To show how new technology could help, we have now demonstrated a suite of command and mission planning software that integrates directly with physical military assets, both BAE Systems-built and those of third parties. It can even generate mission plans and transfer these directly to autonomous vehicles, dynamically re-planning the mission when new information is received.
Dave, Technology Director for Collaboration, describes our approach: “There are lots of software-based solutions on the market to help achieve multi-domain integration, but we think we’re one of the first to show a system that’s truly integrated across both the command and mission planning software, and the physical assets themselves. We’ve flown Uncrewed Air Vehicles (UAVs) that have received mission plans directly from a desk-based mission planner, without manual intervention. That same desk-based mission planner is able to absorb reconnaissance data back from the UAVs to further inform the commander, and allow them to take action and update mission objectives.”
Integrated recce and strike across domains
At the heart of this system is a common open infrastructure, ensuring data from all the different assets across the domains is fused and synthesised to have the best holistic situational awareness.
1
Intelligence from multiple sources suggests to ‘Blue Force’ commander that enemies have hidden a hypersonic missile close to the border.
2
Commander reviews an Electromagnetic scan of the area, showing potential enemy communications and radar signals.
3a
Commander identifies potential location for hypersonic missile. Tasks UAVs to carry out reconnaissance for those geographic areas.
3b
Once commander has tasked the area, our MIDAS mission planner generates the optimal route, avoiding suspected air defences in the area. This route will be updated dynamically if new threats are detected.
4
Reconnaissance UAV spots suspected target, so flags location to commander and shares image.
5
Commander confirms target and gives permission to prosecute.
6
Battle Damage Assessment shows targethas been destroyed. UAVs continue topatrol area.
There are lots of software-based solutions on the market to help achieve multi-domain integration, but we think we’re one of the first to show a system that’s truly integrated across both the command and mission planning software, and the physical assets themselves.Dave, Technology Director for Collaboration
At the heart of this system is a common open infrastructure, ensuring data from all the different assets across the domains is fused and synthesised to have the best holistic situational awareness. The aim being to equip a commander with an ability to make faster, coordinated and better informed decisions, with knowledge of available resources and assets. The architecture is by design modular and open, making it easier to integrate third-party products, such as Sentinel’s LONGREACH 70.
The mission we’ve demonstrated was a blend of physical and synthetic, showing that we can support training across multiple locations. Although the UAVs were physically flying in an airfield at Warton, they were seeking synthetic targets that appeared real to their on board mission software. This provided a realistic experience to the people taking part in the demonstration, as well as testing the ability of mission planning software to react when exposed to new threats.
Dave set out our vision: “BAE Systems is one of the few companies that builds platforms in every domain from the seabed to space, so we know how hard it can be to integrate and share data across all these domains. This background knowledge helped us demonstrate multi-domain operations in a realistic scenario, integrating planning software, a digital backbone and the physical products themselves. We’re now eager to work with our customers and show this working within their own product systems.”