Defence scientists have demonstrated a new way of rapidly updating mission data that will enable the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to operate more effectively in fast-moving threat environments.
The Tactical Rapid Reprogramming Experiment (T-RREx) aimed to test a way to refresh data during a mission. This means personnel would have access to up-to-date information to enhance situational awareness and help make better decisions.
Mission data used by Defence platforms includes acoustic signature libraries, electronic warfare support libraries, maps and other information.
Advanced threats such as radars are capable of rapidly modifying their signature in an effort to evade sensors, so any updates made to mission data must be timely.
Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) is exploring different ways to accelerate the process of making sure observations about threats and environmental data are added to mission data libraries at the speed of relevance.
Marion Byrne, who led the T-RREx team, said they successfully demonstrated the feasibility of rapidly reprogramming a system's mission data.
"The experiment tested a process of on-board reprogramming based on off-board information, with the aim of exploring methods of injecting information into live systems in a way that operators can trust," Ms Byrne said.
T-RREx was a human-in-the-loop experiment conducted in the Combat Systems Innovation Centre (CSIC) at DSTG Edinburgh in South Australia.
The CSIC is a flexible, multi-domain experimentation facility that allows Defence scientists to conduct live, virtual and constructive research using representative mission and combat systems to simulate ADF aircraft and ships.
The combined laboratories of the CSIC are capable of enabling a range of experimentation, from testing new software and hardware concepts to enabling the detailed analysis of complex human-machine teaming and coordinated joint tactical operations.
Ms Byrne and her team took measurements and surveyed participants from the Royal Australian Navy to find out whether the new process improved their decision-making.
"We were able to provide immediate insights back to our Defence partners," Ms Byrne said.
"We expect our findings will lead to near-term capability for the warfighter, as well as form the basis of ongoing development of broader approaches to rapid reprogramming across the joint integrated force."
