Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS)

Abstract

ABMS is the PE funding architecture and systems engineering (ASE), digital infrastructure, software and applications, and aerial networking for the DAF's primary contribution to the Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) warfighting concept, which the DAF formally refers to as the DAF BATTLE NETWORK. The DAF Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communication, and Battle Management (DAF PEO C3BM) has the lead role in battle management and Command and Control (C2) capabilities for the DAF. This entails not only directing technical integration throughout the DAF but also holding acquisition authorities to develop and implement organic materiel solutions. These solutions aim to establish resilient and widely distributable command and control capabilities within the DAF BATTLE NETWORK. The ABMS PE portfolio funds the specific programs over which the DAF PEO C3BM exercises direct oversight in terms of cost, schedule, and performance. This encompasses both the management of these programs and the necessary architectural and systems engineering efforts to ensure effective technical coordination across the broader DAF infrastructure. Additionally, DAF PEO C3BM has identified an initial array of approximately 50 core programs spanning various PEOs, whose organizations collectively form the C3BM Enterprise. These programs represent an evolving collection of systems that, when integrated together, are pivotal in contributing to the development of the DAF BATTLE NETWORK. Collaborating closely with the PEOs overseeing these core programs, DAF PEO C3BM will orchestrate technical integration of the DAF BATTLE NETWORK. This integration is essential to achieve the requisite operational decision advantage crucial for the triumph of the USAF, USSF, joint, and coalition forces in the face of evolving challenges. These inter-PEO initiatives encompass a spectrum of activities, such as technical and programmatic cooperation, comprehensive reporting, and seamless integration. With authority over technical architectures spanning the C3BM enterprise, DAF PEO C3BM will deliver C2 capabilities. To provide a "best of breed” capability across the DAF and facilitate accelerated delivery of the DAF BATTLE NETWORK, DAF PEO C3BM has aligned activities within the ABMS PE portfolio with four major thrust areas: Thrust Area 1 - "Architecture and Systems Engineering (ASE)” will 1) conduct Digital Engineering to support technical development activities, 2) conduct mission domain architecture development and analysis and perform enterprise integration through domain-specific Mission Integration Teams (MITs), 3) leverage an Operational Response Team (ORT) to facilitate quick reaction prototyping and experimentation in response to warfighter-led efforts and new relevant technologies. The culmination of these activities will entail the identification, capture, refinement, and formalization of capability gaps, requirements, standards, and interface specifications, as well as potentially novel technologies, collectively paving the way for a blueprint to successfully deliver an all-encompassing integrated DAF BATTLE NETWORK architecture that informs execution of the following 3 thrust areas listed below. Thrust Area 2: "C3BM Digital Infrastructure (DI)" leverages the analysis, technical specifications and associated standards/formats produced by ASE to deliver a suite of fixed and deployable digital infrastructure solutions to enable global C2 and Battle Management (BM). To accomplish this, the following tasks are performed: 1) The Enterprise Systems Engineering Team (ESET) manages the ABMS Consortium to define the technical implementation of network architectures, style guides and standards that will facilitate integration of the larger DAF BATTLE NETWORK with ABMS (and vice versa); 2) build out of the physical DI Processing Nodes and DI Network (Software Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN), Tactical and Enterprise Cross Domain Solutions (CDS), and other similar requirements) that will enable the operational use of data and software to perform modern C2 functions at scale. DI activities include the Distributed Battle Management Node (DBMN), and support for DAF enterprise solutions; and 3) the ABMS Battle Lab to allow warfighters direct interaction with ABMS software development teams and prototypes in development, speeding up the feedback loop and product maturity. Thrust Area 3: "C3BM Software and Applications" provides a suite of battle management command and control (BMC2) applications and tools, conducted via two categories of activity. 1) Cloud-Based Command and Control (CBC2) is a suite of BMC2 applications and microservices in development for NORAD and USNORTHCOM & PACAF. CBC2 efforts include line of effort (LOE) #1 for a SW Integrator, LOE #2 for Agile Software Development at scale with an Integrated Digital Environment (IDE) for Model-based systems engineering (MBSE), and LOE #3 for Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) software pipelines, platform, data ingest, fusion, transport, storage, and access. CBC2 depends on the fixed DI activities of Thrust Area #2 and expects to begin scaling to support additional combatant commanders in FY24. 2) Distributed Battle Management Applications (DBMA) will continue development and extension of CBC2 functionality to other DAF BATTLE NETWORK entities (e.g. the Tactical Operations Center Family of Systems, or TOC FoS) in line with Air Combat Command's (ACC) Common BMC2 Interface (CBI) concept. Integral to the C3BM Software and Applications Thrust Area is the imperative to seamlessly align and integrate with various efforts, including multiple DoD & DAF software factories, centers of excellence dedicated to artificial intelligence and machine learning, and the DAF data fabric. Thrust Area 4: "C3BM Aerial Networking" will develop key technologies for the "final leg” connection of C3BM DI and Software/Applications to DAF platforms. Aerial Networking activities include: 1) the ongoing work for Capability Release #1 (CR #1) which is the first prototype effort for C3BM Aerial Networking to inform both future design and fielding decisions for other platforms and C2 functions to connect to C3BM DI. CR #1 includes platform integration and onboard tactical edge node capabilities for secure compute, and storage to host mission applications that increase aircrew situational awareness. 2) Following CR #1 is Phalanx Griffon (PG), a strategic aerial networks roadmap and acquisition strategy that will be codified in FY24, to extend C3BM aerial networking capabilities to tactically relevant aircraft. Phalanx Griffon will include continued development and maturation of multi-function processors, multi-function arrays, edge node hardware and software to host mission applications, and platform integration options to ease implementation and scaling. To ensure delivery of projects in each Thrust Area, and to ensure alignment of the broader DAF from a battle management perspective, ABMS PE funding provides for program management support, operational concept development in collaboration with the ABMS Cross-Functional Team, and portfolio integration to orchestrate delivery of the DAF BATTLE NETWORK. Investments in the ABMS portfolio of programs aligns USAF investment with USSF investment (e.g., Space Command and Control (C2) Program Element PE (1208248SF) and the MeshOne-T PE (1206760SF)) to eliminate duplication of effort while optimizing capability delivery to create the DAF BATTLE NETWORK deliverable. ABMS DI aligns with CAIS PE (0207431F) to provide a consistent set of capabilities, services and customer experience across all classification levels, and meets DAF requirements while ensuring compliance with Director of National Intelligence (DNI) requirements and minimizing duplication of effort. The total cost of the ABMS Capability Release #1: Airborne Edge Node Rapid Prototyping Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is 155.0 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The CR1 AEN RP program is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. The total cost of the Distributable Battle Management Node (DBMN) Phase II Tactical Operations Center-Light Rapid Prototyping Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is 201.1 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The DBMN Phase 2 TOC-L RP program is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. The total cost of the Deployable Digital Infrastructure Rapid Prototyping Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is 94.8 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The DDI RP program is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. The total cost of the Digital Infrastructure Network Major Release #1 Rapid Prototyping Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is 287.3 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The DI MR#1 RP program is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. The total cost of the Software Defined Wide Area Network Rapid Prototyping Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is 145.9 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The SD-WAN RP program is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. 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 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In PY 0.000M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in CY 4.292M is forecasted 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.

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Document Type: Project
Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
Source ID: 640141_0604003F_4_3600_PB_2025

Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS)

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