Raytheon Intelligence & Space speeds crucial decision points during exercise of Air Force battle management system
New planning software enables commanders to more rapidly assess, select and execute set of mission actions
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., (October 13, 2020) – Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a Raytheon Technologies business (NYSE: RTX), demonstrated new planning software designed to provide rapid recommendations to commanders facing decision points on complex battlefields.
Developed by Raytheon BBN Technologies, the software supported DARPA’s participation in the “On-Ramp 2” exercise of the U.S. Air Force Advanced Battle Management System, a joint warfighting system designed to support rapid and effective decision-making and mission execution. ABMS aims to rapidly collect, analyze and share information and make decisions in real time during future conflicts.
The software solution, Anytime Reasoning and Analysis for Kill-Web Negotiation and Instantiation across Domains, analyzed thousands of potential courses of action, made recommendations to the commander, and then sent messages to scramble and task military aircraft based on the commander’s selection.
“Our ARAKNID software helps commanders make decisions faster than the enemy,” said Brad Tousley, president, Raytheon BBN Technologies. “Computers can analyze a situation and start tasking assets much faster than a human can. Important decisions are ultimately made by a real person, but automating machine-to-machine interactions is a significant tactical advantage when seconds and minutes matter.”
During the exercise, the software was presented with multiple enemy threats. It analyzed options based on available platforms, sensors and weapons while calculating probabilities of success, collateral damage and opportunity cost. It presented the commander with multiple courses of action with rankings and tradeoffs displayed on a map. After the commander made a decision, the software automatically communicated with multiple existing command and control systems to scramble fighter aircraft and automatically disseminate mission assignment and weapon/target pairing via tactical radio messaging.
The Raytheon BBN ARAKNID system is part of DARPA’s Adapting Cross-Domain Kill-Webs (ACK) program.
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About Raytheon Intelligence & Space
Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a Raytheon Technologies business, delivers the disruptive technologies our customers need to succeed in any domain, against any challenge. A developer of advanced sensors, cyber services and software solutions, Raytheon Intelligence & Space provides a decisive advantage to civil, military and commercial customers around the world.
