Page 29 - Leverage and Learn

Leverage Allied Investments and Combat Learning Experience in Modernizing the U.S. Military

Software upgradeability is a game changer for 21st century systems not well understood or highlighted by
analysts. In the past, new products would be developed to replace older ones in a progressive but linear
dynamic.

But now, one builds a core product with software upgradeability built in, and as operational experience is
gained, the code is rewritten to shape new capabilities over time. Eventually, one runs out of processor power
and BUS performance and needs to consider a new product, but with software upgradeability, the time when
one needs to do this is moved significantly forward in time.

It also allows more rapid response to evolving threats. As threats evolve, re-programming the missiles can
shape new capabilities, in this case the Meteor missile. The current production missile is believed to be using
well below the maximum processing power and bus capacity of the missile. Significant upgradeability is built
in from the beginning.

Although software upgradeability is not new with regard to weapon systems, the F-35 as software
upgradeability is. Combining the launch of a software upgradeable aircraft with a missile designed from the
ground up with upgradeability built in will allow the aircraft and the weapon to evolve together over time to
deal with evolving threats and challenges.

And underlying the model and the code is a multinational team. And this team is the core capability, which
can drive weapons development over time. MBDA has functioned as the prime and has worked with three
aircraft manufacturers and radar manufacturers already and is working with additional players as the missile
prepares to go onto the F-35.

What has been a challenge – working with six air forces – is an opportunity as well. Each of the partners had
different takes on the target set they wished the missile to serve. This has meant that the range of targets and
engagement envelopes were very wide ranging, from low-level cruise missiles and high flyers, to UAVs, to
helos, etc. The end result is a software upgradeable missile with a very wide-ranging initial capability to
deal with a diversity of targets.

Another key aspect of the missile is it is designed from the beginning to be employed on and off-board. It can
be fired by one aircraft against a target initially cued by another aircraft or system and then handed over
for delivery to target by the original aircraft or the inflight data link can be used via another asset – air or
ground based – to guide it to target.

It is understood the missile will be integrated into the Block 4 of F-35. When so done, the missile can provide a
sweet spot of 4th and 5th generation weapons integration with its core networking capability. Because of the
nature of software integration on the F-35, the Meteor missile, which will be integrated onto the F-35 due to
European requirements, means that it is available to all the other global partners of the F-35 as well.

The RAF Typhoon Force is leveraging Meteor as a key asset to work integration with the F-35.

The Typhoon is being modified to enhance its capability to receive targeting data from F-35s and with the
longer range of the Meteor can operate as a weapons caddy for the F-35 in firing many types of weapons,
and certainly provide a significant barrage of air to air strike missiles to support the forward operations of
the F-35.

http://www.sldinfo.com/building-a-21st-century-weapon-the-case-of-the-meteor-missile/

Training is already underway for this transition and interviews with RAF pilots recently involved in Red Flag
and Green Flag exercises in the United States highlighted the evolving RAF thinking.

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