AFMC Command News

ABMS aims to revolutionize data flow, speed decisions

  • Published
  • By Daryl Mayer, AFLCMC Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, OHIO (AFLCMC) -- The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office held a Virtual Industry Day on the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) acquisition effort on March 31 attended by more than 600 participants from more than 300 industry partners.
 
The ABMS acquisition effort will leverage commercial technologies, infrastructure, and data sharing best practices to deliver modernized operational capability to the Joint warfighter.
 
Randy Walden, Department of the Air Force RCO Director and Integrating Program Executive Officer for ABMS, told the audience over the Zoom call that industry feedback on precisely how ABMS will enable the Joint All Domain Command and Control JADC2 requirement is vital to success. 
 
“When we log onto the internet, we expect the 21st Century level of technology that allows us to do machine-to-machine data sharing.  My question to those online is why don’t we enjoy that today in the Department of Defense,” Walden posed.  “We are ready to embark on an infrastructure that allows us to do just that and we’re going to need your help.”  
 
The program objectives are to build a digital infrastructure that connects the Joint Warfighting force, enables sharing of information across USAF, USSF, Joint, Allies/partners and multi-domains and provide decision superiority to tactical, operational and strategic customers. 
 
Walden described the process as “sensing, making sense of that information, and then acting on that information.”  He compared it to the observe–orient–decide–act (OODA) loop commonly used in the Air Force. 
 
“We want to take exquisite data and compress it in both time and complexity in a manner that allows those decision makers to act on the information well inside our adversaries OODA loop,” Walden said. 
 
Moving forward to create this environment, ABMS will focus on six attributes: secure processing, connectivity, data management, applications, sensor integration, and effects integration.
 
The ABMS acquisition strategy focuses on delivering capability to the joint warfighter through Capability Releases and enduring digital infrastructure investments.  Requests for information from industry will be posted through the standard process via the Government Point of Entry, betaSAM.gov. 
 
“We definitely look forward to working with you starting today and well into the future to get your thoughts and your expertise,” Walden said.  “This is not a problem that can be solved solely within the Air Force.”