Defense organizations worldwide are faced with growing volumes of data, provided by a variety of producers and transferred via multiple channels to the operational users. While amazing data generation techniques are introduced (to include autonomous sensors and unmanned platforms), data formats are all but standardized, data transfer often involves significant manual efforts (like sending hard drives, faxes or Email), and information about available data is lacking too often. Improving Defense-wide data awareness, i.e., across organizational boundaries, and simplifying and accelerating data sharing are critical factors to succeed in rapidly changing future operating environments.

Distributed ledger technology (aka Blockchain) has gained significant momentum with the rise of crypto currencies like Bitcoin. This paper explores how Blockchains can be leveraged to achieve data awareness in complex organizations and enable data sharing while at the same time providing a high degree of information security.

Specifically, this paper presents two use cases: Firstly, using Blockchains to create situational awareness about simulation resources owned and managed by a variety of organizations. The use case picks up recent M&S as a Service (MSaaS) efforts that aim at providing users a federated discovery toolset for simulation resources across organizations and nations. Secondly, using Blockchains to improve mission data provisioning for military air platforms. Both use cases are illustrated with practical experiences from the MSaaS efforts of the NATO Modelling and Simulation Group (NMSG) and recent German Air Force efforts to improve mission data provisioning.