Lockheed Martin announced today that Air Force commanders at different locations now have immediate access to each other's intelligence imagery and services, attributable to the early fielding of the Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) Integration Backbone (DIB). Lockheed Martin integrated the DIB into three previously "stove-piped" autonomous intelligence databases at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, Beale Air Force Base in California, and a forward location in Europe, allowing qualified users to access data in real-time.

"This is a critical step toward a worldwide intelligence sharing enterprise. With this deployment, we now have multiple ways to share data and alert services. Airman at different portals can immediately access more than 80 percent of the imagery produced," said Colonel Alan Tucker, Commander, 950th Electronic Systems Group, Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom AFB.

Completed under an existing contract with the 578th Aircraft Sustainment Squadron at Warner Robins AFB, this early deployment will make the job of intelligence analysts much easier, according to Lieutenant Colonel (s) Mark Mocio, 578th ACSS Commander at Warner Robins. "With the DIB in place, our analysts have real-time access to imagery and intelligence libraries at other Air Force sites as well as other agencies," said Lt Col (s) Mocio.

The DCGS mission is to collect and process vast amounts of intelligence and imagery from manned and unmanned reconnaissance sources. Prior to the development of the DIB, intelligence analysts had to visit multiple collection sources to locate the data needed. By incorporating a set of common interface standards and a service-oriented architecture (SOA), the DIB connects disparate locations and allows analysts with the appropriate security clearance to access a multitude of intelligence sources. Being SOA-based also facilitates the interface with other SOA-based systems and assures the continuous evolution of a web of capabilities.

"Applied broadly across the military, a SOA approach can allow warfighters to access the data needed to conduct their missions, whether it be intelligence, transportation or weather," said John Mengucci, Vice President and General Manager of the Mission and Combat Support Solutions Group for Lockheed Martin's Integrated Systems & Solutions business area. He added that, "this delivery will help ensure our warfighters have access to the data they need to make the right decisions on and off the battlefield."

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2006 sales of $39.6 billion.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin