Fans of the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) modular open systems approach (MOSA) mandate got a nice surprise before the December holiday season: a new Tri-Service memo emphasizing continued support for MOSA, well-timed with new DoD leadership coming in focused on reforming acquisition.

Embedded systems form the backbone of modern defense capabilities, controlling everything from weapons systems and communications to flight controls and mission-critical sensors. As adversaries become increasingly sophisticated with regard to cyberwarfare, securing the software within these embedded systems is necessary to maintain military advantage and operational resilience.

It’s in the U.S. Army’s nature to act with precision and synchrony when executing complex tasks such as multidomain operations, training, and logistics, so why would we expect anything less from the software that powers it?

Ushering in a new generation of Internet Protocol (IP)-based communications has been a primary goal for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Since the end of 2021, the DoD has been working toward network and voice modernization that relies on IP-based services instead of time division multiplexing (TDM) circuits. The department also set a policy that eliminates the use of TDM and requires the migration of all component mission requirements for transport to IP-based services by March 2025.

Each issue, the editorial staff of Military Embedded Systems will highlight a different organization that benefits the military, veterans, and their families. We are honored to cover the technology that protects those who protect us every day.

President-elect Donald Trump says he is looking to disrupt government and eliminate waste and no department will go untouched, especially the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Aligning with billionaire and well-known cost-cutter Elon Musk, along with entrepreneur and erstwhile presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, he is forming the Department of Government Efficiency, what is planned to be a presidential advisory commission, to enact this promise.

WARFARE EVOLUTION BLOG: Let’s take a break from exploring the worldwide markets for military platforms in these essays, and connect some dots between the SR-72, the (Next Generation Air Dominance) fighter plane, and the B-21 Bomber. From the latest news reports, they all seem to be related. Dissecting each of these platforms should give us a better understanding of what’s going on inside the U.S. Air Force.

Each issue, the editorial staff of Military Embedded Systems will highlight a different organization that benefits the military, veterans, and their families. We are honored to cover the technology that protects those who protect us every day.

Despite the recent surge in military spending on artificial intelligence (AI), the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is still falling behind its adversaries in leveraging this groundbreaking capability for national defense. Not only is China beginning to outpace the U.S. in both AI investment and innovation, but the DoD is also struggling to compete with the private sector in the war for talent.

Military embedded systems are pivotal in modern defense operations, ensuring robust, real-time data analysis and secure communication. They play critical roles in air, land, and naval platforms in support of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); command-and-control systems; and data acquisition. As the demand for these highly specialized systems grows, so too does the need for technological advances that address operational requirements and cost efficiency.

In the rapidly evolving world of defense, military organizations must continuously adapt to maintain readiness and effectiveness. To meet these demands, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) has embraced innovative solutions like the Marine Corps Platform Integration (MCPIC) System. This advanced system dramatically enhances the service branch’s ability to manage critical assets while streamlining operations for improved efficiency and control.

Each issue, the editorial staff of Military Embedded Systems will highlight a different organization that benefits the military, veterans, and their families. We are honored to cover the technology that protects those who protect us every day.

There is a lot of talk about terms like the military edge and artificial intelligence (AI) and their impact on military capability. Many of these conversations start with questions like “What is the edge?” “What is artificial intelligence?” and “What do edge computing and AI imply for embedded systems in the defense market?” Edge computing and AI are two powerful technologies that, when combined, significantly enhance operational capabilities.

The defense industry stands at a critical juncture, tasked with confronting increased challenges in terms of sustaining operational efficiency and national security amid evolving threats and technological advancements. Central to these situations are supply-chain vulnerabilities and component obsolescence, both of which can undermine mission readiness. To counter these risks, advanced defense software solutions can offer innovative approaches to manage and mitigate supply-chain disruptions and ensure the longevity and effectiveness of defense systems.

WARFARE EVOLUTION BLOG. In my previous seven articles, we explored the worldwide markets for most military platforms. However, there are two platforms left to complete our study – satellites and helicopters. I saved these two segments for last since they share some common characteristics. Satellites expend their limited fuel struggling to stay in orbit (station keeping) while helicopters use their fuel thrashing the air furiously with rotor blades to stay aloft. Both fight a constant battle against gravity so that’s why I put them together for this essay. As they say in the aviation community: airplanes want to fly, but satellites and helicopters don’t.