The Aegis Data Bus Experiment

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper documents an experiment performed by The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory to measure the effect of inserting a data bus into a combat system. The experiment was conducted at the Aegis Computer Center located at the Naval Surface Weapons Center in Dahlgren, Virginia (NSWC/DL). The purpose of the experiment was to determine whether or not the Aegis Weapon System (the core of the Aegis Combat System) could be operated with a portion of its point‐to‐point interelement cables replaced by a data bus. The data bus chosen for the experiment employs message broadcasting with receiver selection. A primary goal of the experiment was to minimize the amount of Aegis computer program changes required to accommodate the data bus.The results presented in this paper will show that the experiment was a success. Key certification tests were passed with no computer program changes to the tactical elements and minimal changes in the Aegis tactical executive (ATES) program (less than 110 words changed).