Our world is digital. Every day, more than 300 million terabytes of data are created, collected and stored. Imagine a stack of books that stretches from the Earth to the Moon and back, and do that 40,000 times. That’s about the amount of data we’re talking about.
Navigating this digital landscape, the Department of Defense finds itself on the precipice of transformation. By adopting advanced technologies, fostering a culture of data accessibility and collaboration, and ensuring personnel have a fundamental mastery of machine learning, DoD is poised to unlock the full potential of data analytics. data and artificial intelligence. In doing so, it will strengthen its ability to make informed decisions, adapt to changing challenges, and ensure our nation’s defense in an increasingly data-driven world.
The immense amount of data at our disposal poses both an opportunity and a challenge. Within the Naval Aviation Enterprise, technological advances have given rise to sensors and information collection systems that produce an unprecedented volume of data. While this wave of data holds great potential for better understanding the battlespace, it has also created an “information overload” that is now straining Sailors and Marines tasked with making sense of this data.
To meet this challenge head on, DoD must continue to leverage these five strategies:
1. Improve data collection. DoD’s commitment to investing in advanced sensors and collection platforms that generate data more efficiently is paramount. These systems must be designed with open architectures and industry standards to ensure seamless interoperability and scalability.
2. Overcome data silos. Standardized protocols and secure, reliable cloud infrastructure should enable comprehensive data sharing across organizations within the DoD. This accessibility is essential to drive multi-source intelligence fusion, improve collaboration, and build confidence in data-driven decisions.
3. Harness the power of data analysis. Data analysis, including traditional and advanced data science methods, can provide valuable insights by revealing trends, anomalies, and correlations within massive data sets. These analytics can help identify critical patterns and generate actionable insights in real time.
4. Sift through the deluge of data with automation, AI and ML, And a well-informed workforce. Automation, AI and ML can process, analyze and categorize data faster, reducing the workload on operators. While it is vital to competitively leverage experts from industry and academia as an expanded part of our team, DoD civilian and military personnel must also possess a general understanding of AI concepts/ ML. This knowledge allows them to make informed decisions about where and when to effectively apply these technologies.
5. Use collaborative frameworks. Collaboration is key to success, especially as the DoD moves to centralized processing sites. User-friendly, collaborative tools and visualization techniques make it easier to analyze and understand data among decision-makers, even when they are geographically dispersed.
With these strategies in play, DoD continues to integrate AI/ML technologies into its operations. A fundamental aspect of this transformation is the development of a more cohesive approach to AI and data, with a focus on aligning initiatives with reliable and relevant data sources. Notably, the Naval Air Systems Command and its associated program offices are at the forefront of these efforts.
NAVAIR is partnering with the U.S. Naval Surface Force’s Task Force Hopper to explore fielding AI-integrated sensors on aircraft, illustrating a collaborative framework approach within the Navy. This effort encompasses the deployment of a robust data architecture that seamlessly integrates sensor data. Additionally, it equips naval personnel with specialized AI and ML tools to manage the large volumes of data generated daily by warships and air assets.
The growing imperative for AI-based naval systems to effectively counter evolving radio frequency threats has propelled cognitive electromagnetic warfare. At the forefront of this transformative landscape, the Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program Office is pioneering groundbreaking developments.
The development of ML models adapted to the EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack suite enables precise classification of RF signals and strengthens electronic warfare capabilities in the face of agile, adaptive and potentially adversary radar systems.
Another example of AI in action, the Unmanned Aviation Program Office is making significant progress in advanced autonomous flight refueling. This cutting-edge effort aims to equip aerial systems with the ability to gain knowledge and seamlessly adapt to various unmanned aerial vehicles seeking safe in-flight refueling, thereby making fully autonomous refueling possible.
To ensure the workforce fully embraces these technological advancements, NAVAIR offers a training program on the fundamentals and practical applications of AI, ML and deep learning. This course enables staff to effectively oversee AI/ML projects and collaborate effectively with experts from industry and academia who play a central role in advancing AI on aircraft and other systems to the DoD.
The DoD has embarked on a transformative journey into the digital landscape, where data analytics and AI will shape the future of national defense. By strategically integrating these technologies across its organization, DoD will not only adapt to the data-driven world, but thrive in it, protecting America and its allies for years to come.
Cmdr. Justin Letwinsky is Deputy Program Manager for Systems and Engineering for Electronic Warfare, and Chief Military Advisor for AI/ML for Naval Air Systems Command. He is an MH-60 pilot and has nearly 20 years of experience as a naval officer. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Defense or the Department of the Navy.
