US Navy Launches Blockchain Research in Mission to Improve Tracking System

A U.S. Navy command is exploring the potential of blockchain technology in tracking aircraft parts.

The Naval Air Systems Command - which provides material support for aircraft and airborne weapons systems for the navy - announced in a press release Friday it is investigating whether blockchain could trace parts through their life-cycle more efficiently and cost-effectively than with current methods.

The naval command has kick-started research that hopes to switch Naval Aviation Enterprise processes to a permissioned blockchain.

Ultimately, the partners hope to develop a conceptual framework for a blockchain supply chain system that provides visibility and security.

"By bringing the experts together early in the development of possible architectures, the navy command says,"the authorities will better understand the risk and reward of a connected distributed system.

The team working on the research believes the increased visibility and traceability of a blockchain system will help NAVAIR support the Naval Air mission with an increased emphasis on safety and at a reduced cost, it adds.

As CoinDesk has reported previously, last June, the U.S. navy's innovation arm, too, has been working to trial blockchain's potential in bringing added security to its 3D-printing systems.

The trial, led by the Naval Innovation Advisory Council, was said to use blockchain to form a data-sharing layer between the navy's various 3D printing sites.

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