09-01-2004, 06:13
Dodekistan National Laboratory, in association with Thiocal Defense Systems and Vanguard Electronics, has unveiled the latest in the recent wave of techological developments enhancing the Dodekistani military. It's called The Grid.
The purpose of The Grid similar to that of the NADC system, except it is primarily offensive (though it can be used in a defensive manner as well). It has 3 primary missions.
1) To allow commanders to have a hyper accurate, real time picture of what is happening on the battlefield.
2) To give ground commanders access to information not readily available to them, enhancing their decision making ability.
3) To allow each unit on the battlefield to quickly have access to nearly immediate fire support from nearby units, bypassing the normal command and beauracracy system to provide the most desirable effect.
The Grid is a network of 15 mobile supercomputers. Based out of the back of highly modified semi-trucks, these are connected to the main computer via encrypted satellite links. They act as theater controllers, providing information to theater level commanders, and relaying data between those commanders and the individual units.
These mobile supercomputers all report to the External Intelligence Agency supercomputing center, located deep underground in a secret location inside Dodekistan. Here, intelligence data is analysed, processed and relayed to campaign level commanders, who can make campaign level decisions in almost real time.
Intelligence data for this system is gathered by many sources, all of which are already in place. Hypersensitive digital spy satellites, electronic survaillance satellites, spy planes, satellite based radar systems provide an overall outside-in view of the battlefield in real time.
The highlight of The Grid is its ability to process an inside-out view of the battlefield in real time. Integrating the NADC equipment with The Grid allows field units to call in not only NADC battery fire, but also any nearby air support and direct-fire artillery, even nearby infantry units. During a conventional high-intensity conflict, any unit can have fire support in less than 2 minutes.
Pilots can also utilize the system. The system used by the F-71 Vector is very similar to what will be used by all other aircraft in the Dodekistan Air Force. If the aircraft is out of ammunition, it can use its radar as a forward radar system for air defense batteries, giving them a look first, shoot first cabability. Ideally, the plane would lock the battery onto the enemy aircraft, and the battery would fire before the plane is even within range of the missiles radar, and would be guided in to the target by the planes radar. Once the missiles radar is in range, the plane can break lock and lock onto another target, or it can maintain lock to help avoid electronic countermeasures.
Exfiltration and medevac missions are also simplified by The Grid. Emergency tasks are automatically given first priority in the computer algorithm, so in less than 5 minutes an evacuation sortie will be in the air.
Any unit using NADC equipment (which is essentially every combat unit in the Dodekistan military) is linked in real time with The Grid.
It will take approximately 2 years to get the mobile supercomputers up and running. All units will simultaniously be trained in the use of The Grid, and issued equipment to utilize it. Modifiying aircraft and air defense systems to use The Grid is only a matter of a software upgrade, aand since the software is already availible from the F-71, it should be completed in one year.
The cost is astronomical, and will take up 30% of Dodekistans defense budget for the next three years, but is expected to level off significantly once installed and fully operational.
The purpose of The Grid similar to that of the NADC system, except it is primarily offensive (though it can be used in a defensive manner as well). It has 3 primary missions.
1) To allow commanders to have a hyper accurate, real time picture of what is happening on the battlefield.
2) To give ground commanders access to information not readily available to them, enhancing their decision making ability.
3) To allow each unit on the battlefield to quickly have access to nearly immediate fire support from nearby units, bypassing the normal command and beauracracy system to provide the most desirable effect.
The Grid is a network of 15 mobile supercomputers. Based out of the back of highly modified semi-trucks, these are connected to the main computer via encrypted satellite links. They act as theater controllers, providing information to theater level commanders, and relaying data between those commanders and the individual units.
These mobile supercomputers all report to the External Intelligence Agency supercomputing center, located deep underground in a secret location inside Dodekistan. Here, intelligence data is analysed, processed and relayed to campaign level commanders, who can make campaign level decisions in almost real time.
Intelligence data for this system is gathered by many sources, all of which are already in place. Hypersensitive digital spy satellites, electronic survaillance satellites, spy planes, satellite based radar systems provide an overall outside-in view of the battlefield in real time.
The highlight of The Grid is its ability to process an inside-out view of the battlefield in real time. Integrating the NADC equipment with The Grid allows field units to call in not only NADC battery fire, but also any nearby air support and direct-fire artillery, even nearby infantry units. During a conventional high-intensity conflict, any unit can have fire support in less than 2 minutes.
Pilots can also utilize the system. The system used by the F-71 Vector is very similar to what will be used by all other aircraft in the Dodekistan Air Force. If the aircraft is out of ammunition, it can use its radar as a forward radar system for air defense batteries, giving them a look first, shoot first cabability. Ideally, the plane would lock the battery onto the enemy aircraft, and the battery would fire before the plane is even within range of the missiles radar, and would be guided in to the target by the planes radar. Once the missiles radar is in range, the plane can break lock and lock onto another target, or it can maintain lock to help avoid electronic countermeasures.
Exfiltration and medevac missions are also simplified by The Grid. Emergency tasks are automatically given first priority in the computer algorithm, so in less than 5 minutes an evacuation sortie will be in the air.
Any unit using NADC equipment (which is essentially every combat unit in the Dodekistan military) is linked in real time with The Grid.
It will take approximately 2 years to get the mobile supercomputers up and running. All units will simultaniously be trained in the use of The Grid, and issued equipment to utilize it. Modifiying aircraft and air defense systems to use The Grid is only a matter of a software upgrade, aand since the software is already availible from the F-71, it should be completed in one year.
The cost is astronomical, and will take up 30% of Dodekistans defense budget for the next three years, but is expected to level off significantly once installed and fully operational.