JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Exercise Valiant Shield participants from the U.S Air Force, Navy, Marines and Army tested the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) and Multidomain Operations Center – Forward, 22 Sept. 2020.
The joint team conducted scenarios with a mix of live and virtual aircraft, including a C-17, KC-46 and F-22s, and simulated aircraft to experiment with ABMS. The scenario tested distributed basing and joint fires in a contested environment.
“The way we win in the future is being able to move data quickly. To do this, we need an interconnected battle network which affords us the technological ability to achieve all-domain superiority—on land, sea, undersea, air, space and cyberspace,” said Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Pacific Air Forces commander. “This test gave us an opportunity to look at different ABMS options and technology to link the joint force together and exercise command and control across multiple domains during simultaneous missions in the wide Indo-Pacific theater.”
The experiment, known as an Onramp #3, leveraged current Air Operations Center weapon systems to detect and defeat adversaries while maintaining air superiority. A major focus for the test during Valiant Shield was Joint All-Domain Command and Control, known more commonly by its acronym JADC2, to give the services an opportunity to work together to implement and test joint operations concepts.
“ABMS demonstrates the Air Force’s contribution to Joint All-Domain Operations and the joint warfighter. This system will push down responsibilities to the lowest commander to make better decisions, faster,” said Lt. Col. Mike Boyer, Valiant Shield deputy air lead.
VS provided a unique opportunity for the different service branches to develop their joint capabilities in multi-domain operations.
“Training together during exercises such as Valiant Shield validates, refines and enhances the military’s ability to present a seamless joint force. The relationships developed through this joint exercise help facilitate clear lines of communication and foster a spirit of cooperation to meet regional and global challenges for mutual benefit,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Beau White, Valiant Shield maritime cell lead.
Another experimental portion of the exercise is the MDOC-F, a forward joint center that consolidates the decision making process and gives joint teams the ability to co-locate in order to use U.S assets strategically and in close coordination with other military components.
“The MDOC experiment is accelerating change and exploring every option to best maintain operational momentum in forward echelons in contested environments,” said Boyer.
Valiant Shield 20, the eighth iteration since 2006, allows the U.S. joint force to more fully develop Joint All-Domain Operations concepts through exercises and safe experimentation for application in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility.
Valiant Shield is a biennial, U.S.-only, joint field training exercise held from Sep. 14-25. The primary focus of Valiant Shield was to demonstrate the U.S. military’s commitment to preserving, securing, maintaining regional stability and remaining postured to respond when needed.