The Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic is supporting the US Department of Defense’s autonomic logistics information system (ALIS) to manage the logistic needs of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF).

NIWC Atlantic is providing software and architecture engineering support to the logistics system.

ALIS is designed to integrate several capabilities such as operations, maintenance, prognostics, supply chain, customer support services, training and technical data.

The idea behind a single, secure information environment is to provide users with up-to-date information on these areas using web-enabled applications on a distributed network.

F-35 joint programme office (JPO) ALIS lead commander ‘Tripper’ McGee said: “NIWC Atlantic has been so instrumental to ALIS because the organisation has provided highly skilled people to fulfil a variety of roles, from cybersecurity, network architecture, propulsion and new site implementation, to sustainment management.



“NIWC Atlantic has been very responsive to changing programme needs for personnel.”

The F-35 JPO receives support from the NIWC Atlantic air and space team in the form of software development and integration, project management and cybersecurity services.

“NIWC Atlantic has been very responsive to changing programme needs for personnel.”

NIWC Atlantic information technology systems architect John Smith Jr said: “NIWC Atlantic is strategically placed to bring new capabilities at a reduced cost to the programme with a focus on products, people and processes, while delivering information warfare solutions that directly benefit the warfighter.”

The activities performed by NIWC Atlantic include system architecture design and reviews, laboratory hardware/software testing, and local site network design/engineering activities.

In addition, it carries out system installation and testing, technical refresh plan development, requirements change management, and contract development and evaluation for ALIS.

The F-35 has sustainment tools designed together with the aircraft vehicle to deliver efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

ALIS enables tracking of a higher fidelity of information about the F-35 fleet. This is intended to reduce operations and maintenance costs, as well as increase aircraft availability.

Earlier this year, the navy finished the implementation of ALIS 2.0.2.4. ALIS 3.1 incorporates prognostic health of the propulsion system and is expected to be fielded in the next few months.

Further upgrades will be available with the introduction of ALIS 3.5 in October.

During each iteration, ALIS is put through cybersecurity testing, and corrective measures are taken if any vulnerability is identified within the system.