Where does cloud computing go in the high-end "military" sector?

With strong computational performance, reliability, high security, high versatility, scalability; computing systems virtualization; "Cloud computing", known for its features such as on-demand services and low operating costs, has taken root in the corporate marketplace, but in another relatively independent and mysterious and high-end "military" sector, what is the point of cloud computing?

Engels once put forward: "Once the technological progress can be used for military purposes and has been used for military purposes, they are almost mandatory, and often in violation of the commander's will caused by changes in the way of warfare or even change." "such as missile defense systems, such as radar, such as cloud computing. As we all know, the military field is the advanced concept, cutting-edge technology and the latest equipment stage. Cloud computing, some military experts describe it as a new era without smoke in the information strategy game; Some experts predict that cloud computing will dominate the war in the new information age.

Cloud computing is strong in international military

Cloud computing is more widely used in military applications than in the civil sector. Specifically, it can provide powerful data support for information sharing, information fusion, battlefield situation analysis and auxiliary decision-making. It was this advantage that led the Pentagon to enter into a partnership deal with Hewlett-Packard in July 2008, which would help the Pentagon build a huge cloud-computing infrastructure. Build a rapid access computing environment (RACE) by building cloud computing strategies to allocate server resources to the various customers of the Defense Information Systems Bureau when needed. The goal is to ensure that the Department of Defense can reduce costs while providing users with fast, customized self-service. Since the operation of the race on October 1, 2008, hundreds of military software such as command and control software, satellite planning software, etc. have been developed and tested through the virtual server provided by race.

At the beginning of February 2010, IBM signed a pilot contract with the U.S. Air Force to build a cloud computing network for the U.S. Air Force to protect defense and military information. IBM will design and build a cloud computing environment for its 9 command centers, 100 military bases and a USAF network of 700,000 troops scattered around the world, with the aim of better securing the military's network and building a way for the Air Force to continue to monitor and analyze all network data, To look for any threats or signs of trouble.

The August 28 news is also shown that the United States Army through the Joint Operations Command Platform (joint Battle command-platform,jbc-p) for two years of additional testing and adjustment, a new generation of "blue Army Tracking System," (Blue Force Tracker, BFT) is nearing the end of the development process. The system will be used to monitor the location of vehicles on the battlefield. The new model of the Blue Army tracking system faster, more reliable, and has better security (encryption). The new control device operates like a smartphone and is easy to learn. The product also includes 1 related procedures, tactical ground reporting system (tactical UPS REPORTING,TIGR), which allows the force to report digitized intelligence data (including pictures or video) and quickly to headquarters and nearby combat units. The new Blue Army tracking system has been developed for more than 10 years and has undergone several software upgrades, but the joint Operation command platform has been upgraded in hardware.

It is reported that the U.S. military is now equipped with more than 100,000 sets of blue Army tracking system, the problems include: the time delay from the satellite to obtain the latest data (usually up to 5 minutes), the user on the screen to indicate enemy or dangerous (such as minefields, roadside bombs, etc.) of the static icon can not be updated accurately and The U.S. military solved most of the problems by upgrading the software in 2011. For example, satellite data Update latency is shortened to 10 seconds (or less), and new software helps in time to clear inaccurate icons that indicate the actual or possible location of the enemy. An improved Blue Army tracking system network enables users to send additional information, such as attachments. The use of the Blues tracking system makes automated command and control systems more efficient because they can deliver more information more quickly between headquarters and the force. The existing Blue Army tracking system laptops (including satellite communications hardware) are being replaced by a much more powerful device, similar to the original 50%.

Other countries have invested in the construction of cloud computing information. Our country is no exception.

Inference of domestic military cloud computing

In the Air Force Equipment Research Institute Communications 14th Room Director, Senior engineer Wang Zigang and the Air Force 95,801 team, the assistant engineer Chen Juhong 2011 "Cloud Computing in the Military Information construction application Analysis", we can see the domestic military in the cloud computing some status quo. The article points out, "Our information construction is still in the beginning stage of all-round development, in the use of cloud computing, focus on its ' two abilities ' to achieve ' two big advantages '. ”

In fact, in the military information construction, the demand of data processing is quite outstanding. The acquisition, storage and processing of large amounts of data are highly demanding in the information system, whether it is daily work or operational command. Our army has traditionally adopted a large number of expensive servers in a way that does not meet the growing demand for data storage and processing, and seriously hinders the rational sharing and flow of data. Using cloud computing can obviously solve this problem, the realization of information sharing and processing, because its construction is far less difficult than the supercomputer, the scale can be dynamically regulated, easy to deploy in the military network system, so that the formation of a super core node, efficient processing of massive data and rapid feedback to all levels of network, to achieve the battlefield situation, The real-time and seamless combination of weapon system and combat personnel greatly enhances the overall combat capability of the Army.

