KEYWORDS

Service Oriented Architecture, Data interoperability, Network Centric, J2EE, XML

ABSTRACT

Ubiquity of wireless and broadband communication network along with information technologies has an impact on defence strategies in modern day battlefields. Future wars will be fought against digital network centric environment with seamless communication and connectivity to ensure passage of information and orders in all directions (using Internet/ Intranet on World Wide Web). These environments will exploit emerging standard for data interoperability among legacy and future systems during implementation of battlefield information systems.

Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is an evolution of Distributed Networks based on request/ response paradigm for synchronous and asynchronous applications. The business logic of an application is broken into modules and presented as services for client applications. These services are loosely coupled in nature; i.e., the service interface is independent of the implementation. Application developers build robust and scalable applications by composing one or more services without knowing the services' underlying implementations.

SOA services have the following key characteristics:

• They have self-describing interfaces in platform-independent XML documents. Web Services Description Language (WSDL) is used to describe the services.
• They communicate among consumers and providers in heterogeneous environments with messages defined via XML Schema.
• They are maintained in the enterprise by a registry using Universal Description, Definition, and Integration (UDDI).
• They have associated quality of service (QOS) covering security requirements (such as authentication and authorization), reliable messaging and others.

ASL Advanced Systems Private Ltd. (ASL) is currently developing an integrated navigation, tracking and fire control system to integrate tank units into the digital battlefield by adding the ability to generate a common language comprising of all target coordinates.

The salient features of the system are:

• GPS based navigation
• Location Management
• Track vehicle based on start and end time
• Query positions based on vehicle identifiers
• Transmit messages to operational units
• Identification and target discrimination
• GIS for decision support in time and space
• Map overlays for dissemination of info
• Monitor emergency situation
• Trigger alarm on receipt of emergency messages and show position on map
• Response messages to driver by text/ voice
• Bi-directional transmission between vehicle and command center
• Fire co-ordination
• Command and Control
• Mission Assignment
  

This paper covers implementation of Information System (IS) for increased situation awareness and improved command and control decision among geographically dispersed forces using digital centric battlefield and Service Oriented Architecture.

REFERENCES

• Kaushal A., Shaping the Modern Day Battlefield Using Geomatics Technologies, National Seminar on Defence in Communication ‘Communication in Tactical Battle Area’, DEFCOM India 2006, April 2006, New Delhi
• Kaushal A., GNSS for Intelligent Fleet Management, Location, Issue 01, Volume 02, May - June 2006.
• Kaushal A., Role of Technology in Spearheading LBS, 2nd Annual International Conference and Exhibition on Positioning, Navigation and Timing, Location 2006, June 7-9, Bangalore
• Kaushal A., Web enabled access, retrieval and dissemination of geographically distributed spatial data, International Symposium on ‘Geospatial databases for sustainable development’, organized by ISPRS (International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing) during September 27-30, 2006, Goa
• Kaushal A., ‘Role of GIS and GNSS in Navigation’. Workshop on AGV organized by CVRDE, December 5-8, 2006, Chennai