Capabilities

Speed Electromagnetic Operations in the Indo-Pacific

EMSO Challenges & Solutions
SpectrEMPulse

Evolving EMSO: How to dominate the invisible frontier

Military leaders need transformational spectrum operations technologies to ensure decision advantage for forces in the strategic Indo-Pacific region. The Department of Defense (DOD) defines electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMSO) as “coordinated military actions to exploit, attack, protect, and manage the electromagnetic environment.” Working with defense stakeholders, our engineers are identifying top challenges that can be conquered using a modular, open-systems approach.

Potential adversaries have developed technologies that challenge the military's ability to effectively use the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) by degrading or denying access, jamming signals, and disrupting geolocation-enabled devices. “In short, adversaries are trying to control the EMS,” says Dr. Charles Johnson-Bey, a Booz Allen senior vice president who leads emerging technology development.

“Spectrum operations are essential to achieving control of all-domain operations.”

- Scott "Sherm" Oliver, Booz Allen mission expert and former DOD EMSO leader

Rapid instantiation of leading-edge technologies and capabilities is critical to ensure freedom of action within the electromagnetic operating environment. “We need to do a better job of visualizing EMSO in near-real time and building more effective tools to plan, manage, or integrate it,” says Scott “Sherm” Oliver, a Booz Allen mission expert and former leader from the Secretary of Defense’s EMSO cross-functional team. “Spectrum operations are essential to achieving control of all-domain operations,” he adds.

EMSO Challenges

“We’re working with regional EMSO leaders to envision the best path ahead,” says Ken Dworkin, a Booz Allen executive advisor furthering strategic innovation for Indo-Pacific clients. Here are some of the top challenges Ken’s team identified—and how Booz Allen can help:

Challenge #1: Access to Information

Getting the right data to where it is needed is crucial. But data is typically siloed, trapped in closed, proprietary platforms that pose roadblocks to collecting, analyzing, processing, and delivering insights.

» How We Help: Open-Architecture Innovation

Our technologists create solutions using open frameworks, modern data platforms, and application programming interfaces that take data out of propriety systems to maximize discovery and interoperability.

Challenge #2: Tomorrow’s Tools—Needed Today

Commanders and operators need to be able to visualize and plan operations within the digital battlespace, a virtual environment for maneuver and action in the EMS. This requires digital tools and technologies that present understandable, actionable information.

» How We Help: Open-Source Visualization Solutions

“We create customized solutions that enable higher collaboration and greater insights,” says Charles. For instance, our Modular Detachment Kit is a scalable command and control (C2) system that provides visualization of the battlespace across multiple environmental planes. We also create visualization tools using agile software development and model-based systems engineering.

Challenge #3: Speed-of-Insight Delivery

Trusted information must be delivered to the warfighter when it’s needed to enable rapid, accurate decision making. Yet huge volumes of data flood military and intelligence operators faster than they can make sense of it, especially when analytic processes are person-power intensive.

» How We Help: Automation with AI

We deploy artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and other data-driven solutions to overcome the data deluge. They translate data into actionable insights and intelligence that enhance situational awareness—shortening the time it takes to make decisions and take action on EMSO-relevant timescales.

Challenge #4: System Security and Resiliency

Securing the many systems-of-systems involved in modern warfare and providing mechanisms for resilient operations are paramount mission requirements. But as more data moves between disparate systems using various different frequencies, the number of potential attack surfaces grows larger and more complex.

» How We Help: Cybersecurity and Edge Computing

To anticipate attacks and provide mechanisms for resilient operations, we integrate advanced AI-enabled cybersecurity measures into systems as they are developed, versus trying to add security later. Our technologists also develop edge computing and mesh networks—technologies that operate without cloud infrastructure and other traditional networks that are susceptible to EMS attacks.

Challenge #5: Thinking and Operating Differently

Working toward an enterprise-level approach to joint EMSO that leverages advanced technologies and extends to Indo-Pacific partners requires new mindsets and skills.

» How We Help: Supporting Change

We support clients in the cultural and training changes needed to realize enterprise transformations. This includes helping military organizations embrace a partnership mindset—across services and with partners and allies—and tailoring digital simulations and training solutions within the EMS environment to effect force readiness for EMSO.

Featured Solution: SpectrEMPulse

“Electromagnetic platforms are collecting a lot of data that could be useful, but currently it’s thrown away,” says Jeff Palumbo, a Booz Allen chief engineer who leads development on digital solutions for military clients. “Our SpectrEMPulse capability allows us to turn opportunistic data into operationally relevant data.”

SpectrEMPulse uses machine learning and advanced signal processing to distill massive amounts of sensor data into actionable intelligence. It gives tactical users rich near-real-time data to conduct spectrum management and electromagnetic warfare operations over legacy and limited networks at the tactical edge.

“It’s like finding a needle in a haystack—only first you identify what the needle is, what that useful information would be, and then you go find it and fuse it with other data for analysis,” Jeff says. “It’s an easy-to-use way to empower the warfighter to receive rapid insights that might otherwise be overlooked.”

“In working with our Indo-Pacific partners, we see opportunities to bring transformative solutions to address some of the barriers to improved EMSO,” says Charles. “Providing intuitive, powerful analytic tools that integrate into the larger environment are one way to solve challenges faster.” He notes that many of the solutions that will enable EMSO to evolve will also further the connected vision of All-Domain Command and Control.

One thing is certain: The electromagnetic spectrum is a top priority to enable INDOPACOM operations and partnerships, and rapid innovation is imperative. As Scott says, “Whoever controls the spectrum, controls the domain.”