USAF completes another ABMS experiment

The second Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) On-Ramp Experiment for the USAF was completed on 3 September with the backing of US Space Command, Strategic Command and Northern Command.

Initial field tests of an experimental ABMS system in December 2019 were deemed a success.

At some military sites, the second experiment (called ABMS On-Ramp 2) simulated an attack on US national infrastructure.

'Future battlefields will be characterized by information saturation. One of the key objectives of this onramp was to present a dizzying array of information for participants to synthesize, just like they would see in a real operation,' said Dr Will Roper, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics.

Based on the concept of the internet of things, ABMS links USAF computers, sensors and shooters to meet DoD requirements for Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2).

By integrating and fusing existing and new sensors, in the air and on the ground, the USAF hopes to end up with a new global C2 network.

In late May 2020, the USAF issued five-year ABMS development contracts with a potential value of $950 million to 28 companies.

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