Battle Innovation
According to armed-forces planners, future military-based security will depend on two inter-related achievements. One is to field combat systems with the ability to multiply substantially the present tempo of fighting a war. The other is to at least double the speed with which new versions of such systems are fielded.
Innovation today
The R/SAOC programme features battle-tested technology in an open-architecture COTS workstation; exceptional and proven automatic radar-tracking performance; Ada software developed with certified object-orientated-design (OOD) methodology; standard operator interfaces for surveillance and weapons control; distributed processor architecture with extremely high-performance reserves; and high system redundancy for backup and growth. The R/SAOC’s object-orientated distributed software architecture facilitates portability, emphasises re-usability, and promotes system growth. This software’s processing requirements are allocated to self-contained, independent, functional modules that support the distribution of specified functionality over multiple processors. The Litton team is providing communications capability as well as capacity growth through an integrated and modular COTS system. Multiple local-area networks interconnect redundant processors to provide a high-availability, robust system architecture, and these networks extend to all system workstations for full redundancy and function interchangeability.
Innovation tomorrow
A broader command- and-control application based on the R/SAOC architecture. Envisioned as an advanced command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) system, this prototype is a horizontally designed C4I system that is compliant with the NATO open-system environment (OSE) reference model.
This new C4I system design is intended to expand in size and capability to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The design readily accepts new hardware and software without changes to the basic design. Extra system nodes, subscribers, and operator positions can be integrated as needed, and the entire operating system can be upgraded with changes to applications. Further, new technologies can be infused and modifications can be made without interrupting operations. Such advanced and innovative design exemplifies Litton’s continued dedication to anticipating and meeting customer requirements for the fast-moving, emerging, 21st-century battlefield.The database design uses common operational data at all system positions, thus enabling battle decisions to be made quickly and effectively. The screens can be tailored at the individual workstations according to the specialty of the operator, and on-screen, user-friendly process assistants provide step-by-step guides for the operator.
