1. StrikeLink® Digital Messaging

2. HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
3000 MARINE CORPS PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC
IN REPLY REFER TO:
5000 A
29 Aug 07
Digital Systems must provide Future Interoperable Communications for Marine Aviation and Joint Platforms.
Other Messages:
Non-Proprietary / Standard / Common
Software Driven
Scaleable
Agile & Flexible
Seamless
Evolutionary
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
Subj: MARINE AVIATION DIGITAL SYSTEMS INTEROPERABILITY

3. Yesterday’s Battlefield Un-integrated
AIR
GROUND
Tell story of how Close Air Support was conducted (“Imagine yourself on the front line of the fight, within the distance to see the eyeballs of the enemy”, etc.)
Pulling coordinates from map, writing down, voice call, etc.
Coordinating via voice blue force locations
Visual on aircraft for Clear Hot/Abort
Voice BDA
Amazing that we ever got bombs on target in a timely manner
Mark
Eyes-On

4. Today’s Fight Stove Pipes… Makes FAC/JTAC job too COMPLEX
Erodes Interoperability
Exponential dev and test costs
Virtually impossible to sync
F/A-18
AV-8B
F-16
DASC / AOC
MTS (USMC)
VMF (R3/R6/6017)
AFAPD (USAF)
AH-1 AO
Artillery
AFATDS
VMF (6017)
HIMARS
Tell Story of how things are now (“Now imagine yourself in the hills of Afghanistan with a piece of gear…”)
Good:
Digital Maps / Coordinates (Very Precise)
Digital feeds of Blue Force Information
Sensor to Shooter to Weapon Impact
Digital Tracking / Terminal Control
Image / Video
Tempo of Mission
Bad (with Stove Pipes… fly-in):
Too Complex for FAC / JTAC (who should be focused on targeting and handoff – not getting the network working.)
Aircraft all talk using different protocols / interpretations of the standard
Aircraft release on varying cycles
…now add many more aircraft (AH-1, JSF, A-10, F-15, Bombers, etc)
…and what about Assault Support aircraft!
…and UAVs … and Network Enabled Weapons
We’re killing our warfighters with complexity!!
Plus very expensive to develop, test, etc on a per platform basis
Mortars
VMF
(SWB1/SWB2)
Naval Gunfire 4

5. The StrikeLink® Innovation StrikeLink/A™
E-2C
AV-8B
AH-1
F/A-18
F-35
A-10
VMF
…220D
…47001D
…6017A
DASC / AOC
CH-53 AO
Artillery
MV-22
Assault
Support
AFATDS
HIMARS
The Idea:
Take the same non-proprietary software and hardware digital communication components from the ground kit and place it all USMC MAGTF aircraft
Scales very well
Free software distribution throughout US DOD
Removes dependency on costly radio and OFP modifications
Squirt capability – Lockstep Sustainable A/G & A/A interoperability
What does it solve:
Makes our ground warfighter’s job easier – more focus on the target, less on comms
Provides Air to Air interoperability.
Includes Assault Support Operations (Transport, Delivery, Refueling, Air Evac / CASEVAC, Recovery, Logistics Support & Illumination) & UAV
Low costs & Rapid Insertion
Mortars
Naval Gunfire

6. But That’s Not All… Objective Modes Levels of Integration
CAS Aircraft
FAC(A) / JFO(A)
DASC(A)
Digital Comms Only
Mission Computer for Business Logic and Displays
Separate Cockpit Computer
StrikeLink® MRT, MR1 or Other
StrikeLink® Display
Handoff with Mission Computer for Navigation, HUD or Targeting Info
Objective
Optimize Air / Ground:
Commonality
Funding
Effectiveness
Situational Awareness
Interoperability can be at different levels:
Interface Definitions
Common Digital Comms software / hardware
Common Business Logic
Common Displays / PVI (Common Situational Awareness!)
We can build this entire stack once, copy it many times for many platforms
… and upgrade it rapidly and inexpensively per evolving warfighter / pilot requirements
… including other advanced off-OFP applications
Common
Tactical
Picture

7. In a Nutshell StrikeLink® & StrikeLink/A™ Enable:
Rapid & Inexpensive Interoperability Insertion with Continual Upgrades
Lockstep Interoperability Across the Battlefield
Scalable Integration
Digital Messaging
Business Logic Application
User Interface / Pilot Vehicle Interface

8. Call to Action Industry’s Responsibility
Stand In Response to Gen Trautman’s Vision
Rapid Insertion of Low Cost, Scalable, Open Solutions
Enable our Marines & Joint Warfighters
Focus on Fight at Hand – Not Fight Against Technology
Allow Flexibility to Rapidly Adjust & Optimize Tactics, Techniques & Procedures