Boeing

Boeing conducted the latest in a series of successful tests and demonstrations Wednesday as the company develops a prototype future battle management systems for joint military commanders. These tests focus on reducing the risk of fielding these complex, network-centric systems.

The latest test, conducted in Rosslyn, Va., centered on demonstrating the rapid response times needed in a distributed network to support time critical targeting for future joint and coalition military operations.

Commanders will use the future battle management system to acquire accurate and timely information to make time-critical decisions. This system integrates theater-wide and global sensors with a variety of weapons systems to maximize the war fighter's effectiveness. Implementing this system requires state of the art communications and computing to allow commanders to use joint forces to shape and respond to emerging combat situations rapidly and effectively.

Prototype operator displays merge data from the network into 3-D graphics to enable the operators to simultaneously locate, identify and plan strike missions for multiple ground and air targets, including tanks, aircraft and cruise missiles in near real time.

"Wednesday's successful test is additional proof that the Boeing team is on track developing a transformational system that will meet future Air Force requirements," said Rick Baily, Boeing Phantom Works IDeAS vice president and deputy general manager. "We're demonstrating capabilities that will make a network enabled battle management system a reality."

These system tests also reduce development risks associated with future integrated battle management systems through extensive use of software already owned by the government or available commercially.

The risk reduction event further refined the System of Systems Common Operating Environment or SoSCOE, and demonstrated its suitability for use in future joint integrated battle management system architectures. The tests also provided system performance measures on data throughput and latency for use in complementary architecture simulation models.

SoSCOE is a Boeing-developed service-based computer architecture, which features an infrastructure of clearly defined interfaces, enabling information management, interoperability and integration of new and existing government software.

Boeing Phantom Works has assembled a team of industry leaders to develop this system. The Boeing-led team includes BAE SYSTEMS, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman. The Boeing solution includes key features important to next generation joint battle management systems and is validated through a series of risk reduction events begun in 2003.