Battlefield Awareness and Data Dissemination

Program Description

The Battlefield Awareness and Data Dissemination (BADD) ACTD develops, installs, and evaluates an operational system that allows commanders to design their own information system; delivers to warfighters an accurate, timely, and consistent picture of the Joint/coalition battlefield; and provides access to key transmission mechanisms and worldwide data repositories. To achieve this goal, the BADD system will:

• expand the bandwidth by 100 to 1000 times for multimedia information delivery down to lower, mobile echelons (e.g., battalion);

• provide smart push and warrior pull via an information dissemination server (IDS) accessing multiple data sources to include national and theater intelligence, operational, and logistics information;

• provide information management technology to augment the Global Broadcast Service (GBS), the Defense Information System Network Leading Edge Services (DISN LES), and tactical networks to include data transport services (error recovery, levels of service, instrumentation, and diagnostics), information security, integrated data base query and retrieval (repository mediation, information brokering, filtering, profiling, storage management, and data linking), and tools for commanders to enforce an information policy;

• use the data accessed via the IDS to create a graphical depiction of the current situation which is consistent across Services and up and down echelon within each Service and which is linked to a variety of supporting information;

• allow the user to tailor his view of the battlespace by drilling down through the supporting information infrastructure to display and manipulate the underlying data using a BADD provided toolkit compatible with the GCCS Core Operating Environment (COE) or the LES environment;

• provide the necessary hardware and software to be added to a Warfighter's workstation (creating a Warfighter's Associate (WFA)) to allow him to receive, request, store, manipulate, and view integrated information distributed by the BADD system;

• provide a capability which minimizes life cycle cost (e.g., maximize the level of automation since human operators are expensive resources); and

• deliver a system which contains the safeguards necessary to operate in an active information warfare environment.

Concept of Operations and Technical Approach

To achieve BADD's objectives, five system segments, each based on existing products and prototypes, will be integrated: the IDS; user applications software and equipment (WFA); a wideband, low-cost broadcast mechanism (GBS or equivalent); a means for the warfighter to request specific information from the field using existing communications (Joint Tactical Internet); and the information sources and archives that the IDS accesses. The IDS stores data received from information sources including UAV and national imagery, GCCS operational data, and fusion and exploitation sources, such as from the ASAS, the Joint Maritime Combat Information System (JMCIS), the U.S. Air Force Combat Intelligence System (CIS), and the Common Ground Station (CGS). The WFA will interface with existing tactical workstations and have the necessary receive equipment, software, and hardware to filter and store broadcast data and then present it as a fuzed picture of enemy and friendly forces integrated with terrain, image, and video data. Dissemination throughout the battlefield will be accomplished inexpensively using a GBS system derived from commercial direct digital broadcast satellite technology. The Joint Tactical Internet will be created by integrating standard commercial network protocols and services on top of existing tactical communications systems. Warfighters will be able to request needed information using the Joint Tactical Internet and then receive it via direct broadcast.

The BADD ACTD program is comprised of three phases to accomplish desired program goals and objectives. The focus of and specific goals for each phase are as follows:

Phase I (1Q96-4Q97): The primary focus during Phase I will be on Ground Tactical Forces (U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army echelon Corps/MAGTF and below). Specific goals include:

• demonstrating and provide a leave behind capability for Task Force XXI participants, including at least 15 WFAs;

• connecting specific applications and information sources, including national and theater imagery and signals intelligence, Joint-STARS, Global Weather Data Base, logistics (e.g., Log Anchor Desk), selected Global Command and Control Systems (JMCIS, Joint Deployable Intelligence Support System (JDISS), and Intelink-S), video (commander's briefings, UAV), correlated product data bases (e.g., ASAS and Mission Control Segment (MCS)), and terrain and feature data;

• providing data transport services for smart pull using Trojan Spirit, Mobile Subscriber Equipment (MSE), Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS), Improved Data Modem (IDM), Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS), U.S. Marine radios, and DISN LES;

• creating a System High IDS supporting a smart push capability and providing limited user pull;

• creating a 2-D graphical depiction of the current situation with drill down to underlying data;

• providing reliable ATM based communications and multicast transport data protocols with GBS and tactical networks;

• disseminating current operational picture down to Battalion/U.S. Marine Recon Team; and

• creating CONUS Pilot Service in conjunction with GBS.

