The Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System is growing from an alternative to JSTARS to a multi-domain mega-network to connect all four services in future wars. Is this a revolution or overreach?
Next month, the Air Force will start rapid-fire field tests of new network tech, including a long-delayed secure datalink between its two stealth fighters.
The Network Tactical Common Data Link system enables secure comms and ISR for carrier strike groups and their air and naval assets.
"A lot of the challenges we face in space are big data problems," says Gen. John Raymond, who is dual-hatted as commander of Space Command and Air Force Space Command.
"Gen. Raymond has asked me, in particular, to make sure that we are incorporating all aspects of space warfighting ... into our curriculum."
The ultimate goal of ABMS, Air Force acquisition czar Will Roper enthused, is to "build a family of systems" and "create something that feels like the Internet of Things for the Air Force."
"But make no mistake…if in fact a war starts or extends into space, everyone loses," Air Force Chief of Staff David Goldfein told the AFA 2019 conference. "I don’t see any winners.”
Do more with less: streamline workflows, reduce duplication, invest upfront to save long-term.
The threat of long-range missile launchers in the Russian enclave is driving the Air Force to develop new tactics for multi-domain attack and dispersed defense.
The military will use Silicon Valley's approach to quickly field imperfect products, then rapidly improve them based on user feedback.
Future soldiers will need to download huge amounts of intelligence data -- then disconnect and go dark, like a submarine diving underwater to hunt its prey.
The test was a big achievement for two much-criticized programs: the Joint Strike Fighter and the Army's IBCS network -- and for the services' struggle to work better together in a future war.
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Even with Australia, one of our closest allies, it can be hard to share data. And the Army's future war plans require seamless network coordination with the other US services and foreign allies.
“The SOF guys are less risk averse than conventional ground forces, so they’re more apt to push the limit,” said Bob Work, father of the AI-driven Third Offset Strategy. “Their commanders also have embraced AI and autonomous ops.... so I think all the conditions are set for SOF to lead the way in the more direct combat applications of AI and autonomy.”
“All the services understand the need to move to Multi-Domain Operations,” Lt. Gen. Wesley said. “Second, we all agree that MDC2 [Multi-Domain Command & Control] is the most important joint problem that we have to solve. After that, the specifics of how you conduct MDO – that’s where the variance is that we’ve got to converge on.”
"AFWIC was told to inform and try to shape the '20 POM," Fantini told reporters, but that 2020-2024 budget plan is due out in February and was already largely locked down. "But the '21 POM," he said, it's "game on."