Support for US DoD JADC2 Concept

Northrop Grumman and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions have demonstrated the operation of simultaneous waveforms over a mission system with an open architecture.

In what is being billed as an “industry first“, the demonstrations proved that Northrop’s open software development kit would enable a third-party supplier – in this case Kratos – to “drastically reduce integration timelines and incorporate new capabilities,” according to the companies.

The demonstrations, conducted for the US Air Force, involved Kratos providing BE-CDL waveforms and software-programmable tactical radios, while Northrop supplied its Software Programmable Open Mission System Compliant (SPOC) connectivity solution. The SPOC system is designed to be carried on aircraft and can provide simultaneous access to four RF waveforms, helping to connect a joint force element, and thus supporting DoD’s vision for what it terms Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2).

“This technology can significantly enhance … situational awareness, speed up data-to-decision timelines and enable rapid technology insertion from third-party providers,” Jenna Paukstis, VP of communications solutions for Northrop, said. “Our SPOC solution will create an affordable path to curate functions needed for JADC2 operations, and provides a new offering that will allow the DOD to easily and securely share information across military branches.”

“Kratos’ tactical waveforms enable the interoperability vision of JADC2 while increasing operational flexibility through software programmability,” added Chris Badgett, Kratos’ space division’s VP of Technology. “The need to rapidly develop and deploy software-defined solutions across domains in relevant timeframes will be key to mission success in the future. Northrop Grumman’s SPOC solution is well designed, underpinning the plug-and-play integration of open third-party waveforms such as Kratos’ library of tactical waveforms.”