Data - Delivered Instantly and Clearly - Turns the Tide for Decision Makers
Whether it’s in the heat of battle, in a tense standoff, or at a moment of impending crisis, the right data – delivered instantly and clearly – is what turns the tide for decision makers. Now imagine those decisions need to be made quicker, via information transmitted between military assets separated by great distances, oftentimes in the most remote conditions.
That’s what the future of naval defense looks like – connecting across all domains with ships, submarines, sensors, aircraft, spacecraft, and weapons for both the U.S. Navy and allies – across immense expanses of ocean. It’s a future that’s coming fast, especially as tensions in the Indo-Pacific rise.
We're Stitching Sensors Across the Globe Together to Deliver a Complete Battlefield Picture
However, with the right technology and secure connections, it’s possible to effectively stitch together assets scattered across the globe. This emerging Naval operational architecture will support the fleet's distributed maritime operations, enabling the U.S. Navy to fight as one integrated force, no matter where their adversaries are located.
“To make decisions quickly, the Navy requires command-and-control capability to safely share data in hostile environments where adversaries are trying to disrupt our networks and communications,” explained Dave Steindl, Lockheed Martin Director of Navy & Marine Corps C6ISR Programs.
A new Navy initiative to connect distributed forces and create this decision advantage over adversaries will include a warfighting network of networks that will support a future fleet of manned and unmanned capabilities. It’s one element of the service’s broader approach to creating decision advantage in all contexts, whether it’s an operation led solely by the Navy, in coordination with the other branches of the U.S. military, or through joint operations with allies around the world.
Lockheed Martin Is Investing Millions to Develop a Way to Securely Connect Assets Around the Globe
Lockheed Martin is closely watching each of the Service's Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) efforts and partnering where possible. As a result, the company is investing millions in research and development funding on solutions that securely connect sensors and shooters across defense forces while increasing the speed and accuracy of decision making. This includes building a mesh of advanced networks that incorporate 5G and demonstrating new integrated mission capability as part of combatant command exercises such as Northern Edge, Valiant Shield and Talisman Saber.
Adapting and expanding existing technologies – plus developing new innovation – will be key to eventual success with this evolution in naval defense strategy. Lockheed Martin has a proud history developing and deploying many operational systems that are foundational to the broader effort and is proactively investing to enable integrated mission capability.