Rome Lab to develop computer systems with NY Air National Guard for combat
Rome’s Air Force Research Lab is working with Syracuse-based New York Air National Guard to develop new computer systems to aid with command-and-control efforts.
Under an agreement with the Air Force Research Laboratory — more commonly known as Rome Labs — members of the 152nd Air Operations Group will provide information on how they do their jobs, and the kinds of information they need to the research team developing the new systems.
"We will work together in describing the process," explained Col. Kevin St. John, commander of the 152nd in a statement. "This will be human-to-human initially. The next stage is for the scientists to gain access to our Battle Lab and understand how the various computer systems integrate.”
Based at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, the main mission of the 152nd is to provide Airmen to augment the Air Force's 603rd Air Operations Center at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. This is the center which controls Air Force operations across Europe and Africa.
Members of the 152nd have been on duty at the 603rd Air Operations Center since the start of the war in Ukraine, assisting in NATO operations monitoring the conflict there, officials said.
Rome Lab efforts
The efforts by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Information Directorate will focus on using artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to speed up the information processing needed for command-and-control efforts by air war planners.
The goal, according to the lab, is to support Air Combat Command requests to harness cutting-edge computer technology to enable planners to have a better picture of the battlefield and the actions they need to take.
"This partnership captures the pillars of our continued dedication to enhance warfighter capabilities, expand available technical options, and deliver with impact," said Col. Fred Garcia, commander of the information directorate, in a statement.
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About the computers
For airmen in this line of work, the computers they use are their "weapons system" just like a fighter pilots' plane or an infantryman's rifle, St. John said.
Having the latest and fastest software lets his team get inside the enemy's decision cycle and make better plans, he added.
The 152nd Airmen put together the plans used to strike enemy air defenses, airfields and important command and control targets on the ground.
The goal of the new work is to develop systems which analyze data and provide the most relevant information used to plan these missions, St. John said.
The program cuts out the other items it could show you and shows you what you are most likely to want, he concluded.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Rome Lab, National Guard to jointly work on war computer systems
