An airborne networking team
here is working to connect low-observable aircraft such as the
F-22, F-35 and B-2 with each other, and with the rest of the
force.
These aircraft rely on a number of technological
advantages to defeat adversaries and accomplish their missions.
Not the least of those advantages is stealth. Unfortunately,
stealth is negated the moment voice communication becomes
necessary.
"These aircraft are designed specifically to
penetrate anti-access areas," said Mike Therrien, chief of
Electronic Systems Center's Airborne Networking Division within
the 653rd Electronic Systems Group. "But if I use voice in that
area, then why do I have stealth? As soon as I talk, I give
myself away."
Managers of each of these platforms
recognized the need to develop secure data-linking technology
that would help overcome this problem, but the Defense
Department wants to ensure a more unified approach. That's where
the multi-function advanced data link, known as MADL, comes in.
In November 2008, The Office of the Undersecretary of
Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics directed the
Air Force and Navy to integrate MADL among all three platforms.
"The way it was going to work was the F-35 would develop the
waveform, turn it over to the F-22; they'd integrate it, and
then turn it over to the B-2 and they'd integrate it," said Kim
Kendall, MADL Program Manager.
Since the Office of the
Secretary of Defense and Air Combat Command realized this
approach left too much to chance, they turned to ESC, which has
developed an enterprise approach.
"It's not just the
word enterprise, but a genuine enterprise," Ms. Kendall said.
"ACC tells us what they want, and we work with the platform
managers to make it happen."
One of the first steps was
to conduct an independent study of the MADL waveform being
developed by the F-35 program office, to make sure it had the
underlying characteristics all three platforms would need. Those
qualities include throughput, latency, frequency-hopping and
anti-jamming capability.
ESC put together a team of
specialists from MIT's Lincoln Laboratory and MITRE to conduct
the intensive, two-month effort, which concluded with briefings
to OSD in March. The result was validation of the existing
waveform.
With that information in hand, OSD has made
MADL a formal program and directed ESC to stand up a program
office. ESC is now working with the three platform teams and
others to fully define requirements, said Ms. Kendall.
"MADL was built to be F-35-centric, but we're now looking at all
of ACC's requirements, asking: what does it really take to fight
in an anti-access environment?" she said.
Emphasizing
the differences that result from the platform's unique designs,
sensors and missions - and the impact each of those has on the
way the aircraft can send and receive messages - Ms. Kendall
said, "We can't just take it off the F-35 and plop it on the
F-22, for instance."
The waveform will have to be
engineered to meet different needs of specific platforms and
then be rendered backwards-compatible with the others in an
almost constant evolutionary cycle.
"Configuration
management is going to be a real challenge," Ms. Kendall said.
"We need to keep the waveform and messages as interoperable as
we can between all three platforms."
One step the ESC
program office has already taken is to sponsor weekly
teleconferences, at the 0-6 level, with all stakeholders,
getting issues on the table so solutions can be worked.
This teaming has so far been very successful, with each member
demonstrating a real commitment to the enterprise. These same
stakeholders have also presented information to OSD together,
which Pentagon leaders appreciate.
"That allows us to
present a consolidated, coherent story," Ms. Kendall said.
Going forward, the team will develop a testing tool, using
modeling and simulation, to validate the specifications for
MADL. Then, still using modeling and simulation, they'll
actually conduct network-centric targeting scenarios, to
determine if MADL really does permit the platforms to exchange
data in a way that makes mission accomplishment easier, faster,
safer and more efficient - for instance, eliminating
redundancies, such as two platforms using weapons on the same
target.
"That's where we'll determine the ultimate
effectiveness and utility of MADL," Ms. Kendall said.