MDK seamlessly fuses sensor and datalink information in a vendor-agnostic platform that evolves along with mission needs. It gives commanders an agile way to speed decisions and orchestrate joint fires.
For USAFE, it expands voice and data communications across Europe, enabling remote orchestration of air traffic and increasing the strategic advantage of NATO allies.
Burt points out the attributes that make this possible: “It’s cost-effective, due to its small size and the fact that it can be maintained remotely—no onsite staff needed,” he says.
“It takes a convoy of trucks to move equipment for a big data center. MDK fits in a closet and takes very little power or effort to set up.”
Booz Allen manager Barry Hertsgaard points out that MDK’s characteristics fit the requirements of Agile Combat Employment (ACE), the Air Force’s operational concept emphasizing distributed units and capabilities. “This is an example of getting tech quickly into the hands of the operators and building on it,” he says.
He points out the progression: “We deployed the initial set of MDK modules as a proof of concept. USAFE has continued to expand the MDK footprint, giving warfighters greater reach across the NATO area of operation."
“The U.S. Air Force is heading toward a highly mobile, distributed C2 operations architecture through TOC-L,” says Jerome Dunn, vice president of command and control solutions at Booz Allen. “MDK provides an early operational glimpse of this key ACE-enabling capability.”
More broadly, the solution also aligns with the focus on speed and open solutions across the Department of Defense (DOD). As Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, commander of United States European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, recently remarked, "There's got to be a mentality, a capability and a system to adapt things quickly and then spread that adaptation across the force.”
Barry points out that having a practical and effective partnership made rapid MDK deployment possible. “USAFE had the vision to pursue this, and Booz Allen had the technology to realize it quickly, simply, and at a favorable cost point.
“We feel this is an example of the type of government-industry partnership that’s critical for the future of U.S. defense.”
