Joint asset visibility: Why so hard? The way ahead: in the fourth and final article of his series on joint asset visibility, the author looks at some of the problems faced by those trying to provide joint asset visibility and the steps being taken to alleviate those problems

Army Logistician, Jan-Feb, 2008 by James C. Bates

To improve the logistics information flow across the DOD supply chain, the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) and DLA have established a single program executive office that will oversee TRANSCOM's Global Transportation Network and DLA's Integrated Data Environment. The goal is to provide cohesive information regarding the supply chain, specifically distribution and cargo movement.

To ensure the ever-increasing timeliness of data, DOD is making solid progress in connecting logisticians. With increasing frequency, the logistics data of dispersed tactical-level ground forces are being transmitted using very small aperture terminal (VSAT) technology. This allows direct support-level computers and unit-level computers loaded with logistics software, such as the Unit Level Logistics System (ULLS), the Battle Command Sustainment Support System (BCS3), and the Assessment Tool for Land Systems (ATLAS), to connect to a device that links the computer data to an outdoor, dish-shaped transceiver located nearby. The dish antenna then transmits or receives data to or from an orbiting satellite within the antennae's direct line of sight. The diameters of most legacy antennae dishes are 10 meters wide or more, but the VSATs are only 0.6 to 3.8 meters wide. They can process about 56 kilobytes per second.

The Army is using VSATs in conjunction with its Combat Service Support Automated Information Systems Interface (CAISI). CAISI is a wireless interface that connects VSAT communications with local and wide area networks. The VSAT/CAISI network can be set up in less than 30 minutes. The current combat service support VSAT system weighs about 500 pounds and is transportable in four transit cases.

In addition to the VSAT, DOD is testing the joint modular intermodal distribution system (JMIDS). JMIDS will provide a means to move supplies from DOD depots and vendor locations to the tactical locations of forward-deployed forces. It has three components: a container (the joint modular intermodal container [JMIC]), a platform on which containers are placed for movement or storage (the joint modular intermodal platform [JMIP]), and an AIT device (currently an active RFID tag).

Although DOD has yet to make a decision on the final dimensions of the JMICs, they will be around 52 inches long, 44 inches wide, and 43 inches tall. Some designs show that JMICs will be able to be stacked one atop another. An empty JMIC will weigh about 325 pounds. (The DOD goal is to reduce this to 250 pounds.) Yet it will be capable of holding about 2,500 additional pounds. To save space, the JMIC is being designed to be collapsible when empty; when collapsed, it will consume about 40 percent of the space it would occupy when expanded. (The DOD goal is to reduce this to 25 percent.) Depending on design, JMICs will be forklift accessible from either four or two sides and will be capable of being hauled via sling load by helicopters, such as the UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-53 Sea Stallion, and CH-47 Chinook, as well as the MV-22 Osprey. They also will be transferable at sea from one ship to another via vertical (by helicopter) or horizontal (by cables temporarily connecting two moving ships) replenishment.