Network-centric warfare

Network-centric warfare, also called network-centric operations^[1] or net-centric warfare, is a military doctrine or theory of war that aims to translate an information advantage, enabled partly by information technology, into a competitive advantage through the computer networking of dispersed forces. It was pioneered by the United States Department of Defense in the 1990s.

Tenet 1: A robustly networked force improves information sharing.

Tenet 2: Information sharing and collaboration enhance the quality of information and shared .

situational awareness

Tenet 3: Shared situational awareness enables self-.

synchronization

Tenet 4: These, in turn, dramatically increase mission effectiveness.

The doctrine of network-centric warfare for the United States armed forces draws its highest level of guidance from the concept of "team warfare", meaning the integration and synchronization of all appropriate capabilities across the various services, ranging from Army to Air Force to Coast Guard. This is part of the principle of joint warfare.

The tenets of network-centric warfare are:^[7]

Net-Centric operations are compatible with Mission Command doctrine, which theoretically allows considerable freedom of action for combat troops,^[8]^[9] and with more decentralized approaches to Command and Control (C2).^[10]

The complexity of the (JTRS) offers insight into the challenges of integrating numerous different communications systems into a unified whole. It is intended to be a software-defined radio for battlefield communications that will be backwards compatible with a very large number of other military and civilian radio systems.

Joint Tactical Radio System

An April 10, 2008 GAO report () highlighted the scalability of the network as a major risk factor to the Network Centric FCS program. The proposed system will be unable to network all the units into one self-forming, self-healing network.

GAO FCS report

The problem of coordinating usage in a battlespace is a significant challenge, when every piece of mobile equipment and human participant becomes a potential source or relay of RF emissions.

bandwidth

It is difficult to efficiently transfer information between networks having different levels of security classification. Although systems provide part of the solution, human intervention and decision-making is still needed to determine what specific data can and cannot be transferred.

multi-level security

Accurate locational awareness is limited when maneuvering in areas where (GPS) coverage is weak or non-existent. These areas include the inside of buildings, caves, etc. as well as built-up areas and urban canyons, which are also settings for many modern military operations. Much work on reliable fusion of positional data from multiple sensors remains to be done.

Global Positioning System

Providing secure communications in network-centric warfare/network-centric operations is difficult, since successful for encryption is typically the most difficult aspect of cryptography, especially with mobile systems. The problem is exacerbated with the need for speedy deployment and nimble reconfiguration of military teams, to respond to rapidly changing conditions in the modern battlespace.

key management

International activities[edit]

There is significant need to harmonize the technical and operational aspects of net-centric warfare and net-centric operations among multiple nations, in order to support coalition activities, joint operations, etc. The NATO Command Structure and many NATO and non-NATO nations have joined the Federated Mission Networking (FMN) initiative and work together under the FMN Framework Process to coordinate the design, development and delivery of operational and technical capabilities required to conduct net-centric operations. Within the Alliance the NATO Interoperability Standards and Profiles (NISP) provides the necessary guidance and technical components to support project implementations and Federated Mission Networking. Individual Standardization Agreements are the coordinating vehicle for establishing shared technical standards among NATO nations.

See also Partnership for Peace for information on extending coordination efforts to non-NATO nations that are keen to support military operations other than war activities, such as international peacekeeping, disaster response, humanitarian aid, etc.

Autonomous logistics

Battlespace

C4ISTAR

Cyberwarfare

Information warfare

List of cyber warfare forces

Network simulator

C4I Systems

The OASD-NII Command and Control Research Program (CCRP)

Net-Centric Enterprise Solutions for Interoperability (NESI)

NCW related article on Crosstalk - Defense Software Engineering Journal

Army War College article: Principles of Warfare on the Network-Centric Battlefield