The challenge of interoperability, the ability of systems to exchange services in ways that enable them to work effectively together, has increased with the number of heterogeneous deployed automated systems.
Transforming Tactical Messaging: Exploiting Web Information Standards for Interoperability
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The challenge of interoperability—the ability of systems to exchange services in ways that enable them to work effectively together—has increased with the number of heterogeneous deployed automated systems. Message Text Formats (MTFs) are a primary means for satisfying information exchange requirements (IERs) and for supporting system interoperability. In defense contexts, MTFs such as MIL STD 6040 govern a significant portion of all exchanged structured text information and support the full spectrum of military operations. The Air Force has recognized the need to evolve prevailing information management processes to achieve cost savings, to improve interoperability and to meet unprecedented increases in operational tempo. We discuss how the Air Force, with assistance from MITRE, is transforming and exploiting tactical messaging standard management processes through XML technologies to achieve a DoD information environment. Web services and electronic business XML (ebXML) architecture principles provide a web-based context for this vision. The model includes information sharing between national and coalition systems and operational facilities via agreed information packages called XML-MTF's, a web-enabled variant of MIL STD 6040. Doctrinal and operational business rules captured from various sources also will be represented via XML technologies. This future vision has been briefed and agreed in both joint and coalition forums. We also enumerate various XML-based efforts that have been initiated by AFC2ISRC/SCG at Langley AFB, with some products already in place, and parallel efforts in NATO. Early results promise rapid, low-cost technological improvements to message-based interoperability. These initiatives will provide the products and services needed to achieve a DoD information environment based on the ebXML and web services paradigms, using XML technologies to evolve messaging. The processes we describe will lay the foundation for maintaining Information Superiority based on next generation smart-pull, information-on-demand technologies.