Phase II (4Q96-4Q98): Phase II will focus on integrated data dissemination management across all Services, orders of battle, and information sources; it will also add enhanced battlefield awareness applications. Specific goals during Phase II are:

• expansion of a set of data sources that provide information to the Joint/CINC level and below in the full spectrum of operational missions (peacekeeping, peacemaking, major regional conflict, etc.);

• creation of the 3-D graphical depiction of a consistent operational picture by real-time integration of all relevant data bases, identification of differences, and referral to a human decisionmaker for resolution (integration of information);

• expansion of drill down capability to allow creation of tailored views of the underlying data layers;

• use of repository brokers and mediators to enhance the information retrieval capability;

• support for additional GCCS and initial GCCS LES applications and information sources; and

• implementation of a distributed IDS architecture and OCONUS Pilot Service.

Phase III (3Q98-4Q00): Phase III will focus on extending capability to multiple broadcast channels and incorporating enhanced fusion and information integration applications for battlefield awareness. Specific goals during this phase are:

• creation of the consistent operational picture by real-time integration of relevant data bases, identification and automated resolution of differences (fusion management);

• resource management of multiple communication paths (both broadcast and reach-back); e.g., UAV Comm. Relay, multiple GBSs and transponders, and multiple injection sites;

• enhanced information retrieval via the addition of domain specific query decomposition; and

• creation of a multilevel secure IDS.

The Acquisition Strategy for each phase is as follows:

• Phase I: Exploit ongoing service digitization efforts (CECOM contracts and in-house efforts) to provide initial capability to ground tactical forces (U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps)

• Phases II and III: Utilize a competitively selected contractor for baseline system development, integration and demonstration; and utilize competitively selected and existing DARPA contractors for evolutionary enhancements and analysis throughout effort

Program Management

The Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Advanced Technology) will provide oversight. The JCS will provide recommendations through their participation in both the User Group and the Oversight Group. The DARPA Information Systems Office will manage the ACTD, provide the bulk of the funding, and oversee development and integration of required technology. The U.S. Atlantic Command (USACOM) will be the principal user, responsible for orchestrating and evaluating the demonstrations and pilot services. Working with selected Service units, USACOM will coordinate the required staff and military equipment for exercises and pilot services. On-site administrative support, as identified by USACOM (approximately 8 man-years), will be provided to USACOM and funded by DARPA. The ACTD management plan and associated MOAs will detail the specific extent of this support.

DARPA will provide for support of the residual BADD capability through FY00. The DARPA DISA Joint Program Office will be the principal agent for technology transition and O&M during the ACTD. The Operational Support Office (OSO) (transferring to the GBS PO when formed) will provide broadcast time using the OSO (or other GBS PO) provided up link facility.

The U.S. Army Communications and Electronics Command (CECOM) will provide technology from its Digital Battlefield Communications ATD, however, other sources of relevant technologies will be pursued and/or evaluated over the course of the ACTD. CECOM will also serve as the executive agent for DARPA for procurement and demonstration of BADD capability supporting ground forces and as DARPA's lead Service developer for Task Force XXI.

BADD milestones are shown in Figure 3-2.

Figure 3-2: BADD Schedule

BADD points of contact are listed below.

AT Staff	Service/Agency	User Sponsor
Mr. Troy Crites (703) 693-0459	Mr. Bob Douglass DARPA (703) 696-7443	CAPT Gary McKinley USACOM, J-32 (804) 322-5451

Master Plan Table of Contents