BAE demonstrates new DBM software

BAE Systems is developing a semi-autonomous, on-board software to enhance shared situational awareness between operators and pilots during air-to-air and air-to-ground combat operations.

The new approach has been taken by the company to overcome the fact that in the current battlespace, combat missions are a manual, coordinated effort by operators and pilots using a combination of manned and unmanned vehicles, sensors, and electronic warfare systems that all rely on high-availability networks such as satellite communications and tactical data links. When those networks are interrupted, it leaves warfighters with the inability to effectively communicate and avoid threats during their missions.

The new Distributed Battle Management (DBM) software provides timely and relevant information to operators and pilots when communication is not assured, so they can better manage and control combat in contested environments.

The automated, on-board software provides users with shared situational understanding, interchangeable roles, coordinated objectives for teams of manned and unmanned aerial vehicles in communications denied environments, and compressed, prioritised data transfer when communications are available.

Capabilities were demonstrated during a flight test series with DARPA in association with the US Air Force Research Laboratory, including a mix of live and simulation runs and simulation-only runs.

David Hiltz, director of the planning and control technologies directorate at BAE Systems, said: ‘The lack of automated decision aids severely hinders operators and pilots from making critical decisions with limited communications so they can adapt to combat scenarios.

‘Our DBM software delivers these automated decision aids that provide mission execution options and the ability to maintain a consistent mission representation and status across all platforms, which allows warfighters to make better, faster combat decisions to ensure mission safety and completion.’