How Data and Digital Approaches Strengthen Connectivity for the U.S. Air Force

Military assets of the 21^st century perform best together – across air, sea, land, space and cyber and across allied nations. As the U.S. Air Force continues to make progress toward a vision known as Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO) that connects all existing and future platforms to bring a joint operational concept to reality, Lockheed Martin will be there every step of the way.

Step one begins with a focus inward on mission-driven transformation. We’re bringing speed, connectivity and intelligence capabilities to the fight today with the future force in mind. And how we’re doing that is by helping the U.S. Air Force maintain its vision for the World’s Greatest Air Force – Powered by Airmen, Fueled by Innovation and the U.S. Space Force Guardians’ mission to defend the freedom to operate in space.

Here are some of the ways we’re empowering 21^st century Airmen and Guardians on their steps on that journey:

Data Dominance

We’re maximizing connectivity across the total force by increasing access to information and empowering warfighters with the data needed to quickly make decisions that drive action. By leveraging technologies like open systems architecture (OSA), directed energy, artificial intelligence and machine learning, data becomes a strategic asset to ensure mission success.

5G.MIL®

One way we’re increasing connectivity is with our advanced 5G.MIL® technology. 5G.MIL brings greater connectivity, faster and more reliable networks, and new data capabilities to navigate the complexity of the 21 ^st century. As a result, warfighters can expect better operations in contested and denied environments to perform their missions anywhere in the world.

F-35

The F-35 plays an essential role, using advanced sensors and connectivity to gather, analyze and seamlessly share critical information across systems, services, and allied nations. The 5 ^th Generation fighter has been essential to demonstrating the power of OSA in connecting and rapidly fielding new capabilities when they are needed most.

LMXT

We’re combining more than 60 years of proven tanker performance with the latest technologies to deliver the LMXT for the U.S. Air Force. The strategic tanker will be equipped with state-of-the-art communications and situational awareness capabilities to support JADO.

Legion Pod

Bringing more data to pilots, our Legion Pod® equipped with IRST21® technology, now has a dedicated datalink available for pod-to-pod communication, establishing near instantaneous range to targets and reducing the workload for pilots. Legion Pod’s datalink allows pilots to share infrared data across a secure network, further reducing the timeline for pilots to engage a weapon, if needed.

TPY-4

The TPY-4 – a next gen radar for next gen threats – is in production and exportable. The radar provides air defense surveillance, even in contested environments, enabling better and farther detection of threats. TPY-4 offers multi-mission capabilities, such as early warning, situational awareness, tactical ballistic missile surveillance and air defense. In a JADO environment, TPY-4 uses its connected architecture to scan the intricate battlefield and deliver robust data that informs decisions in real time.

Cyber

In addition to collecting, analyzing and sharing data, protecting the information is equally as important. That’s why for all of our products, cyber is intentionally designed in from the start. Lockheed Martin’s Hardened Security is one example of this type of defense, providing edge to cloud protection of vital information and defense against complex threats, further enabling the full power of secure 5G.MIL networks.

Manned Unmanned Teaming

Decision dominance is key to the all-domain battlespace. A collaborative team of piloted and autonomous aircraft work together to share data so operators can make better decisions faster when seconds matter. By partnering F-35s with survivable unmanned systems, we can extend range while keeping pilots out of harm’s way.

Combat Rescue Helicopter

Today’s combat rescue crews are facing more challenging and evolving threat environments than ever before. We’re helping them meet that challenge with the new HH-60W Jolly Green II. Advanced capabilities and ew design features ensure the helicopter supports the full spectrum of combat rescue missions, while reducing crew workload, improving mission focus, and enabling fast decision making. This translates to more lives saved and best positions the warfighter for the future battlefield.

Digital Disruption

From conceptual design through manufacturing and sustainment, we’re infusing digital approaches and disruptive innovation in our processes, technology and tools to drive faster deliveries, agile responsiveness and data-driven insights for our customers around the globe.

Our Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) offering is one example of how we are partnering with the U.S. Air Force to transform our approach to digital acquisitions. SiAW leverages proven design elements and internal investments, while incorporating agile software, model-based digital environments and OSA to keep pace with evolving threats. The digital thread continues as we integrate SiAW onto the F-35, adding more multi-role mission capabilities to further assert the F-35 as the most advanced and survivable aircraft in the world.

With Project StarDrive, our Skunk Works^® team is developing and designing current and future systems in a fully integrated digital environment. Using the digital thread, we have been able to bring in manufacturing simulation and planning much earlier in development, driving significant efficiencies to cost and schedule.

Our clear vision from the top is transforming the way we work to enable connectivity and speed in a 5G world. Strategic investments in emerging technologies and digital infrastructure are delivering results. We are lowering aircraft cost, improving quality, and reducing time-to-market to equip the warfighter with the tools needed to succeed in the network-connected battlespace.

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