Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and persistent technological development, this year’s International Military Helicopter Conference proved an invaluable opportunity for over 60 nations to come together to discuss the changing face of air superiority (the degree to which a side holds control of air power over opposing forces) and how technology transformation can drive significant operational efficiencies.
Addressing the theme of ‘Delivering the Next Generation of Rotary Capabilities to 2040 and Beyond’, key discussions revolved around the rapid development of software, platforms, and personnel. Reflecting the overarching message that in tomorrow’s battlespace, the only certainty is uncertainty, the following key areas explore current situations and pressing developments leaders must embrace for air superiority.
Digital Transformation to Overcome Operational Challenges for Platforms & Personnel With the rapid pace of technological development that has characterized recent decades, it comes as no surprise that digital transformation was a key focal point in many presentations such as the capability of software to enable warfighters to increase capacity at scale. Many foresee artificial intelligence as the apex of this trend, enabling autonomous systems to operate in the field, and increasing fleet availability through predictive maintenance. However, there are also existing software solutions helping resource-scarce forces do more with less, both in terms of platforms and personnel. Software develops at a faster pace than hardware, enabling developments to be put in the hands of warfighters to increase operational tempo and empowering personnel. For example, on the battlefield, mission-critical information can be made available to the right people at the right time using innovative, digital first content management solutions to help drive pace, reducing risk of operating with outdated information, and the potentially fatal impact of errors that can incur.
Digital to Extend the ‘Operating Life’ of Platforms
It is widely acknowledged that a large number of medium rotorcraft in NATO countries are reaching end of life between 2035-2059; while maintenance and overhaul/replacement places a significant strain on financial and labor resources, forces can exploit the benefits of digital transformation in a digital-first approach to be more agile and empowered. For example, simulators are becoming more widely used to train personnel in a controlled environment, without the need to add flight-hours to platforms, thus increasing the longevity of aircraft and crucial parts.
Interoperability and Collaboration to Amplify Resources and Drive Efficiencies
To maximize effect in a cohesive ‘system of systems’, a collaborative approach is integral to the success of allied militaries, in face of time and resource scarcity. In order to facilitate effective inter- and intra-force collaboration, interoperability and communality were deemed the two most critical factors; be it similarity of physical or digital assets, the ability to leverage allies’ resources and find common pathways for maintenance – mutuality will result in faster operational tempo and greater agility.
Working with greater cohesion in this way will also enable effective task swarming, bringing together multiple systems to maximize effect. By embracing a minilateralist approach, with groups of nations working together to pursue mutual goals, allies can strengthen their resilience against increasingly complex threats.
Collaboration with Industry – ‘Those who mobilize fastest will win’
Equally, speakers pointed to improved collaboration with industry as being a crucial factor in ongoing air superiority. While siloed operations and lengthy procurement processes have affected the speed of implementation, leaders urged for a change in relationship between industry and militaries, stating, ‘Those who mobilize fastest will win’. With a number of NATO nations increasing defense spending, speakers reiterated the importance of investing in R&D, recognizing the capacity of technology industry partners to drive innovation: ‘The market is pushed forward by civilian and commercial organizations; fresh thinking and accessible requirements iterate faster through spiral development’.
By bringing together the expertise of commercial aviation, industry, and armed forces, militaries can gain the winning edge, optimizing resources and developing at pace across multi-domain operations.
Data Exploitation and Data-Driven Decision-Making
Globally, armed forces are recognizing the strategic potential of historic data to shape future operations. By amalgamating data, forces can combine hindsight on past operations with insight into today’s battlespace, giving foresight to tomorrow’s challenges. To reach the ‘bigger value picture’, the approach has two stages, symbiotically delivering effect: data exploitation and data-driven decision-making. The former focuses on the ongoing analysis of information, leading to the latter, whereby data is used to inform action, improving operations, training, innovation and sustainment.
An obstacle facing many nations today is the sheer volume of data – to lay the foundation of the future force, dedicated resource must be identified to harness the power of data, turning information to optimization. While large quantities of data can provide more accurate means of pattern identification, organizations worldwide are faced with the challenge of poor-quality data. In order to draw effective learnings, data must be organized, secure, accessible and usable, therefore the clean-up of stagnant ‘data lakes’ must take priority before it can reliably inform decisions.
While effective data exploitation will benefit personnel in any function, the user groups can be split into two distinct areas: data experts and domain experts. Data scientists have the experience and opportunity to tackle large-scale projects, with subject matter expertise necessary to leverage complex tools. However, domain experts will benefit from data that is easy to access and understand and that enables warfighters to make rapid data-driven decisions in the field.
Information Superiority
As much as existing data is critical in shaping future strategy, information superiority is seen as the ‘key to success’ in active and ongoing conflict. Speakers observed that what makes current conflict different to the recent past is the mass upon which it is fought; the width of today’s battlefront necessitates that crew operate with the right information at the right moment, while avoiding ‘cockpit information overload’.
To maintain a high operational tempo, leaders must effectively manage and prioritize the mass of information presented to personnel in the multi-domain sphere. Faced with the challenge of maintaining trust in information presented in the cockpit, forces are embracing the digital delivery of assets as a fundamental tool to drive efficiency while elevating compliance. Compared to paper manuals and sortie briefings, digitized operational content management reduces risk of flying with outdated information, as well as mitigating the loss of sensitive material. When implementing such tools, there are the following factors that forces must consider:
- The solution must be tailored and tested in the domain
- Accessible online and offline
- Content must be easily filtered
- Content must be intuitive to use and provide delta updates for resilience in data-scarce areas.
Conclusion
To collectively ensure resilience in an evolving, congested battlespace, nations must embrace a digital-first approach, characterized by a risk-conscious implementation of innovative hardware and software. To remain future-facing and delivery focused while evolving at pace, it is evident that armed forces must collaborate, using the tried and tested technology and practices of allies and industry to maximize effect at speed. Modern warfare presents new challenges each day – therefore, technology must keep pace with the speed of change to maintain air superiority.
At Comply365, we leverage decades of technology expertise across both civil and military aviation to support armed forces across the globe with a digital-first approach to operations, safety and training; maximizing efficiency, productivity and sustainability for Defense organizations, across all air, engineering, maintenance and ground operations documentation, training programs and safety management.
As the technology partner for over 140 civil and military aviation organizations across their flight operations, safety management and training management, we empower their workforce through agile digital transformation.
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