Boeing Selects Sun’s JXTA Technology For U.S. Army Future Combat Systems

JXTA, the Industry Leading P2P Technology, to be Embedded as Discovery Mechanism as Part of Multi-Billion-Dollar Future Combat Systems Project

SANTA CLARA, Calif.
June 13, 2005

Sun Microsystems, Inc. today announced that Boeing, the lead systems integrator for the U.S. Army’s multi-billion dollar Future Combat Systems (FCS) initiative, has selected JXTA technology to provide the P2P discovery service for the System of Systems Common Operating Environment (SOSCOE.)

“The entirety of FCS software depends upon the flawless operation of the SOSCOE,” said Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems vice president and general manager of Future Combat Systems. “JXTA technology was selected to be included as the basis for P2P discovery service in SOSCOE because it has the proven flexibility, extensibility, security, and scalability necessary to connect hundreds of thousands of personnel, remote sensors, and other resources in real-time. JXTA technology ensures that services registered can be found quickly and efficiently.”

FCS is a networked “system-of-systems,” combining advanced communications and technologies to link soldiers with unmanned sensors and air platforms, and both manned and unmanned ground platforms. As a key part of the Department of Army’s visionary transformation plan, FCS will significantly increase the Army’s agility and reduce logistics requirements, allowing it to go anywhere and to overcome any adversary. FCS is also designed from the ground up to enhance joint operations and coordination between U.S. and coalition forces.

“We are proud to add FCS to JXTA technology’s continued adoption in the federal government space. The SOSCOE development points out the critical importance the government places on dynamic discovery and distribution of content,” said Juan Carlos Soto, chief technology officer, Software, Sun Microsystems. “Working with Boeing, the FCS program and the U.S. Army offers JXTA technology yet another opportunity to illustrate how P2P has moved from traditional file sharing to large scale, highly complex deployments.”

Sun Microsystems reports that in addition to FCS, JXTA technology is currently deployed or under consideration by several other companies under contract by federal and state/local government agencies, including BBN Technologies and ShareDynamics, Inc.

The open source community of more than 20,000 members has evolved JXTA technology into an open set of XML-based protocols for creating P2P style network computing applications and services quickly and easily. The community also just released the latest version of JXTA technology, which offers enhanced scalability and performance. To download the new release visit www.jxta.org.


About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

A singular vision — “The Network Is The Computer” — guides Sun in the development of technologies that power the world’s most important markets. Sun’s philosophy of sharing innovation and building communities is at the forefront of the next wave of computing: the Participation Age. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the Web at http://sun.com

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