Empowering tactical decision-making and improving situational awareness

Insta has launched Insta DomainLink Secret, a high-performance cross-domain solution (CDS) for secure, real-time data exchange between different networks and systems. Modern technological solution enables real-time, secure bi-directional data transfer between military domains, such as land, maritime, and air, and security clearance between different classification levels across the chain of command.

Developed in collaboration with Lockheed Martin for the exchange of data in complex military network environments, its advanced operational security and cybersecurity abilities help safeguard data against threats. The system also allows improved situational awareness and faster tactical decision-making across military domains.

The solution enables real-time, secure bi-directional data transfer between military domains, including land, maritime, and air, as well as security clearance between different classification levels across the chain of command.

Typically, military branches, such as the navy and air defence, have their own command and control systems with limited ability to exchange information in a controlled way due to a lack of proper cybersecurity controls to enable connections. This can slow decision-making, which lessens situational awareness and might jeopardise the mission and put troops at risk.

Multi-domain operations refer to military operations that integrate and synchronise actions across multiple military branches to attain a key strategic objective. For example, a major NATO mission can include land, maritime, air, space, and cyber operations – all taking place at the same time over a vast area. The more NATO operatives participate, the more complex the data exchange between different networks and systems becomes.

The solution has been specifically developed to fulfil the increasing challenges of the modern defence and military realities, including cyber threats, says Petri Reiman, senior vice president, Defence and Cyber Security at Insta.

“For example, if there were a military conflict in Europe, it would be necessary to communicate critical information between different systems and chains of command. An F-35 on a stealth mission needs to be able to share the information that all of its sophisticated sensor systems detect with the rest of the forces. If the aircraft detects an enemy threat, you need to decide very quickly who responds to it: the air force, a navy vessel, or ground-based assets? Real-time sharing of data and its effects across all branches is critical for both command and on-field operatives to effectively respond to threats and achieve high joint operational capability,” says Reiman.