The DoD employs HPC servers to achieve optimal levels of scalability, efficiency, resiliency, and performance, allowing users to operate with confidence and solve some of the countryโs greatest challenges.
In an age of evolutionโwith growing economic rivalries, breakthrough scientific discoveries, and escalating global threatsโtechnology is key to coming out on top. Digital transformation is enabling governments to work quickly, securely, and intelligently, and stay one step ahead of their competitors.
Among these advancements, high performance computing (HPC) has transformed the way entire nations operate. This is particularly true for world leaders like the U. S. who are striving t
HPC solutions for defense
The DoD is improving its military initiatives both nationally and around the globe with the help of powerful HPC machines. These platforms deliver optimal levels of scalability, efficiency, resiliency, and performance, allowing users to operate with confidence as well as solve some of the countryโs greatest challenges to ensure national security.
The DoD HPC Modernization Program (HPCMP) provides the Defense Department science and technology, test and evaluation, and acquisition engineering communities with world-class high performance computational resources, scientific software, and reliable networking supported by sound cybersecurity practices. The HPCMP delivers an integrated supercomputing ecosystem to conduct research, to test systems, and rapidly identify solutions for DoD challenges. Among the areas with significant HPCMP research interest are hypersonic flight, global weather prediction, space science, and military vehicle design and analysis.
The HPCMP supports the efforts of 53 DoD Laboratories and 20 Major Range and Test Facilities with computational and network resources. In support of DoD acquisition, more than 170 government, industry, and academic organizations use HPCMP software to develop and assess weapons systems.
Supercomputing saving lives
According to the U. S. Army Research Laboratory, scientists are leveraging HPC resources to develop, test, and evaluate technologies, such as vehicular armor upgrade kits to safeguard military personnel against IED attacks. This research has led to a 20 percent reduction in IED fatalities as well as a 3โ4X faster deployment rate for upgrade kits.
In support of the HPCMP, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is helping the DoD bolster defense operations with several supercomputers. These systems make up 4 of the top 9 DoD supercomputers, designed by HPE to deliver superior compute capabilities. The Army Research Lab utilizes two supercomputers: Centennial with 2. 6 petaflops peak, and Hellfire with 1. 2 petaflops peak, while the U. S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center employs Topaz with 4. 6 petaflops peak. Additionally, the Air Force Research Laboratory utilizes Thunder, which boasts 5. 6 petaflops peak.
To learn more about supercomputers and how they are fueling defense initiatives, I encourage you to visit HPE on Twitter at @HPE_HPC. You can also follow me at @Bill_Mannel for the latest news and updates in HPC innovation.
Bill Mannel
VP & GM - HPC & AI Segment Solutions
BillMannel
As the Vice President and General Manager of HPC and AI Segment Solutions in the Data Center Infrastructure Group, I lead worldwide business and portfolio strategy and execution for the fastest growing market segments in HPEโs Data Center Infrastructure Group which includes the recent SGI acquisition and the HPE Apollo portfolio.
