Tactical Decision Aids to Improve Navy's Plan, Brief, Execute, and Assess Process

The Office of Naval Research (ONR), with assistance from the U.S. submarine force, set out to advance the mission planning capabilities of U.S submarines. Developed as part of the Capable Manpower program in the Office of Naval Research's Future Naval Capabilities initiative, the Mission Planning Application is an interactive software program that can drastically reduce the amount of time required to plan safe submarine missions. The Mission Planning Application software for Program Executive Office Submarine's Advanced Processing Build FY13 (APB-13) is just beginning to be delivered to the fleet. A second spiral software version is currently being developed for APB-15. The software is installed in the submarine combat system and is comprised of a geographical map, timeline, and multiple tactical decision aids. Ship events (e.g., engineering, training, watch bill, etc.) populate the timeline to allow crewmembers to understand where and when each event will occur on the map and to de-conflict future events. This configuration allows crew to plan, brief, execute, and assess in a single software application. Fleet users report that Mission Planning Application reduces opportunities for human error and combines multiple information sources, identifying hazards and inconsistencies automatically. In FY16, ONR is expanding the Mission Planning Application efforts to the surface fleet with the advent of the Operational Planning Tool. The Operational Planning Tool software will facilitate the "Plan-Brief-Execute-Assess" planning cycle at the Carrier Strike Group level, preparing them for operational and combat missions at sea. Operational Planning Tool's shared workspace will improve the efficiency of the planning process and allow for easier re-planning to adjust to changing mission requirements. The Operational Planning Tool's software, Mission Planning Application APB-15 is the baseline, is based on Ozone Widget Framework architecture which is a customizable open-source web application that allows for the addition of new software tools, and for those tools to communicate with each other. Ozone Widget Framework allows users to access multiple tools from one location. Widgets within Ozone Widget Framework behave like apps on a cell phone, allowing new capabilities to be added quickly and easily. Some example widgets that have been demonstrated in the Mission Planning Application include, but not limited to, Satellite Vulnerability Tool, EO-IR Vulnerability Tool, and METOC services. Numerous other decision aids could be created and easily integrated into the Mission Planning Application. Navy Command and Control (PMW-150), Submarine Combat and Weapons Control (PMS-425), Aegis Integrated Combat Systems (PEO IWS1), and SSBN Security Technology Program (N975) are few transition customers of the Operational Planning Tool. These acquisition customers are interested in using the Operational Planning Tool and any new tactical decision aids that could be easily added via Ozone Widget Framework widgets and services. The Office of Naval Research in partnership with these acquisition offices are interested in hearing what new tactical decision aids are available that could aid the war fighter's Plan, Brief, Execute, and Assessment process.