Bonding the Matrix — Air- and Ground-Based Command and Control
Based mainly on commercial technologies, military information systems are developing rapidly, offering capabilities considered science fiction only a decade ago. The winning combination of advanced sensors and high-precision weapons allow decision makers to influence modern battlespace through innovative methods. They dictate a rapid pace of events and unprecedented scale of devastation, leaving little room for error. Command and control are the essential matrix that bond these elements into an efficient military force.
An example is the Airborne Data Link developed by RAFAEL — a multi-channel voice and data system that seamlessly transfers voice, data, video over an ‘Internet in the sky’, interconnecting aircraft, sensors and ground platforms. Such secure fighter-to-fighter connectivity and reliable, air-to-air and air-to-ground communications improves in-flight mission management, enabling critical decision-making in real-time.
Equally important is the integration of command and control systems on the ground. RAFAEL is currently upgrading the Israeli Air Force’s command and control infrastructure with state-of-the-art Voice Over IP (VOIP) communications linking all command and control centers. The system provides access to various sensors and systems, processing the information and transmitting it back to the operating forces, supporting time-critical missions.
The system will be embedded into the ADCCS systems, which manages the operations situation picture (OSP). With the upgraded system, mission commanders and users will be able to communicate with aircraft or between themselves by a touch of a trackball or mouse directly from the OSP display or automatically patched-through from any communications system, including mobile phones. The system will also display and relay video streams received from sensors or airborne platforms.
Israel Aircraft Industries/MLM is offering the integration of the OSP, with additional data, resources, simulation and modeling provided by the IAF. Operational information systems, to create an integrated air battle management system and integrated common situation picture, provide critical decision-making tools at strategic level. At intermediate levels, the OSP view is integrated into the Twister multi-mission control consoles developed by IAI Malat, IAI/MLM and Ness. Twister can be used to manage missions of multiple aerial- and ground-based assets, such as UAVs and other manned and unmanned systems.
Providing effective information systems within the air force is a highly complex task; integrating systems of air and ground forces is even more challenging. Elbit Systems is facing up to this task by implementing its HELIC3OM system which links combat and assault helicopters through data communications, generating real-time tactical pictures and deriving situational awareness for individual platforms. The system links between helicopters flying in formation or separate teams and other airborne platforms, as well as ground forces, enhancing integration and joint operations capability.
The fast pace of modern battle demands maximum asset allocation and mission preparation flexibility while maintaining stringent safety procedures. The Israeli Air Force is using the VX-OMS Enterprise Resource Planning system at wing and squadron level, and has increased operational and combat efficiency by 125%, enabling units to generate up to three times more sorties with the same assets. The system implements battlefield doctrine and assists users to ‘manage the unexpected’ within the complex environments that are frequently encountered during combat and emergency operations.
As significant parts of 21st century air warfare missions rely on information generated aboard the aircraft, received from external sources or transmitted to others, monitoring and analyzing this information is a significant factor for mission debriefing. Analog flight data recorders or gun cameras are now useless for such tasks, and new digital recording systems linked to the aircraft databus are tapping this critical information.
One such is the squadron information management network (SIM NET) developed by Israel’s RADA. It incorporates Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) 3D graphics, debriefing via recreation of multiple aircraft performing air-to-air missions and air-to-ground missions for analysis of operational tactics and safety events. —Tamir Eshel
