Ball Aerospace, Microsoft Demonstrate Tactical Cloud Computing for Space Force

Ball Aerospace has teamed up with Microsoft to prove the viability of using commercial cloud computing to deliver actionable information quickly to warfighters.

The demonstration was conducted in support of the Space Force Space and Missile Systems Center’s Commercially Augmented Space Inter-Networked Operations Program Office, which specializes in proliferated low Earth Orbit technology and prototyping, Ball Aerospace said Wednesday.

Steve Smith, vice president and general manager of systems engineering solutions at Ball Aerospace, said the demonstration brings the military a step closer toward fielding low-latency links.

“Our tests showed that the cloud is, in fact, a viable solution for data processing, exploitation and dissemination of data that is not only fast, but also flexible, secure, scalable and resilient,” Smith said.

During the test, Microsoft’s Azure cloud processed overhead persistent infrared data using an architecture developed by Ball Aerospace. The data was then distributed to multiple endpoints.

Telesat’s LEO satellites were used to send data down to Ball Aerospace’s Ka-band phased array mounted on a tactical vehicle, simulating how data would be transmitted during real tactical scenarios.

Tom Keane, Microsoft’s corporate VP of Azure global, said satellite and cloud technologies have the potential to provide warfighters advanced analytics and predictive modeling capabilities whenever they need it.

He added that the Ball Aerospace-Microsoft team’s new approach to group processing could also unlock a wide range of commercial applications.

Ball Aerospace, a subsidiary of Ball Corporation, is a spacecraft and payload developer that supports customers in the defense and intelligence communities.

The company provides command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance technologies to the military services.