The other is to exert its powerful data calculation and information processing ability to realize "decision advantage". Using cloud computing to build battle command clouds, changing the traditional pyramid-like structure to the "end-cloud-end" Command mode can shorten the operation command flow, reduce the operation information flow, improve the decision-making ability of command information system, strengthen the transverse joint of each arms, accelerate the reaction speed and combat ability of the troops, To realize the joint operation under the condition of informatization. At the same time, cloud computing has excellent scalability, the use of cloud computing, on the battlefield to establish the alleged node time may only take a few minutes, because the only thing to do is to connect the terminal to the battlefield network nodes, on-demand customized functions of the cloud services, and then generate a corresponding system.

However, the lack of strategic planning, low level of construction, lack of uniform standards, the security of the cloud, the core technology constraints, weak innovation, and other problems that plagued the development of the industry are also reflected in the military. And unlike civil, military in these areas to go more far-reaching. In fact, we can get information from a few bits and pieces of information: April 2012 Xinhua a video "" Pioneer of the era of military information construction Vanguard "clearly stated that" the staff of the Institute of Information Science and technology first proposed the ' Integrated design, component transformation, standardization of the chain, Systematic integration of the technical concept (the author interprets: This is the core technology of cloud computing), and successively broke through hundreds of key technologies, providing information technology support for our battle effectiveness. At present, this is the average age of only 35-Year-old young team, but also to the cloud computing, information grid and other new concepts, new technologies, in order to accelerate the transformation of our military battle generation model to find new ways. ”

More than that. 2012 China News Network "China's military 2012 exercise inventory: Emphasis on information and joint operations" in the article, review of the first half of the 2012-year Chinese military drills on the battlefield. From the joint training of colleges and combat forces, to the Air force more than a few thousand Trinidad grin joint operations, and the foreign military Tian, highlighting the emphasis on information, joint operations and other characteristics. Especially on July 16, "Beyond -2012a" command confrontation drills held in Nanjing, this is the first time the PLA troops and institutions launched a command confrontation exercise, the fundamental purpose is to change the original command training "self-guided self-play" of the shortcomings, truly achieve the command structure, simulation "Blue Army" and the guiding mechanism of the three-party separation, Increased the ability of the head of the force to use information systems to direct war and organize training. It is reported that the Chengdu Military Division of a Red Army teacher Hu Zhengjiang had regrets: "Usually lead hundreds of times, criticism Bai, also better than real fight against the fight." Online command and confrontation drills are like incubators, speeding up the development of advanced warfare concepts, and promoting the transformation of Directorate training to depth. ”

In fact, our army has always been to "build information military, win the information war" as the strategic goal, in the daily training and exercise in the constant emphasis on information warfare and joint operations. It is reported that in mid-June 2012 "Airborne 2012" exercise, missiles, rockets, chariots, mortars, gun, dozens of kinds of equipment to battle, Beidou, satellite, Radio, integrated command platform information also appeared in the battlefield. The exercise, the command to achieve from relying on Radio voice command, to transfer data transmission, in intelligence processing, single batch target processing speed increased by 80%, and the discovery target to the projectile launch time shortened by 70%. And in early summer season, the Chinese air Force more than a few troops drill thousands of grin joint operations, in this exercise, the blue side formation of multiple machines thousands of miles grin, break through the red side of 6 batches of layers of interception, arrived at the unknown airspace will be launched accurate blow.

Science and technology strong military, military strong state strong. To integrate the existing battlefield sensor networks, military computer networks and weapon platforms, realizing the network and intellectualization of collecting, processing and distributing information, laying a solid foundation for establishing the integrated information warfare platform of land, sea, air, sky and electricity, speeding up the transformation of battle effectiveness generation mode, and improving the combat capability under the condition of informatization as soon as possible, Are inseparable from cloud computing. We will closely follow new technologies that are visible in recent military exercises, and more on behalf of cloud applications.

(Responsible editor: The good of the Legacy)