JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas – A cross-functional team led by Kessel Run and heavily supported by Air Education and Training Command is spearheading an innovative approach to software development to modernize the digital backbone of the Air Force’s flying operations.
Answering Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink’s call for agile acquisition and mirroring Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach’s sharp focus on combat readiness, the Aerospace Readiness Enterprise System (ARES) is being designed to deliver a unified, user-friendly solution for aircrew scheduling, training, and standardization/evaluation.
"Every pilot's first impression of the Air Force is how we manage our aircrew, and we see an opportunity to modernize that experience," said Col. Brian Benton, AETC Command Integration Center lead. "ARES is our commitment to delivering a modern solution. With AETC accounting for approximately 45% of the Air Force's flying hours and an enterprise user base of approximately 149,000 Airmen, getting this right is a top priority."
The Air Force was pursuing multiple flight operations solutions across the MAJCOMS to modernize aging platforms such as Graduate Training Integration Management System (G/TIMS), Patriot Excalibur (PEX), and Puckboard. However, as the MAJCOMs partnered with HAF A3T and Kessel Run to look at solutions, they identified an opportunity to modernize and integrate their siloed systems together. .
Funded by Air Combat Command and developed in partnership with Kessel Run, as well as other major commands like Air Mobility Command, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Air Force Special Operations Command, ARES directly supports the service's digital strategy to create a unified, agile enterprise platform.
“This effort represents a fundamental shift in how the Air Force approaches flight operations,” Benton said. “Developed on a modern Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform within the Air Force’s new Operations Enterprise Architecture, ARES is designed to provide a one-stop shop for an Airman's entire career.”
The goal is to deliver a unified data layer that provides real-time readiness visibility to commanders and AI-powered optimization tools to schedulers. This seamless data integration will offer the greater flexibility and agility required to operate in a contested environment.
A key part of this new approach is ensuring the final product meets the needs of the warfighter by involving operators at every stage. The program recently kicked off a 90-day competitive prototyping phase, where multiple vendors are developing concepts in a challenge-based "bake-off.” This summer, a select group of users from squadrons across 19th Air Force will have the first opportunity to see these prototypes in action and provide the actionable feedback that will ensure the system is truly “built for aviators by aviators,” Benton said.
"We want to generate enthusiasm for this new process, but we also want to set realistic expectations," Benton explained. "What Airmen will see in June are concepts of what is possible—the art of the possible—not the final, polished product. Their feedback is the critical ingredient that will ensure we build a system they will actually want to use."