Lockheed Martin Flies Real-Time, Mission Enabling Kubernetes Onboard U-2

Lockheed Martin has conducted a flight test mission featuring distributed processing onboard the U-2 Dragon Lady via Kubernetes containerization technology. The demonstration is a critical steppingstone toward creating a DevSecOps environment to enable the delivery of enhanced software capability to airborne assets in real-time.

"The U-2 Kubernetes demonstration from mid-November not only advances the deployment pipeline for in-flight software upgrades but also operationally extends the computational resources for mission execution," said Jeff Babione, vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works.

"This additional capability makes it possible for the warfighter to quickly adapt to changing threat environments without costly or time-consuming system upgrades."

To accelerate software delivery from months to hours, the Lockheed Martin team leveraged a Kubernetes cloud configuration. This configuration, which was previously demonstrated during the OpenAirKube demo in late August, was flown on the U-2 via an Enterprise Open System Architecture Mission Computer (EMC2). The EMC2 is representative of the Open Mission Systems (OMS) mission computer currently being developed for the U-2 program of record.

The U-2 flew a Kubernetes cloud that connected in-flight to a ground node, extending the U-2's network-of-networks connectivity. Air Force OMS-compliant datalink gateway software services onboard the U-2 and in the ground node within the Kubernetes cloud disseminated sensor data, dynamically bridging datalinks across assets. This distributed processing approach allows the cloud computing technology to scale up for advanced mission processing based on the unique needs of the battlespace.

A combat proven platform that's supporting important missions today, the U-2S continues to provide new capabilities to transform the future battlespace by enabling rapid development, testing, demonstration, and fielding to the warfighter.

Related Links
Lockheed Martin
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

Lockheed nets $900M for first industry-based F-16 depot in U.S.
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 14, 2020
A $900 million sustainment program for F-16 fighter planes will involve the first U.S.-based industry depot, the U.S. Air Force announced. The 10-year contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin, which will use its Greenville, S.C., site to provide depot-level maintenance and modernization of the planes throughout their life cycles, the company said in a press release. The Continental United States Depot contract is the first use of the contracted depot concept for Air Force maintenance with ... read more