Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS)
Abstract
ABMS is the top modernization priority for the Department of the Air Force (DAF) and its primary contribution to provide decision superiority and meet the Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) requirements. JADC2 requires that individual military activities not simply be deconflicted, but be integrated - activities in one domain must enhance the effectiveness of those in other domains and compensate for vulnerabilities. ABMS will connect sensors, systems, and weapons across both the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Air Force. ABMS is not a platform or sensor, but instead will be the essential data network that connects and empowers current and future platforms to fight and win in the modern era as defined by the National Defense Strategy and Joint All-Domain Operations Department of Defense directives. Legacy and future sensors from a variety of programs and sources produce data that needs to be made available to those people and systems that need it most. Multi-level secure processing occurs on global distributed clouds, tactical edge nodes, infrastructure, platforms, and end user devices where operators interface with the data and applications at the required classification level. For information to flow, the network must be enabled by a combination of government and commercial connectivity pathways to move data to and through a suite of cloud and local edge-based applications that make sense of the environment and apply advanced algorithms aided by artificial intelligence and machine learning. Strategic, operational, and tactical operators use these applications to manage and direct the desired effects using machine-to-machine connections. On 24 Nov 2020, the DAF Rapid Capabilities Office (DAF RCO) became the ABMS Integrating Program Executive Office (PEO) in a deliberate transition to start acquiring enduring ABMS capability through focused acquisition efforts and investments in robust digital infrastructure. The DAF RCO will build on the DAF Chief Architect Office (CAO) efforts to mature technology across product lines previously identified as Open, Networked, Extendible (ONEs) and through Onramp demonstration activities. The DAF RCO will build the digital infrastructure and work in tight partnership across the DAF acquisition community to ensure DAF systems have seamless interoperability and compatibility to meet the JADC2 operational requirements. ABMS, as an acquisition effort managed by the DAF RCO, will pursue two parallel, symbiotic investment strategies under PE 0604003F: enduring digital infrastructure investments and Capability Releases (CRs) focused on closing kill-chains and delivering immediate operational capability to the warfighter. Instead of continuing to proliferate ONEs, DAF RCO will focus ABMS investments on six capabilities as part of digital infrastructure and CRs: 1. Secure Processing: The hardware and software for processing and storage through multi-level security globally and edge enabling a full range of military operations. 2. Connectivity: Maturation and integration of open software-defined radios and networks, government-owned waveform libraries, and wideband multi-function RF systems. This element also includes the integration and standards required to leverage advances in commercial technology such as Open Communications Standards (OCS), 5G networks, and connections through multi-orbit satellite communications. 3. Data Management: Cloud-based data libraries, data feeds, data wrappers, software-defined data management, and content routing to improve data discoverability and information sharing across the joint force for legacy and future platforms and programs. 4. Applications: Cloud-based applications to provide User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) capabilities that will position warfighters "on the loop” to provide robust and dynamic battle management, command and control (BMC2) functionality, improved timing, and enhanced decision advantage. 5. Sensor Integration: ABMS will develop government-owned standards and provide open and reusable capabilities, to ensure interoperability with the ABMS digital infrastructure for existing and future military systems. 6. Effects Integration: ABMS will develop government-owned standards to ensure the successful integration of DAF and Joint effects capabilities into the ABMS digital infrastructure for existing and future military systems. Capability Release #1 (Airborne Edge Node): Leveraging the enduring digital infrastructure investments in Secure Processing, Connectivity, and Data Management, ABMS Capability Release #1 will deliver to the warfighter the first, secure tactical edge node — leveraging government reference architecture solutions connecting 5th Gen Tactical Air fighter platforms through a KC-46 tanker to operational C2 nodes. This "Airborne Edge Node” will allow for secure, resilient communications between the F-22 and F-35 and will extend the sharing of situational awareness across the globe in near-real time through satellite communications to and from command and control nodes such as Air Operations Centers (AOC) and Common Mission Control Center (CMCC). In addition to serving the tactical customers (fighter aircraft), the KC-46 C2 node will also provide data and information to operational and strategic customers while providing improved strategic awareness to the KC-46 crew. CR#1 constitutes a first edge node on the ABMS network and provides the example for other platforms to connect. ABMS funding provides for program management support, operational concept development and demonstration, hardware development and integration, and software development and integration. The funding will also enable the limited transition of mature and ready capabilities to appropriate programs of record in synchronization with planned modernization activities. Previous categories of Digital Architecture, Standards, and Concepts and Architecture Experimentation and Evaluation cut across all Department of the Air Force programs and are not exclusive to a single program. Starting in FY22 those activities are re-aligned to a Department-wide budget independent of ABMS, PE 0604006F. This program element may include necessary civilian pay and National Guard/Reserve Duty expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver ABMS capability. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605831F. In FY20 3.770M and in FY21 0.900M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2022
- Source ID
- 640141_0604003F_4_3600_PB_2022
Related Documents
- Root: Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS)
- Child Accomplishment: Digital Infrastructure
- Child Accomplishment: Capability Releases
- Child Accomplishment: Digital Architecture, Standards, and Concepts
- Child Accomplishment: Architecture Experimentation and Evaluation
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