Air combat management gets upgrade

Lockheed Martin announced today that it is delivering two major updates to the military's primary system for planning and executing air combat missions.

The first update to the Air Force's Theater Battle Management Core Systems (TBMCS) includes hardware and software that better connects aircrews and airmen in Air Operations Centers and enhanced security features and upgraded maintenance applications that allow operations and maintenance personnel to more efficiently track and manage aircraft repairs. The second update covers software that improves intelligence, targeting and mission planning for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps and moves an additional 25 percent of TBMCS applications from a client-server configuration to a network-centric, Web-based architecture, said a Lockheed Martin official in an April 18 statement.

"We've integrated cutting-edge technology and implemented true net-centric services into the system, all while it was supporting 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week operations at locations around the world. These latest enhancements are another step forward in that evolutionary approach to a revolutionary capability," said John Mengucci, vice president and general manager of Department of Defense systems at Lockheed Martin.

The second update also moves six key battle management applications to the Web. They include:

• Global Command and Control System Integrated Imagery and Intelligence System: Displays a comprehensive picture of enemy units, installations and targets.

• Joint Targeting Toolkit: Integrates numerous targeting sub-systems with the Air Operations Center.

• Joint Munitions Effectiveness Manual: Selects and tasks the right munitions for various targets.

• Joint Defensive Planner: Merges data from joint defense systems to show air, sea and ground defense coverage.

• Master Air Attack Plan Toolkit: Coordinates missions and targets for combat units.

• Airspace De-confliction Tool: Analyzes the air battlespace and ensures that friendly forces fly clear of each other.