ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP

Information superiority is one of the top goals of space operations—and a key driver of JADC2. Achieving dominance requires bringing the most advanced data capabilities to the mission quickly so analysts can use the best tools to turn data into intelligence for national security analysts, decision makers, and warfighters. 

The state of the art for space technologies—both on the ground and above the earth—advances rapidly. But often, national security organizations encounter challenges in bringing these capabilities to the fight, from sensor to ground. Proprietary data platforms, interfaces, and messaging protocols slow their ability to adapt for new missions and technologies. 

Increasingly, information superiority requires open data platforms. Open architectures remove barriers that challenge innovation by making both physical and virtual platforms more modular. This, in turn, makes it easier to add and upgrade components—keeping pace with the state of the art. To take advantage of this, many national security organizations are moving towards adopting open approaches across enterprise platforms to improve their speed of decision making. 

Open data platforms promote loose coupling (where components rely on each other as little as possible) and modularization (such as containers and microservices). This approach also allows developers and analysts to use combinations of open-source software and commercial and government off-the-shelf products. Adding flexibility enables quick, cost-effective adaptation to changing mission needs.

Open frameworks also support interoperability, central to the vision of JADC2. Government-owned, open application programming interfaces (API) enable plug-and-play connectivity. In addition, open APIs reduce vendor lock-in, simplifying network integration. 

Achieving the benefits of open data platforms relies on a breadth of expertise, including mission understanding, development and integration expertise, and analytical user knowledge. ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓAPP provides this blend of experience to our clients, helping them exploit the latest innovations while controlling their technical baseline.

Space-based platforms collect data continually. This data needs to get to warfighters and decision makers in time to fulfill their mission. In the contested space environment, the communication channels that deliver information may be denied or jammed, slowing or even preventing data from being processed, exploited, and disseminated. 

Moving capabilities to the edge makes the data pipeline more robust in the face of disruption or denial. New on-board capabilities such as AI-powered analytics could empower these systems to respond to attacks in real time—allowing systems to make decisions that deliver data to warfighters when it is needed most.