Defense Innovation Unit experimental app saving the USAF over 1 Million pounds of fuel a month

I first read about this in AWST, but since that is a paywall I found this link as well. Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google (Alphabet etc) is also the head of the Defense Innovation Unit experimental based here in Silicon Valley. When they looked at how air tasking orders were generated they were shocked to see the amount of time (8 hours) and the fact that it was done manual and on a white board. Created by DIUX, a program called JIGSAW now automates much of that. The program which cost 1.5 million to code, has allowed 3-4 less tankers to be used on an average of 24 hour period. This means less fuel burned flying around with no planes to tank etc and changes can happen quickly rather than going back to the whiteboard and modifying things.

It also means less wear and tear on the air-frames and crew.

aviationweek.com...

breakingdefense.com...

a reply to: FredT

They also found that they could save 6% fuel on a trip from Alaska to Hickam by flying faster.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: FredT

They also found that they could save 6% fuel on a trip from Alaska to Hickam by flying faster.

They also looked at flying C-17's in a Goose/duck like formation to cut down on drag a few years ago. It seemed to work. I wonder if they are doing it?

a reply to: FredT

A million pounds is only about 125k gallons of fuel.
Is that a lot in air force terms?

a reply to: FredT

Apparently not yet, going by the exercise last weekend when they were in trail going across country.

a reply to: Bluntone22

A Block 50/52 Viper carries something like 5,920 pounds internally, with another roughly 5400 pounds if they're carrying 600 gallon externals. That's a lot of F-16s that you can fill with 125,000 gallons. Or if you go bigger, that's just short of three B-52s completely filled up. One B-52 carries something like 46,251 gallons.