Page 17 - ADT MARCH 2021 Online Magazine

digitally exchange information,” Major General
Fogg says.

Data Sharing is Key [ REPORT ]
Older weapon systems were not developed
with common interface standards, making
interoperability more challenging.
In 2019, all three U.S military service sec-
retaries signed a memorandum requiring
common standards of information sharing
across domains in future weapons systems.
For the past several years, each of the services
has developed, demonstrated and validated
common data standards through a cooperative
partnership with industry and academia. These
validated, shared standards enable a Modular
Open Systems Approach, (MOSA), which are
IAF a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge, experience, best practices to make systems as open and
enhance operational capabilities and interoperability. Thus, fur- standardised as possible to make it easier for
nishing a path to strengthen international relations amongst the machines to talk to other machines.
participatory countries. NATO militaries also have achieved a
high level of interoperability through decades of joint planning, The US Air Force is already pursuing it with
training and exercises. More recently, Alliance members have put platforms such as its next-generation bomber,
their interoperability into practice and developed it further during the B-21 Raider, while the US Army is using
joint operations and missions in the Balkans, the Mediterranean, these principles to modernise its ability to com-
Afghanistan, Libya and elsewhere. These operations have also municate among its manoeuvre units. Likewise,
enabled NATO’s partner countries to improve interoperability with the US Navy has seen great benefits to its sub-
the Alliance. Also, early this year, the 374th Airlift Wing of the U.S. marine force by employing such approaches.
supported Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers assigned "Victory in future conflict will in part be deter-
to the 1st Airborne Brigade in operation Airborne 22, the largest mined by our ability to rapidly share information
annual static-line personnel jump and cargo drop exercise between across domains and platforms," says Secretary
the U.S. Air Force and JGSDF. of the Air Force Heather Wilson. "Sharing
information from machine to machine requires
Airborne 22 demonstrated the U.S. Air Force and JGSDFs capability common standards."
to execute a large force insertion on a drop zone. It showcased the
combined capacity between USAF and JGSDF's ability to rapidly Poor mission interoperability at the tactical
deploy joint forces while emphasising the strong allied commitment edge can prevent the level of communication
to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. “This interoperability mission necessary between forces and hinder the
provided an excellent opportunity for the JGSDF to get all the air- mission outcome. “Interoperability is about
borne exercise they needed,” says Capt. Jordan Baab, 36th Airlift bringing information from various sources,
Squadron instructor pilot and Airborne 22 mission commander. It whether it’s interoperability with legacy sensor
also offered the 36th AS the chance to practice its forward-de- systems or effectors or information systems
ployed attack capabilities. between different force elements in a coalition,”
says Dr. Sam McLaughlin, Ph.D., MIETi. Over the
Challenges Exist past few years, U.S. governmental funding has
Over two decades have passed after the bloody Gulf War. Still been funnelled into infrastructure requirements
several projects are underway to solve certain interoperability to ensure platform and systems data interop-
problems associated with the Desert Storm. The biggest challenge erability. Now, the Department of Defense is
to sustainment interoperability is the ability to share data between focusing on research and development for
forces. "Coalition forces will need to adopt the use of a common machine learning and artificial intelligence
logistic planning tool (Logistics Functional Services (LOGFAS)), that advancements, which will lead to more solu-
will use the data in the Mission Partner Environment to generate tions that support a more comprehensive joint
a Recognised Logistic Picture. This information provides sus- forces interoperability model.
tainment situational awareness with graphically enabled displays
showing critical information items: friendly forces, enemy forces, Improved mission interoperability will con-
significant activities, war-fighting operational graphics, and control tinue to be a key way that militaries rise to the
measures. This complements common sustainment reporting and challenge and ensure smooth communication
uses national command and control (C2) sustainment systems to between domains and partner nations.

ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY March 2022 | 17