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How defense operations can make smarter decisions with Trusted Mission AI

two soldiers in command center

Modern warfare has grown increasingly complex. A single airborne reconnaissance mission can generate more than 200 terabytes of data in just 10 hours. To put that in perspective, that’s the equivalent of about 100,000 two-hour streaming movies. Now imagine hundreds, if not thousands, of assets generating that kind of data simultaneously across different domains. The challenge for today’s warfighters is not only to gather this information but also to make sense of it in real time, often under extreme pressure. This is where AI steps in.

Expanding the reach of unmanned platforms

At Leidos, we’ve spent years fielding Trusted Mission AI solutions for defense and intelligence systems. One of our proudest achievements is in the realm of unmanned and autonomous systems, particularly maritime platforms. Our autonomous ships have successfully completed a transpacific voyage, navigating a challenging and contested environment. This capability is critical, especially in regions like the Pacific, where vast distances and contested waters present unique operational challenges. Our AI-assisted ships executed these missions effectively, demonstrating significant progress in maritime autonomy.

But that’s not the only area where we’re making strides. Leidos is also a major player in unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). While airborne drones have become well-known, UUVs present a unique set of challenges due to the harsh undersea environment, where communication is limited, and the conditions can be extreme. Leidos solutions are helping to meet these challenges, particularly with the Navy’s Acoustic Counter Measures and Medium UUV programs, where we’ve brought our expertise in classified domains to the forefront.

AlphaMosaic: A leap forward in AI-assisted battle management

Our work in electronic warfare and battle management AI showcases the power of Trusted Mission AI. In an era where electronic systems need to be agile and adaptable, our ARCADIA software uses machine learning to analyze and respond to radio frequency signals, enabling enhanced situational awareness and countermeasures. This is crucial for modern military operations, as it allows systems to disrupt enemy radars and increase aircraft survivability.

One of our most significant advancements is our AlphaMosaic solution, which applies AI to battle management. AlphaMosaic is designed to accelerate mission planning, speed up decision-making at scale, and incorporate human-machine teaming. It’s like having a battle manager calling plays for hundreds of simultaneous games, while the AI assists in optimizing tactics and strategies in real time.

To demonstrate AlphaMosaic’s power, we recently ran a complex battle scenario simulation. Without AI, we lost 60% of our strike aircraft and dropped only 40% of our bombs on target. With AlphaMosaic, however, we pivoted mid-mission based on real-time analysis, resulting in fewer than 10% aircraft losses and more than 80% bombs hitting their targets. This is the future of battle management—dynamic, AI-driven, and able to adapt to a constantly changing battlefield.

Building the future of warfare today

At Leidos, we aren’t just envisioning the future of warfare—we are building it today. Our AI solutions are field-tested, operationally ready, and designed to keep the warfighter at the center of decision-making by supporting trust and control. Trusted Mission AI is not just an aspiration; it’s a reality that we are delivering across multiple domains.

 

Learn more about how Leidos applies Trusted Mission AI

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Doug Jones Senior Vice President, Defense Systems CTO

Doug Jones is the chief technology officer for the Defense Systems sector at Leidos. Previously Jones established and led the Leidos digital modernization accelerator, an organization under the CTO responsible for developing and scaling solutions in digital modernization, DevSecOps, and cyber. He has developed and fielded large, mission-critical software systems for civil, intelligence, and defense missions.

Doug is a recognized thought leader in digital modernization who not only understands the application of new and emerging technologies, but has successfully delivered modernization capabilities across large, complex programs in the government. He is a subject matter expert in IT and application modernization, focused on delivering solutions for cloud, DevSecOps, IT infrastructure, user support, and other key technologies. He brings nearly 20 years of leadership in large government system integration across the entire lifecycle of systems in complex system development, transition to operations, and O&M.

Posted

November 21, 2024

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