivers value for money and supports the UK's National Shipbuilding Strategy.” Arrowhead 140 will offer the Royal Navy a new class of ship with a proven ability to deliver a range of peacekeeping, humanitarian and warfighting capabilities whilst offering communities and supply chains throughout the UK a wide range of economic and employment opportunities. A key element of the Type31 programme is to supply a design with the potential to secure a range of export orders thereby supporting the UK economy and UK jobs. Arrowhead 140 will offer export customers an unrivalled blend of price, capability and flexibility backed by the Royal Navy's world-class experience and Babcock looks forward to working closely with DIT and MOD in this regard. Arrowhead 140 is a multi-role frigate equipping today's mariner with real-time data to support immediate and complex decision-making. The frigate is engineered to minimise through-life costs whilst delivering a truly leading-edge ship, featuring an established, proven and exportable combat management system provided by Thales. Victor Chavez, Chief Executive of Thales in the UK said: “Thales is delighted to be part of the successful Team 31 working with Babcock and has been at the forefront of innovation with the Royal Navy for over 100 years. “With the announcement today that Arrowhead 140 has been selected as the preferred bidder for the new Type 31e frigate, the Royal Navy will join the global community of 26 navies utilising the Thales Tacticos combat management system. Thales already provides the eyes and ears of the Royal Navy and will now provide the digital heart of the UK's next generation frigates.” Babcock will now enter a period of detailed discussions with the MOD and supply chain prior to formal contract award expected later this year. View source version on Babcock: https://www.babcockinternational.com/news/babcock-team-31-selected-as-preferred-bidder-for-uk-type-31-frigate-programme/ https://www.epicos.com/article/481187/babcock-team-31-selected-preferred-bidder-uk-type-31-frigate-programme
January 16, 2023 | International, C4ISR

Raytheon preparing for more radar milestones after first at-sea test
The SPY-6 radar performed well in its first-ever at-sea trials last month. More tests are coming this year, as the company looks to build on its successes.
June 2, 2020 | International, Aerospace

Aéronautique et spatial : dans un contexte d’incertitude, le militaire s’en sort mieux
Par Hélène Lerivrain Alors que la filière aéronautique et spatiale est fortement impactée par la crise, l'activité militaire semble avoir été moins touchée par une annulation ou un report des commandes. En témoignent plusieurs acteurs régionaux. Des commandes ont d'ailleurs été honorées en plein confinement. Un Rafale, assemblé à Mérignac (Gironde), a été livré aux Indiens en avril. Ce qui fait très mal au secteur aéronautique et spatial aujourd'hui, c'est l'érosion du carnet de commandes. Safran Helicopter Engines, dont le siège est situé à Bordes dans les Pyrénées-Atlantiques, a ainsi dû faire face à la baisse brutale de l'activité de ses clients et de ses fournisseurs, avec plus de 10 % d'annulations de commandes sur l'année 2020. Il s'agit d'un exemple parmi d'autres. De très nombreuses entreprises de la filière sont touchées, même si certaines s'en sortent mieux que d'autres. "Arianegroup est dans une situation difficile mais moins que ses actionnaires Airbus et Safran. Il faut qu'Ariane 6 soit livrée, donc le travail continue, mais notre chance, c'est surtout que 40 % du chiffre d'affaires du groupe dépend de la stratégie militaire, précisément du missile M51 dont l'activité a été maintenue. La direction générale de l'armement (DGA) continue à nous solliciter pour qu'il n'y ait pas de retard dans les livraisons", explique Philippe Géry, délégué syndical central CFE- CGC d'ArianeGroup. Même discours du côté de chez Potez Aéronautique, spécialiste de la fabrication d'éléments d'aérostructures dans les Landes : "Si l'activité composites a été touchée par la crise, nous n'avons pas vécu d'érosion sur la partie militaire qui représente entre 40 et 45 % de notre chiffre d'affaires", précise Antoine Potez, directeur général de Potez Aéronautique qui livre notamment les empennages de l'E-2D, un avion de surveillance aérienne et de commandement aéroporté. En revanche, pas de commentaire sur l'activité réalisée pour Dassault Aviation. Le groupe lui-même ne communique pas à ce stade : "Concernant le plan de charge, il est encore trop tôt", précisait fin mai le groupe implanté à Mérignac où travaillent 1.700 personnes. En attendant, quoiqu'il arrive, la production a repris sur le site de la métropole bordelaise en particulier pour pouvoir livrer les trois Rafales commandés par les Indiens et ainsi éviter toute pénalité de retard. Quinze appareils doivent, en tout, être livrés cette année. La production s'est également poursuivie sur les Falcon 2000, 7X et 8X pour donner de la charge au site de Little Rock dans l'Arkansas aux Etats-Unis, spécialisé dans la finition, la peinture et l'intérieur. +20 % de temps de production https://objectifaquitaine.latribune.fr/business/2020-06-02/aeronautique-et-spatial-dans-un-contexte-d-incertitude-le-militaire-s-en-sort-mieux-848990.html

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Here’s the No. 1 rule for US Air Force’s new advanced battle management system

On the same subject

Raytheon preparing for more radar milestones after first at-sea test The SPY-6 radar performed well in its first-ever at-sea trials last month. More tests are coming this year, as the company looks to build on its successes.

Raytheon preparing for more radar milestones after first at-sea test
The SPY-6 radar performed well in its first-ever at-sea trials last month. More tests are coming this year, as the company looks to build on its successes.