Network-centric warfare

Essentially, a new strategy of warfare made possible by the Information Age. Weapon systems, sensors and command and control centers are being connected through high-speed communication networks.

For example the Cooperative Engagement Capability of the U.S. Navy permits all units (ships, aircraft) to share the information collected by their own sensors and "fuse" it into a coherent, accurate picture of the battlefield available to all units. Every unit will be able to "see" the sum of what all other units "see" thus enjoying a greatly increased situational awareness.

Thus, it will be possible for ships to launch anti-air missiles against targets which are beyond their line-of-sight. The missiles are guided by sensors from other platforms, such as an airborne radar, which is much closer to the target and because it flies high it can detect even low-altitude anti-ship cruise missiles. Targets are detected and engaged much earlier thanks to real-time information sharing.

In another example, real-time information provided by satellites or by attack/surveillance aircraft on the position of enemy forces allows very accurate and fast targeting of Tomahawk cruise missiles.

During the War in Afghanistan, U.S. special forces on the ground sent coordinates of targets by e-mail to B-52 bombers in flight.

"With less than half of the ground forces and two-thirds of the air assets used 12 years ago in Desert Storm, we have achieved a far more difficult objective ... In Desert Storm, it usually took up to two days for target planners to get a photo of a target, confirm its coordinates, plan the mission, and deliver it to the bomber crew. Now we have near real-time imaging of targets with photos and coordinates transmitted by e-mail to aircraft already in flight. In Desert Storm, battalion, brigade, and division commanders had to rely on maps, grease pencils, and radio reports to track the movements of our forces. Today, our commanders have a real-time display of our armed forces on their computer screens," said Vice President Richard Cheney.

"Net-centric warfare's effectiveness has greatly improved in 12 years. Desert Storm forces, involving more than 500,000 troops, were supported with 100 megabits per second (Mbps) of bandwidth. Today, OIF forces, with about 350,000 warfighters, had more than 3,000 Mbps of satellite bandwidth, which is 30 times more bandwidth for a force 45 percent smaller. U.S. troops essentially used the same weapon platforms used in Operation Desert Storm with significantly increased effectiveness." (Lt. Gen. Harry D. Raduege Jr., Defense Information Systems Agency)

Sources: www.stsc.hill.af.mil/crosstalk/2004/01/0401Raduege.html

        www.defenselink.mil
        www.globalsecurity.org