[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When engaging in modern armed conflicts, military forces have one overarching concern at the top of their agenda: soldier survivability. The ability to pinpoint the exact location of your own troops and any coalition troops in your area of operational interest faster and more precisely than enemy forces is a critical factor in soldier survivability.

A battlefield management system (BMS) is a software application that integrates information acquisition and processing to improve military unit command and control. An example of a widely BMS is the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK). ATAK provides advanced information-centric Battle Management Solutions designed to enable tactical leaders to easily analyze, plan, rehearse, execute, and share mission data across all echelons, all while being supported by an innovative network distribution architecture that is resilient to tactical network challenges.

In addition, BMS rely on smart and intelligent sensor and effector technologies and, hence, sensors and effectors have become an essential part of military systems. This article will cover the integration of sensors and effectors used in battle management software applications.

Types of Sensors Used in Battle Management Software Applications

Modern military and defence environments necessitate tested, dependable, and scalable technologies. Sensors are an important component of technologies because they provide solutions to the entire defence ecosystem, such as complex controls, measurements, monitoring, and execution. Drones, spacecraft, missiles, military vehicles, ships, marine systems, satellites, and rockets are examples of military and defence systems. These systems operate in the harshest environments during both normal and combat operations. For surveillance, intelligence, and combat operations, internal and external security systems rely on smart and intelligent sensor technology. Sensors have thus become an essential component of military systems and the performance requirements of all military vehicles, equipment, and related systems.

Sensors are used in a variety of applications, including flight controls, propulsion, environmental monitoring, weaponry controls, indicators, and communications. Sensors can be found in a variety of systems, including security systems, explosive detection systems, chemical warfare, crime detection systems, intrusion detection systems, and civil establishments. Sensors are also used in battlefield surveillance systems to enable modern warfare to be conducted. These are deployed on land, aerial platforms, in space, and underwater to keep a constant eye on a specific target zone.

Active sensors, smart sensors, intelligent sensors, camera sensors, infrared sensors, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), nano-sensors, and wearable sensors are some of the most recent sensors used in battlefield management software applications.

Why Sensors & Effector Integrations Are Useful in Battle Management Software Applications

There are several ways to take down an enemy’s drone. From hard kills to cyber takeovers, missiles and defence deliver tailored effects to the environment and threat. Effectors are technologies that aim to modify the properties of a target and, when combined with other technologies (such as sensors, advanced computing, and so on), form weapons systems. Military defensive needs require a range of affordable, scalable effects against numerous threats and in a range of environments.

Sensors and effectors typically include layered defence against air and missile threats through the development, integration, fielding, and maintenance of superior effector systems utilizing innovative acquisition strategies to deliver capability at the speed of need. The ability of these technologies to outmatch adversaries serves as a deterrent as well as an important enabler of modern offensive and defensive capabilities.

Some examples of modern warfare effectors that have been integrated into illustrative defence applications are as follows:

• Current conventional or novel/next-generation explosives & warheads
• Cyber and electronic warfare (jamming and spoofing)
• High-speed air and missile defence systems.
• Sophisticated unmanned systems (UxV)
• Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) including laser and high-power radio-frequency

KWESST Tactical Awareness and Situational Control System Software

Modern advancements have altered the way military operations are carried out around the world, and the ability to adapt and leverage novel technologies has proven to provide a significant advantage on the battlefield. The battlefield management software applications developed and commercialized by KWESST provide tactical advantages for military, security forces, and personal defence.

KWESST’s signature Tactical Awareness and Situational Control System (TASCS™) for real-time awareness and targeting information from any source (including drones) provides direct streaming through sensors to military smart devices and weapons. The autonomous GreyGhost™ soldier-portable micro drone missile system integrated with high-level effectors defends against small hostile drones, including swarms, using high-speed kinetic impact. Furthermore, the Ground Laser Defence system is used to combat the emerging threat of weaponized lasers against personnel. All of these systems can operate independently or in conjunction with battlefield management system applications like Frontline, Edge, Killswitch, and ATAK (Android Tactical Awareness Kit).

Delivering Cutting-Edge Solutions

The concept of battlefield and military operations has evolved significantly over the years as a result of technological advances. Sensor and effector technologies are becoming more important in various battlefield management software applications, and are used by soldiers on the ground, as well as combat pilots.

The digitization technologies developed by KWESST are aimed at meeting the challenge of fully digitizing the tactical edge. Next-generation battlefield management systems are being developed to provide military forces with real-time situational awareness and coordinated firing capabilities. KWESST’s Team Awareness Kit (TAK) integrations are tactical applications that enable the efficient, real-time sharing of critical information on the battlefield. As a result, KWESST seeks to provide solutions to optimize the tactical edge for dismounted land forces, soldiers, in relation to their operations’ digitization. KWESST focuses on lethality and survivability through modularity and adaptability in the development of battle management software applications.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]