The US Air Force (USAF) has postponed its upcoming April Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) internet of things (IoT) combat concept demonstration due to concerns over Covid-19.
The demonstration will now take place in June, USAF Chief of Staff General David Goldfein told reporters on 18 March. All members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the Pentagon’s top leadership, were to attend the demonstration, he said.
Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Strohmeyer, NORTHCOM scenario co-ordinator, delivers a capabilities brief to senior leadership during the first-ever Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) demonstration on 18 December 2019 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The USAF is delaying its second ABMS demo from April to June. (US Air Force)
The USAF will use this extra time between ABMS demonstrations to try to advance some of the system’s technologies. Gen Goldfein said that the service succeeded with 26 of 28 line items from the last December demonstration, which he called too many.
The air force will stretch itself even further in the upcoming June demonstration, which will be larger and will try to connect capabilities not currently connected. The new success goal for the June demonstration will be 60/40 success/fail.
The December demonstration was one full day’s worth of demonstration spread over three days. Operators across the USAF, US Army, US Navy (USN), and industry tested multiple real-time data-sharing tools and technology in a homeland defence-based scenario enacted by US Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and enabled by USAF senior leaders.
For the June demonstration, the USAF will again partner with NORTHCOM, but will emphasise a significant US Space Command (USSPACECOM) and US Space Force (USSF) portion and will introduce US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM).
The USAF was unable to respond to a request for comment prior to publication.
Looking to read the full article?
Gain unlimited access to Janes news and more...
