DASLOCA (Data-driven Service Logistics for Contested Airspace)
The Royal Netherlands Air Force is facing a new reality. Whereas for years air operations could be carried out under relatively safe conditions, in the future we will increasingly have to take into account protracted conflicts in which the deployment of aircraft cannot be taken for granted. Maximum operational readiness of equipment is crucial, especially for operations in contested airspace, where threats and uncertainty are ever-present. In such circumstances, it is essential that all resources continue to function reliably. This requires a maintenance and logistics system that is better prepared for uncertainty, scarcity and rapid change.
The project ‘DAta-driven Service LOgistics for Contested Airspace (DASLOCA)’ focuses on developing an innovative, data-driven approach to maintenance and parts logistics for the deployment of fighter aircraft in contested and unpredictable airspace. Two forms of uncertainty are central to this:
• Uncertainty about how intensively and under what conditions aircraft are deployed, for example due to heavier loads during low-altitude or night-time flights, and
• Uncertainty about the locations of aircraft, which can change regularly in conflict situations.
By combining information from sensors with the expertise of technicians, work is being done to produce more reliable predictions of when parts are likely to fail. In addition, a model is being developed to help distribute spare parts intelligently, tailored to changing deployment locations and expected wear and tear.
The DASLOCA project will result in an innovative maintenance concept specifically tailored to uncertain and dynamic environments. The expected outcomes are:
• Software demonstrators that show how decision-making can be improved with the help of data,
• New insights into maintenance and logistics in unpredictable operations, and
• A basis for future technological applications aimed at greater deployability and resilience of air force units.
These outcomes are not only of strategic importance to the air force, but may also be relevant to other organisations operating in high-risk or logistically challenging environments.
