Global supply chain innovation in contested environments
In the face of increasing global challenges, military services must execute logistics operations in every domain — air, sea, space, land, cyber, and the electromagnetic spectrum — and often in contested environments. Technologies such as Trusted Mission AI have the power to foster more resilient supply chains through faster access to more accurate data. These advanced tools may help give warfighters new insights to reduce logistics overhead, improve supply distribution, and maintain peak readiness.
What is contested logistics?
Contested logistics refers to situations where the transport, distribution, and supply of goods and services are hindered or disrupted due to adversarial actions. For instance, forces might face challenges such as long-range precision fires threatening ships and key infrastructure.
However, contested logistics may begin even before adversaries fire the first shots of a conflict.
“Denial or disruption of our logistics facilities and information systems is an option for adversaries in advance of open hostilities, thus depleting our ability to outload the strategic base to respond to a hostile event,” says Mark Rowlands, operations director at Leidos U.K.
Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Clark LeMasters adds, “Although the term 'contested logistics' may be a new way of discussing the problem, the concept of dealing with interdiction and disruption of critical sustainment functions is fundamental to all military operations, both in planning and execution.”
A veteran with 34 years of experience in Army logistics, LeMasters works with Leidos to provide teams a deep understanding of the military’s complex day-to-day operations.
Transforming logistics through mission-ready technologies
Quickly assessing information and options is crucial to military leaders, especially in combat. The contested environment may be different from one theater to another, but the problem remains: is the information that commanders receive complete, accurate, and up-to-date, and are their communications reliable and secure?
Tools leveraging AI, the cloud, and other technologies are already transforming the contested logistics environment. For example, AI-powered tools enhance logistics-related data analysis and decision-making for the Army, according to LeMasters. Such tools can provide valuable data insights to support both tactical field commanders and strategic supply chain managers.
“Visualizing the supporting supply chain from the factory forward, assessing risks, and the ability to redirect sustainment material in motion to support operational decisions are critical to success,” LeMasters says.
For example, decision support tools and worldwide ammunition visibility within the DOD are informing leaders thanks to the National Level Ammunition Capability, which provides enhanced munitions logistics planning and management capability for the DOD.
Related reading: Learn how Leidos manages NLAC
As LeMasters sees it, continuing to apply AI and other advanced technologies to the problem of managing contested logistics “will add resiliency by increasing options for action.”
With the help of enhanced AI-powered forecasting, logistics leaders can order supplies well in advance of when they’re needed, according to Rowlands. “Improved demand forecasting enables better planning of the E2E [end-to-end] supply chain, from procurement through far-bank delivery of the right material,” he says.
To support logistics visibility, Leidos uses Catēna, its Intelligent Logistics Platform, to provide a holistic approach to logistics and data management through the incorporation of a serverless, AWS GovCloud environment with a self-cataloging data lakehouse and data integration pipelines.
Empowering resilient supply chains across the globe
Already, military leaders around the world are beginning to harness the power of big-picture visualization enabled by technology. At the same time, technology gives them access to accurate information at the smallest level of detail. A trilateral security partnership known as AUKUS, which includes the U.S., United Kingdom, and Australia, is an excellent pathway to deliver AI and other solutions that enhance interoperability to meet global logistics disruptions.
Related reading: US Navy deployment puts Leidos autonomy on display
In the United Kingdom, Leidos brings its logistics expertise to the Ministry of Defence via the Logistics Commodities and Services Transformation contract. Services provided by Leidos have helped the Ministry of Defence deliver vital supplies to Ukraine in its hour of need and support Steadfast Defender 24, NATO’s largest military exercise since the Cold War.
In addition, the Leidos Kuwait Ammunition Theater Storage Area team provides global impact, as evidenced by their success in meeting Ukraine’s ammunition support requirements.
However, “resiliency may not necessarily equate to ‘more stuff,’” LeMasters says. “It can be the ability to develop alternate courses of action through improved situational awareness, offering a menu of options for commanders in the field.” For example, Leidos improves and sustains the naval logistics pipeline with technical assistance for repairable processing of retrograde, depot-level repairables to get parts back to the warfighter.
Contested Logistics Problem Sandbox
“The Army’s senior leadership shaped the current discussion around contested logistics based on many real-world factors that create an environment of increasing risk to U.S. military operations,” LeMasters says. He believes Leidos is an ideal partner to help DOD and allies navigate the rapidly shifting terrain.
But how do we get from the macro-level discussion – international alliances to build global logistics resiliency – to the micro-level solutions that industry and government can collaborate and deploy to individual customers?
This is why Leidos developed the Contested Logistics Problem Sandbox. “The Problem Sandbox functions as a framework to guide contested logistics discussions across physical and digital realms, transforming broad, complex, global resiliency discussions to user-level solutions customers can easily implement,” says Joe Viola, Leidos Defense Logistics & Modernization Growth Lead.
Regardless of the domain, the goals for addressing contested logistics remain the same: accessing accurate, up-to-date information, cultivating the ability to change course when necessary, keeping the mission well-supplied but not over-stocked, and maintaining open, reliable, and secured lines of communication.
As conversations around contested logistics solutions continue to evolve, stay tuned for additional insights from Leidos and how our solutions will keep pace with the changing threat landscape.
