Marge S.

Simon is Military Intelligence.. @xSimon_Says The U.S. military has TWO systems named SIMON, and once you understand what they do, you’ll understand why modern warfare is no longer just about weapons. It’s about INFORMATION. The first is SIMON — Smart Integration Manager Ontologically Networked. Developed by SRI International, this technology was designed to integrate military intelligence, radar, surveillance cameras, vessel tracking, sensor networks, and government databases into a shared operational picture. Its documented applications include U.S. Navy operations, maritime surveillance, border security, and intelligence sharing. But pay attention to the word ONTOLOGICALLY. In computer science, an ontology defines how information is classified, connected, and interpreted. That means SIMON wasn't just collecting information. It was designed to help separate systems organize and understand information about the same people, objects, locations, and events. Now here's where things get interesting. SRI International also led DARPA's CALO artificial intelligence project, whose research helped give birth to Apple's SIRI. Yes. The same research institution developing military intelligence integration technology was also helping pioneer intelligent digital assistants. Now meet the SECOND SIMON. Secure Integrated Multi-Orbit Networking. Developed by SES Space & Defense, this system connects military satellite communications across Low Earth Orbit, Medium Earth Orbit, and Geostationary Orbit. In May 2025, SES announced its selection to support the Defense Innovation Unit's Hybrid Space Architecture initiative. This technology is designed to keep military communications connected across different satellite networks, even when individual communication pathways become unavailable. Now imagine this "hypothetical" military operation: A suspicious vessel enters a monitored maritime corridor. Radar detects it. Cameras capture it. Vessel identification records provide additional information. The original SIMON could bring those separate streams of intelligence together, helping military personnel identify the vessel, track its movements, and recognize discrepancies. Meanwhile, the newer SIMON could provide resilient satellite communication pathways to carry operational information between ships, aircraft, and military command centers. If one satellite connection becomes unavailable, communications could be rerouted through another supported network. Think about that. One technology integrates information from multiple surveillance sources. The other integrates the satellite networks that carry military communications. And this is where the bigger picture emerges. The U.S. military has spent decades developing technologies for network-centric warfare: connecting sensors, intelligence systems, command centers, and operational units so decisions can be made faster. DARPA-funded research helped advance intelligent assistants. SRI developed military information-integration technologies. The Navy pursued shared maritime surveillance networks. And now defense contractors are building communication architectures spanning multiple satellite orbits. These are documented developments. Their complementary capabilities are real. And that raises a much more important question: As military AI, surveillance integration, and satellite communications become increasingly interconnected, who controls the information, who controls access, and how much of the decision-making process is being delegated to machines? Because the future of warfare isn't just about who has the most powerful weapons. It's about who can see the battlefield, connect the information, and act on it first. Sources: SRI International, U.S. Navy procurement documentation, DARPA CALO research, SES Space & Defense (2025), and congressional FY2026 defense documentation.