As Aircraft Losses Mount, Pentagon Wants a Software Fix to See Through the Fog of War

The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit has issued an open‑architecture software solicitation to create a real‑time data‑fusion suite for U.S. aircraft operating in the Middle East. The effort, dubbed the “Open Mission Engine,” aims to give pilots a common operating picture that merges intelligence, terrain, weather and blue‑force data onto a single moving‑map display. Recent losses—including seven aircraft in just over a month from friendly‑fire, transponder failures and terrain‑awareness gaps—highlight the urgency of the capability. The program targets legacy platforms such as C‑130s, KC‑130s and older tankers that still rely on antiquated avionics.

Source: Defense One