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Scheduled for launch in 2023, the constellation will improve Joint All-Domain Operations and improve connectivity in denied and contested environments.
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Lockheed Martin’s Space-Augmented JADO Environment (SAJE) testbed project was unveiled as the US Department of Defense has continued to prioritise connectivity across sea, land, air, space and cyber – with space proving as “the ultimate high ground”.
The testbed is expected to improve JADO by improving connectivity and information relay between military assets, even within communications-contested environments and thus strengthening the connective tissue that enables Joint All-Domain Command and Control.
Under the program, Lockheed Martin is scheduled to launch three self-funded satellites – including an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and communications model – to establish the testbed.
The testbed will facilitate the delivery of orbital demonstrations and experiments that establish the future of JADO and will also take part in leading military exercises including the US Indo-Pacific Command’s Exercise Northern Edge.
It will also seek to improve the US Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System, the US Navy’s Project Overmatch and the US Army’s Project Convergence.
According to information available about the project, SAJE will provide no-cost alternatives for the US government to enhance JADO capabilities.
The constellation will also undertake research into real-time battle management command and control, ISR tasking, mission data processing at the edge and direct downlink.
As part of the constellation, Lockheed Martin will launch two Pony Express 2 smallsats to support mesh networking and distributed application technologies. The original Pony Express 1 was launched in 2019.
They are also launching an ISR satellite, which will support with sensing, communication and on-orbit processing capabilities.
In June, the company trialled their multi-domain capabilities during the recent US Indo-Pacific Command’s Valiant Shield 2022, putting their DIAMONDShield battle management system and Virtualized Aegis Weapon System (VAWS) to the test.
Valiant Shield, a 12-day training exercise located between Guam and various locations across the Pacific, is a biennial training activity that forms the basis of the US Indo-Pacific Command’s integrated deterrence strategy, integrating thousands of US military personnel, as well as over 200 ships, aircraft and vehicles.
The exercise was an opportunity to trial Lockheed Martin’s new artificial intelligence capabilities via the DIAMONDShield battle management system (BMS), designed to facilitate faster and better decision making by commanders on the battlefield by delivery decision aids and recommendations.
The company deployed 14 engineers to trial the BMS and VAWS across defensive and offensive manoeuvres that also integrated into the Lockheed Martin High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE).
Following the BMS’ delivery of decision aids to commanders, the VAWS digitally utilised targeting data to control assets such as the PAC-3 MSE and HIMARS, termed “digital force orders”.
“We recognise our customers’ need to rapidly integrate emerging technologies into mission-focused solutions,” Joe Ferrara, Lockheed Martin’s advanced concepts director, said.
“Through experiments like Valiant Shield, we are learning collaboratively with our customers to advance Joint All-Domain Operations, with the intent of delivering capability faster to the warfighter.”
Such operations are expected to streamline the command-and-control process.
[Related: Lockheed Martin Australia, Clearbox Systems mark new step in JP9102 push]
