Airspace Optimization and Control with Harbinger: A HARMONY Approach

According to the National Defense Strategy (NDS), “because Joint Force operations increasingly rely on data-driven technologies and integration of diverse data sources, the Department will implement institutional reforms that integrate our data, software, and artificial intelligence efforts and speed their delivery to the warfighter.” Through Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS), the Air Force answers that call. ABMS leverages disparate sources of information to seamlessly share information, supporting the DOD’s larger JADC2 model. JADC2 provides an approach for developing the warfighting capability to sense, make sense, and act at all levels and phases of war, across all domains, and with partners, to deliver information advantage at the speed of relevance. Much like ABMS, Harbinger™ from Tempest Droneworx™ aggregates data from disparate sensors and sources, from satellites to security cameras, to provide contextual intelligence that can be viewed in real-time and simultaneously shared across the command chain. It also has the ability to integrate with different software packages for accessing, analyzing, and disseminating information. Android Tactical Awareness Kit (ATAK) is becoming a means for standardizing information sharing across the DAF. Integrating Harbinger™ with ATAK enhances that capability by improving the comprehensiveness of the data, making it that much more actionable. When timeliness to decision translates to mission success and lives preserved, complete situational awareness in real-time matters. In the 194th Air Support Operations Group’s (ASOG) role in air-to-ground coordination, they ensure mission success in dynamic and challenging environments. However, interviews unveiled that they encounter obstacles related to airspace congestion and deconfliction during their operations. While operating with Army and Marines units, the 194 ASOG requires an integrated system that facilitates seamless information sharing across commands rather than being confined to a single Wing. As a special warfare unit with a defined Joint directive, their mission demands both shared and specific capabilities which necessitate advanced technology. Airmen have reliance on static maps and traditional radios and lack real-time contextual information accessible to all members of the command chain simultaneously. The need is a solution where heightened situational awareness reduces decision-making timelines and ensures mission success. Through research, Tempest Droneworx™ in collaboration with the University of Houston will bring forward advanced technology that directly addresses ABMS and, more specifically, the challenge of efficient airspace management, supporting the 194 ASOG. HARMONY, "Harbinger™ Advanced Resource for Managing Overhead Navigation and Yield", offers real-time airspace visualization, conflict detection, and resolution capabilities, all seamlessly integrated into the ATAK platform.