Open, Scalable, Ready: The Future of Mission Computing with Mercury Systems

Overview

The document discusses the evolving requirements of mission computing in the Aerospace and Defense sector, particularly in light of recent U.S. Department of Defense directives that emphasize the need for faster and more agile delivery of capabilities to warfighters. Brad Bruce, Director of Program Management at Mercury Systems, highlights that modern mission computing systems must be open and scalable to effectively address strategic capability gaps and respond to rapidly evolving threats.

Open architectures, such as the Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA), are crucial for enhancing interoperability and enabling the rapid integration of emerging technologies. This shift allows for greater flexibility across various platforms, whether crewed or unmanned, and ensures that mission computing systems can adapt to different size, weight, and power constraints while maintaining high performance.

One of the significant challenges in implementing these open standards is achieving alignment across diverse platforms and programs, which requires substantial technical, cultural, and organizational coordination. Collaboration among various companies is essential, as no single organization possesses a complete solution. By leveraging the strengths of different partners in areas like processing, RF, security, and software, integrated mission solutions can be delivered more efficiently.

The document also addresses the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on mission computing. AI is seen as a transformative force that can enhance onboard systems by managing complex workloads, such as sensor fusion and real-time threat detection. The development of high-speed digital infrastructures, like Mercury's ROCK3 systems, is aligned with SOSA and Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) standards, facilitating the rapid integration of AI capabilities while ensuring interoperability and upgradeability.

Looking ahead, the integration of AI and autonomous capabilities is expected to significantly improve mission effectiveness by reducing pilot workload and enabling faster, more informed decision-making. As platforms become increasingly complex and data-rich, autonomy will be vital, especially in contested environments where manned and unmanned systems must work together. The document concludes with a commitment to developing mission computing architectures that support safe, secure, and certifiable AI and autonomous operations, ultimately enhancing the capabilities available to warfighters.