Network-Centric Battlefield
Operations
AIAA Team 3
-Mike Lunsford
-Paul Koerner
Overview
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Definition of Network-Centric Warfare
(NCW)
Why do we need it?
Previous Operations
Future of network centric battlefields
How military transports fit into the
battlespace
Conclusion
What is NCW?
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Network-Centric Warfare
Commonly called Network-Centric Operations
(NCO)
An emerging theory of war in the Information Age
Using information to gain competitive edge
A networked force performing network-centric
operations
Networked force for information sharing
Increased situational awareness
Enhanced speed of command
Networking sensors, decision makers, and shooters
Defining the Battlespace
Bad Guys
Sensors to collect:
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Intelligence
Surveillance
Reconnaissance
Good Guys
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Navigation Systems (GPS)
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Embedded sensors
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Transmit current position &
receive relevant position
info on others
Status on fuel, ammo
remaining
Vehicle loading and use
(maintenance)
Weather sensors
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Environment
Global Information Grid (GIG)
“Will provide the joint and coalition warfighter with a single, end-to-end information system
capability… allowing users to access shared data and applications regardless of location,
and is supported by a robust network/information-centric infrastructure.”
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Integrated
Interoperable
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Between platforms
Joint operations
Coalition forces
World wide network
Secure
Owned and leased
Operating locations: bases, posts, camps, stations, facilities, mobile
platforms, and deployed sites
Supports all DoD, national security, and related intelligence community missions and
functions (strategic, operational, tactical, and business), in war and in peace.
Why do we need it?
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DoD initiative that draws upon the work of
many military strategists and policy theorists
Changing battlespace
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Urban warfare
50% of the world’s population now live in cities
Fastest urban growth occurs in developing
countries where conflicts are likely to occur
Lessons learned from Iraq and Afghanistan
Need for targeting, precision, and situational
awareness
Previous Operations
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Platform-centric
operations
 Voice
Communication
 No Data
Communication
 Nothing
Integrated
Future of NCO
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Army: Future Combat Systems
Navy: ForceNet
Air Force: ConstellationNet
Improved communications
systems
 T-Sat
 Joint Tactical Radio System
(JTRS)
Future Combat Systems
Building Blocks
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System-of-Systems Common
Operating Environment (SOSCOE)
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Battle Command (BC) software
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Mission planning, understanding,
execution
Communication and Computers (CC)
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Standards based architecture and
administrative applications
Dissemination of information from
sensors, processors, warfighters
Intelligence, reconnaissance, and
surveillance (ISR) systems
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Situational awareness, enhance
survivability, precision networked
fires, maintain contact throughout
engagement
Future Combat Systems
Fielded by 2014. Cost estimate: $300 billion
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UGS
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The Soldier
Class I UAV
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NLOS-LS
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UGS
MULE
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NLOS-LS
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Self contained tactical firing with 15
loitering attack or precision attack
missiles
Class I UAV
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NLOS-C
Perimeter defense, surveillance, target
acquisition, chemical, bio, radiological
nuclear early warning
Controlled by dismounted soldiers
provides recon, surveillance, target
acquisition. (weighs less than 15lbs).
MULE
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Multifuntional Utility/Logistics Equipment
vehicle, autonomous. Can be either:
assault, transport, mine detector vehicle.
JTRS
A waveform is the entire set of radio and/or communications
functions that occur from the user input to the radio frequency
output and vice versa. There are 9 JTRS waveforms:
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Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW)
Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW)
Joint Airborne Networking–Tactical Edge (JAN-TE)
Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)
SINCGARS
Link-16
EPLRS
High Frequency (HF)
UHF SATCOM
Cost per Unit: $10,000 to $270,000
T-Sat
Transformational Satellite Communications System
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The space element of the GIG
5 highly advanced communications in
geosynchronous orbit
Will provide both laser and radio com
Crosslinked with other space platforms,
airborne, land-based, and sea-based
platforms
Demand for satcom bandwidth to support
military ops has increased from 100Mbps
(Gulf War) to 3,200Mbps (Iraq)
First launch planned for 2013-2015 time
frame
Fact: A visual image from a UAV that would take 2 minutes to process with the
Milstar II satellite system would take less than a second with TSAT
Current C-17 Network
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Combat Track II
Electronic Flight
Bag
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Performance
Calculations
Electronic
Documents/Charts
Maximize Safety
Advanced Wireless
Open Data System
Concluding remarks
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Information superiority
See first, understand first, act first, and
finish decisively
Smaller, lighter, more mobile force with
more firepower
Interoperable between platforms and
forces
Ambitious undertaking
References
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http://www.rockwellcollins.com/news/gallery/gov/communications/page2993.ht
ml
http://enterprise.spawar.navy.mil/body.cfm?type=c&category=27&subcat=80
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network-centric_warfare
http://www.dodccrp.org/publications/pdf/Alberts_NCW.pdf
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/04/lockheed-gets-another-417mfor-tsat/index.php
http://www.mitre.org/news/the_edge/july_01/miller.html
http://www.defensetech.org/archives/cat_space.html
http://www.army.mil/fcs/index.html
Canan, James W. “The T-Sat Edge.” Aerospace America. Jan. 2006. 39-43.
http://www.dodccrp.org/publications/pdf/Alberts_NCW.pdf
http://www.carlisle.army.mil/usawc/Parameters/02spring/murdock.htm
http://www.oft.osd.mil/library/library_files/document_387_NCW_Book_LowRe
s.pdf
http://www.defensetech.org/archives/cat_fcs_watch.html
Questions?