Vanguard Magazine

In this new reality, all current and new capabilities will be integrated, with data being shared, transported, and analyzed by interoperable applications using AI- enhanced decision aid tools. This is will support the JADC2 vision and leverages General Dynamics' Tactical Network as a Service (TNaaS). The TNaaS creates the digital spine that allows for data-based decision making to coordinate decisive effects from across the many sensors and data sources in the field. AWS contributes to the deployment of the TNaaS by leveraging its Cloud-to- Edge Continuum and offering a variety of services for edge devices. ENABLING THE INFORMATION FLOW General Dynamics recognizes the need to expand access to, and accelerate availabili- ty of, enhanced and innovative capabilities to enable JADC2. Across dismounted, mounted, and deployed capabilities, its TNaaS enables the flow of information from the Cloud to the Edge. TNaaS inte- grates sensors, data sources, and effectors from across domain assets into a single integrated tactical internetwork, which in- corporates new and legacy bearers along with gateways to joint, interagency, multi- national, and public partners. At its core, the TNaaS automates un- attended, self-forming, and self-healing multi-level routing across the disconnect- ed, disrupted, intermittent, and low-band- width (DDIL) environment. It manages the distribution of the data across a variety of bearers dealing with the unique capabili- ties and service levels. Through the qual- ity of service enforcement, it protects the integrity and the flow of data based on the capability of each link and the importance of the data. The TNaaS underpins the con- nection of every sensor and effector from every domain with every decision maker. The pan-domain sharing of data from sensors, effectors, and data sources forms the very foundation for delivering JADC2. Bringing the data to decision makers, wheth- er they are at headquarters or at the tactical edge, expedites the decision-making and ef- fectiveness of outcomes on the battlefield. Austin Douglas, Senior Manager, General Dynamics, explains: "TNaaS also enables the quick and seamless integration of the LC4ISR Capital Projects onto the digital spine. Sensors and effectors, and the ancil- lary all domain assets plug into 'one thing', 'one eco-system'. For Canada, this allows for core services to be reused where avail- able and evolved as required, lowers cost and delivery risk of each capital program, provides commonality in the fielded system, permits remote configuration of Informa- tion Management assets reducing the need for Edge technical staff, and reduces the to- tal cost of ownership. It is good for soldiers; good for Canada; good for industry." THE AWS CLOUD: POWERING THE DATA FOUNDATION The deployment of General Dynamics TNaaS opens the door to Cloud and Edge computing on AWS, the cloud provider that's uniquely positioned to deliver reli- able cloud capability. The AWS portfolio of products and services is designed to collect, process, and move data in a highly scalable and secure cloud environment. For example, the AWS Snow Family of devices expand storage capability beyond Joint De- ployed Headquarters to the Tactical Com- mand Posts, allowing operators to host JADC2 applications and rapidly deploy in- novative solutions at the tactical edge. www.vanguardcanada.com DECEMBER 2022/JANUARY 2023 27 Sponsored Content PERSPECTIVE AWS CLOUD-TO-EDGE CONTINUUM TNaaS also enables the deployment of Cloud and Edge devices creating the Cloud-to-Edge Continuum, delivering a consistent experience across the cloud, on- premises, and at the edge while offering ultra-low latency, data residency, and local processing capability. AWS service offer- ings such as AWS Outposts and AWS Stor- age Gateways can be deployed in locations outside data centers and can extend secure edge computing to on-premises loca- tions. In addition, the AWS Snowcone and Snowball devices can provide offline stor- age and compute to networks at the Edge. These cloud devices have been developed for austere, disconnected edge environ- ments, like those encountered by the warf- ighter, and allow the integration of new sensor technologies enabling the collection and capture of data within a dynamic hy- brid cloud network. The Cloud-to-Edge Continuum enables a common information technology archi- tecture to have "Everything as a Service" (EaaS). EaaS changes how applications get institutionalized and operationalized. In- novative technology solutions for Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) and Big Data can be evolved, updated and deployed as required by the CAF. OPERATIONALIZING JADC2 General Dynamics' TNaaS, working in conjunction with the AWS Cloud, makes the JADC2 vision possible. The TNaaS enables the integration of sensors, data sources, and effectors from all domain as- sets into a communications internetwork interoperating with joint, interagency, multinational, and public partners. The Cloud-to-Edge Continuum facilitates the access and processing of data wherever it is needed. Building on this foundation, the data analysis services execute a suite of link analysis, data analytics, and trained AI/ML models to provide concise consolidated information. Through the visualization ap- plications, commanders and their staff are able to use this information to accelerate the tempo of an operation. In a future where TNaaS supports JADC2, all domains are working together in a data-centric environment. They lever- age advanced technology to better visu- alize the opportunities and threats in an ever-changing situation, enabling com- manders to decide quickly and soldiers to act decisively. The TNaaS enables the flow of information

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