Forwarded From: Nicholas Charles Brawn <ncb05at_private> 13May98 USA: BUYING INTO NETWORKED WARFARE. By Bryan Bender Washington DC. The US Navy (USN) is embarking on an ambitious, multi-billion-dollar project to create a 21st-century fleet equipped with state-of-the - art information technologies and possessing the doctrine and organisational structures required to use these new tools effectively. "Network-centric warfare" is the USN's answer to the information revolution and is expected to change the nature of naval and marine operations, in part by introducing a broad field of ground-breaking technologies. With this wide range of new information technologies, paramount among them a global information service, the USN is poised to become, at all levels, the most well-informed naval force in history. A key piece of network-centric warfare will be the introduction of an "information backplane", a global information service with advanced networking capabilities. The USN has established the Information Technology for the 21st century (IT-21) programme to develop such a global intranet. IT-21, a heterogeneous transport and computing environment, will include technologies such as automated switching and satellite terminals; fibre-optic local area networks for all ships and facilities; asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) communications; tactical data links such as the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) and Link 16; and other high-end information systems. Other pieces include advanced sensors and sensor platforms; extended weapons reach; and command and control applications that can provide forces with the commander's intent. According to Vice Adm Arthur Cebrowski, USN director of space, information warfare and command and control and a founding father of the concept, network-centric warfare will dramatically improve the navy's response time. This will be made possible through "self-synchronisation", or the force's ability to organise itself from the bottom up. Self-synchronisation depends on how well-informed the force is, including how much it knows about itself, its environment, friendly units and the enemy. In the past, Adm Cebrowski told Jane's Defence Weekly, "we simply have been unable to inform the force". Self-synchronisation "is something we always wanted to do. The enabler for that now is the information systems. "When we can [self-synchronise] we find there are dramatic effects, quantifiable normally in terms of response time." Faster response time "translates to impact and the shock and awe effect that you want your military to have. The objective here is not to make it easier for America to go to war, but [network-centric warfare] should make a favourable outcome more certain," he stressed. One development that helped convince Adm Cebrowski and other navy leaders that the network-centric approach has great potential was its application by the New York City Police Department (NYPD). The NYPD, with its force of 140,000 officers engaged in what Adm Cebrowski calls "low-level urban conflict", has used the concept to fight crime and has met with dramatic results. "The principals have great applicability there and that has been validated by the sharply falling crime rate in New York City," Adm Cebrowski said. The case of the NYPD illustrates how network-centric warfare will be applied to all military activities, including peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance. "The concept of network-centric warfare is meant to apply to all military activities," Adm Cebrowski said. "That shouldn't come as a surprise since we drew the concepts out of the civilian world." Given the likelihood of coalition operations with US allies and other government and non-government organisations in the future, interoperability will be crucial if network-centric warfare is to work. "If you are not interoperable in the command and control context you are incapable of informing. To be less interoperable amounts to a decision to be less informed," said Adm Cebrowski. Adm Cebrowski stresses, however, that network-centric warfare is far more than just technology. Knowing what to do with the information will be just as important as the information itself. "This has more to do with how one uses technology than it does with a shopping list of futuristic devices," he said. "In fact, there is very little futuristic about it" considering many of the technologies are already available in the commercial marketplace. "This has to do with operational concepts, doctrine, tactics, strategy and organisation" and "treating warfare as a system that requires all the component parts to be working in balance." Through satellite connectivity, commanders worldwide can join the network. It allows for inclusion of US and allied forces, making joint operations more effective. Fleet and battle force commanders develop the overall battle plans. The network's teleconferencing capabilities are used to issue commands to all forces. Information on enemy capabilities and locations is provided to the amphibious ready group and landing force. Information maximises the chances of success. A submarine receives the latest satellite imagery and launches an unmanned aerial vehicle to provide up-to-date reconnaissance F/A-18 Hornets receive imagery of target areas from the network. Pilots are provided with real-time information on threats and targets. A SEALteam provides on-scene digital imagery of potential targets and enemy movements via satellite to the battle network. Source: All Hands; Graphic: Jane's. Volume 029/019 -o- Subscribe: mail majordomoat_private with "subscribe isn". Today's ISN Sponsor: Repent Security Incorporated [www.repsec.com]
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