Us Airborne Corps Conducts Annual Scarlet Dragon Exercise To Enhance Data Sharing Capabilities

The XVIII Airborne Corps has been conducting its quarterly Scarlet Dragon exercise since 2020, with the latest iteration taking place in March. The exercise aims to refine operational capabilities and processes related to sharing data and closing kill chains from intelligence to targeting for data-centric warfare.

Maj. Brandon Rose, G-3/5 at the XVIII Airborne Corps, believes that the technical aspects of battlefield data transfer are crucial to winning or losing wars. “Our ability to stay ahead with our data and to inform the commander and to utilize tools to keep us out of grinding on an Excel sheet or a PowerPoint slide and actually think and stay agile mentally, that could be the difference,” Rose said.

The corps has been experimenting with incorporating commercial datasets into its operations, which was not possible in the past due to title policies and US code limitations. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Sean Benson, senior GEOINT technical officer for XVIII Airborne Corps, explained that these adjustments were made after observations and discussions with lawyers about what can be done legally and what needs to be changed with the architecture and data structure.

Each iteration of Scarlet Dragon is an opportunity to solve new problems. Rose and Benson emphasized the importance of testing different pathways, APIs, and cross-domain solutions to find the most reliable ones. They also highlighted the need to harness commercial data to provide context in real-time.

The exercise tests not only the corps’ methods for sharing data but also its ability to do so when an adversary is watching closely. The goal is to minimize the footprint while maintaining access to critical information. Officials are looking at the best paths available, akin to a PACE plan for communications, which stands for primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency.

The Scarlet Dragon has stressed-tested the Army’s newest intelligence fusing system, identifying several issues with how data moves from one system to another. The Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node (TITAN) system is being pushed to its limits to understand how it interacts with other systems.

As the corps continues to refine its data paths, a key focus is on the quality of data collected from all directorates that will eventually feed into a visualization for the commander. A predictive logistics dashboard and visualization are essential for increasing combat power. However, logistics reporting often comes from low levels of the battlefield, resulting in outdated and inaccurate information by the time it reaches the corps or equivalent echelon level.

The exercise is examining how to utilize secure but unclassified-encrypted devices at the company level to feed into systems like Maven Smart System more rapidly, providing more accurate information and accounting. The challenge lies in sharing information across domains, from low-to-high, which is a continuous issue.

Rose emphasized that finding ways to minimize the footprint while maintaining access to critical information is crucial. “If we’re looking at how do we share information or pull logistics information or even location information from a host nation force or a partner force that isn’t operating on the same networks that we are, those cross-domain solutions, how we go from low-to-high and back-and-forth is a continual issue and it’s always something.”

The Scarlet Dragon exercise is an ongoing effort to refine data transfer methods and ensure that the corps remains ahead of its adversaries. By experimenting with commercial datasets and stress-testing its systems, the XVIII Airborne Corps aims to improve its ability to make informed decisions in real-time.

The integration of commercial data into military operations has been a subject of interest for years. The discovery of the need for commercial datasets came through the corps’ work with Ukraine in the early days of Russia’s invasion. Adjustments were made to address these issues, but it also highlighted the need for changes in the architecture and data structure.

Each iteration of Scarlet Dragon is an opportunity to solve new problems, test different pathways, APIs, and cross-domain solutions, and harness commercial data to provide context in real-time. The exercise tests not only the corps’ methods for sharing data but also its ability to do so when an adversary is watching closely.

The success of Scarlet Dragon will depend on its ability to address these challenges and provide a more integrated and seamless flow of data across all directorates. As the corps continues to refine its methods for sharing data, it is clear that the integration of commercial datasets into military operations will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of warfare.

The Army’s emphasis on data-centric warfare is a growing trend that seeks to leverage technology and information to gain a strategic advantage over adversaries. The success of Scarlet Dragon relies on its ability to address these challenges and provide a more integrated and seamless flow of data across all directorates.

As the competition for military dominance intensifies, the XVIII Airborne Corps is well-positioned to benefit from its emphasis on data-centric warfare. By refining its methods for sharing data and leveraging commercial datasets, the corps will be better equipped to stay ahead of its adversaries and provide a strategic advantage in the years to come.

The integration of commercial data into military operations has far-reaching implications that extend beyond the battlefield. As the use of technology and information becomes increasingly prevalent, it is essential to develop strategies for sharing data across domains and minimizing the footprint while maintaining access to critical information.

The Scarlet Dragon exercise serves as a model for how military organizations can adopt a more agile approach to decision-making by leveraging commercial datasets and secure but unclassified-encrypted devices. By examining the challenges and opportunities presented by these technologies, the corps aims to improve its ability to make informed decisions in real-time.

As the Army continues to refine its methods for sharing data, it is clear that the integration of commercial datasets into military operations will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of warfare. The success of Scarlet Dragon depends on its ability to address these challenges and provide a more integrated and seamless flow of data across all directorates.

The XVIII Airborne Corps has taken a significant step forward with its emphasis on data-centric warfare, positioning itself for long-term success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. By leveraging commercial datasets and secure but unclassified-encrypted devices, the corps will be better equipped to stay ahead of its adversaries and provide a strategic advantage in the years to come.

The Army’s Scarlet Dragon exercise has shown that with continued innovation and experimentation, military organizations can develop strategies for sharing data across domains and minimizing the footprint while maintaining access to critical information. As the competition for military dominance intensifies, it is clear that this approach will be essential for success.

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