Summary: Plus-ups are projects funded by the Federal Government as the result of a non-public request by a member of Congress to add money to an existing program in the budget. Critics, who include both Democrats and Republicans, argue, among other things, that they are nothing more than wasteful “pork” and that they lack transparency and accountability. Advocates, who also include both Democrats and Republicans, argue that plus-ups encourage innovation by circumventing an otherwise sclerotic budgeting process and that they save the Government money by promoting the development of newer, more efficient, more productive processes and technologies with small-to-medium-sized businesses. Facts show that worthy plus-ups, of which there are many, have great value to the nation. For example, for the Army's Common Logistics Operating Environment (CLOE), CLOE-related plus-up commitments of only $9.05 million resulted in $300 million in savings to the Government – over $30 million saved for every $1 million invested. As data volumes continue to grow while available bandwidth remains static, one could reasonably expect even better than 30-to-1 returns from plus-ups that fund advanced technology solutions, such as the Ironhawk SmartSync® DCS Platform™, to the bandwidth problem. Read more.

Summary: Current operations and future operational success using U.S. technological advantages are dependent on bringing data communications to the warfighting edge. The question at hand is: Can the current the networking layer extend data communications to the warfighting edge?

At a recent Aviation Industry Association conference; General James E. Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), spoke extensively about the lack of communications to the warfighter and its impacts. General Cartwright stated that data gathering, computing power, and [storage] capacity is critical in today's fight and how it gives the American warfighter the edge in battle. From a JCS perspective the ability to send data and store data at the edge is now one of the most difficult problems the combatant commanders face from a communications perspective. Thus, the U.S. Military is making significant investments in empowering the Warfighters at the Forward Operating Bases (FOB) and even in combat situations by providing them with the latest intelligence data in form of data, images and video.
Ironhawk Technologies’ SmartSync® DCS Platform™ uniquely integrates Data Compression, Content Management, and Transport Technologies to effectively manage the delivery of mission critical data via narrowband and intermitted communication networks. This white paper highlights the key features and benefits of Ironhawk’s SmartSync® DCS Platform™ technology, its successful deployment in similar situations, and its applicability to the Air Force and Army’s needs. Read more.

Summary: The difficulty of maintaining communication systems at the edge of the network in the AOR (both Iraq and Afghanistan has proven challenging at best. Using airborne networking layer to deliver light mobile data communications to the warfighter would seem to be a reasonable solution. The main issue with the narrowband communication systems in use with warfighters is the tendency for these systems to “time out” and lose the transmission, causing a restart of the original data transmission.

This demands additional person-hours and resources to complete these transmissions. Furthermore, as the planned OEF reinforcements arrive in-theater this situation will only worsen. Ironhawk’s SmartSync® DCS Platform™, which is currently being implemented within the US Army’s tactical business systems, solves this problem and also provides additional benefits not currently under discussion. Read more.

Ironhawk Awarded PWS Task Order by United States Army Material Command, Logistics Support Activity (LOGSA)

LOS ANGELES – September 19, 2011 – Ironhawk Technologies, Inc., the global leader in delivering decision critical data over narrow band satellite communication networks, today announced that on September 16, 2011, it was awarded a task order by the United States Army Material Command, Logistics Support Activity (LOGSA) under DoD Blanket Purchase Agreement #W91QUZ-11-A-0003 (https://chess.army.mil/ascp/commerce/index.jsp) for the DoD Enterprise Software Initiative (http://www.esi.mil).

Ironhawk SmartSync® used in Navy Trident Warrior (TW11) Ship-To-Shore Data Transfer Tests

LOS ANGELES - February 13, 2011 - Just 6 days after being awarded a $50 Million Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) from The U.S. Department of Defense, Ironhawk continues to receive proof of the industry-transforming results its SmartSync® DCS Platform is achieving through reductions in data utilization, transport and cost.

Specifically, preliminary Navy Trident Warrior (TW11) Ship-To-Shore Data Transfer Tests using the Ironhawk SmartSync® Platform show dramatic bandwidth and transport time reductions in delivering decision-critical data in communication-stressed environments, specifically IP/SATCOM denied conditions.

SmartSync® achieved a 50% compression ratio when sending the initial (baseline) file, which in practice would be preloaded via DVD rather than transmitted at all. Most important, subsequent transfers, which would occur frequently in the real world, yielded compression rates as high as 99%.

For example, Test Case 2.3.2 (send first update to the VM: shore to ship, over the air) showed reductions in size from 2,899.2 MB to 35.13MB. Test Case 2.3.2 (send first update to the VM: shore to ship, over the air) showed reductions in size from 1683.4 MB to 20.2 MB.

Ironhawk Awarded $50 Million Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) From The U.S. Department of Defense

BPA for Enterprise Software Initiative covers all Ironhawk SmartSync® DCS Platform Editions and Modules; also authorizes purchase by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, NATO, NSA, U.S. Coast Guard and all DoD components through GSA and by authorized DoD contractors and Federal agencies

LOS ANGELES – February 7, 2011 – Ironhawk Technologies, Inc., the global leader in delivering decision critical data over narrow band satellite communication networks, today announced that on February 4, 2011, it was awarded Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) #W91QUZ-11-A-0003, by the United States Department of Defense (DoD). The contract’s estimated value is $50 million.

GSA NAMES IRONHAWK TECHNOLOGIES PRIME CONTRACTOR FOR STAMIS

Company also to function as lead systems integrator, subcontracting to IBM and McClane Advanced Technologies

May 26, 2009 − Ironhawk Technologies (formerly known as Integrated Data Corporation), the global leader in delivering decision critical data over narrow band satellite communication networks, today announced the receipt of a major contract award from the General Services Administration (GSA). Specifically, Ironhawk will be the prime contractor and lead systems integrator for providing Data Transfer Enhancements to the U.S. Standard Army Management Information Management Systems (STAMIS) programs. Under the contract, Ironhawk will be responsible for providing these programs with software licenses for the Ironhawk SmartSync® DCS Platform™ and for managing IBM and McClane Advanced Technologies (MAT) as subcontractors. Read more.

Every day, Ironhawk customers use the Ironhawk SmartSync® DCS Platform to help deliver decision critical data throughout the last tactical mile to the tip of the sword over narrow band satellite communication networks.

Our News & Resources section has the latest press releases and technical information describing how we integrate compression, transport, synchronization and content management to enable the fast delivery of heterogeneous, complex data across the global theater. Learn how major branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, and several of the largest defense contractors and systems integrators are using Ironhawk solutions in that theater.