Defence Magazine

You have a problem. There you are, sitting at your desk in Russell, afloat on HMAS Tobruk, or swatting flies in the Joint Taskforce HQ in Iraq, and you need to send a secret email to a coalition partner. How can you do it?

Up until recently, this just wasn't possible. The only means to exchange messages of this classification was through the text-based formal messaging system. However, exciting new capabilities are being developed that will allow sharing of classified information electronically among allied partners.

There have been two complementary thrusts to achieving this - Griffin and the Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS) suite of networks.

Griffin is primarily aimed at supporting the strategic-operational levels of command, while CENTRIXS supports information sharing at the operational-tactical levels of command and enables the exchange of information to deployed HQs in the field and mobile users (for example, ships).

The requirements of warfighters are the driving force behind the development of these capabilities. Current coalition operations, the continually changing security situation, and the planning and conduct of major exercises such as Talisman Sabre, led by the ADF Warfighting Centre (ADFWC), are critical to identifying the need to share information and prioritise the rollout of multinational networking capabilities.

Staffs from Capability Systems, the CIO Group, ADFWC, Joint Operations Command (JOC) and the Defence Security Agency have worked closely with allies to build the necessary networks and applications to allow the sharing of information. And this is at national, operational and tactical levels.

Coalition Networking Strategy

A plethora of national and multinational networks sprang up in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This resulted in confusion about the purpose of different networks and increasing demand and competition for resources. Consequently, the Combined Communication-Electronics Board (CCEB), a technology-focussed organisation representing Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States sought to better explain coalition networking, develop a common lexicon and promote a common understanding of networking.

The Coalition Networking Strategy describes the overall networking environment, and importantly proposes a Two-Tier concept to define different types of networks. Tier 1 capabilities are those with Boundary Protection Service (BPS - similar to a guard or firewall) that allow connectivity to national command and control (C2) systems. Tier 2 capabilities are those that do not have BPS solutions and therefore need standalone infrastructure.

Delivering Coalition Networking Capabilities

The Australian approach to developing, delivering and managing coalition networking capabilities is through the Combined Information Environment project. Subject to Government funding approval, Phase 1C of the project will implement an enterprise-wide approach to coalition infrastructure and services, with a focus on improving strategic and operational connectivity and service. It will deliver permanent bilateral and multi-lateral connections with coalition partners, and permanent infrastructure for contingencies that will be available for rapid deployment.

The ability for Australian personnel to share classified information electronically with allies is better now than it ever has been, and is continually improving. Whether you work in an office in Australia, operate from a deployed HQ in a theatre of operations or are on a mobile platform such as a ship at sea, and you need to exchange information with coalition partners, the complementary Griffin or CENTRIXS networks can provide the means.

CENTRIX Capability

CENTRIXS is a Tier 2 capability. It is a US-sponsored, managed and controlled capability that operates from standalone terminals in the operational and tactical environments. Different CENTRIXS domains are established to meet differing coalition groupings operating with US Forces.

The CENTRIXS suite of networks has evolved from various diverse networking initiatives developed by US Combatant Commanders (COCOM) to meet their regional information exchange needs. For example, Pacific Area Command had developed the Coalition Wide Area Network (COWAN) while Central Command had developed the original CENTRIXS network to support their operations in Afghanistan.

To improve the efficiency with which such networks could be established and supported and enable the exchange or sharing of information between users of the different networks, the US Department of Defense 'rolled together' the COCOM network initiatives into the 'CENTRIXS Suite of Networks'. Currently, there are still a large number of individual CENTRIXS networks supporting different user requirements, but now they are centrally supported and managed, and use a common architecture or design. The US plans further centralised management and support for all its coalition networks through the MultiNational Information Sharing Program.

CENTRIXS, being a stand-alone network not connected to other classified networks, does not require application-specific guards, and therefore is able to support a much richer suite of applications than Griffin (email, COP, Chat, Web, VoIP, etc). However, a disadvantage of CENTRIXS is that, except for email, these applications cannot be accessed from the desktop, information cannot be easily transferred between the national and CENTRIXS environments, and additional infrastructure such as terminals and communications links is required.

Griffin Capability

Griffin is a Tier 1 capability, originally developed by the CCEB nations. It is a permanent, multinationally-developed, managed and resourced initiative that enables the sharing of classified information between coalition partners from their national classified networks and C2 systems. It supports email exchange with approved attachments, via an accredited application-specific guard, which protects the national network from external attack. Future planned enhancements include improved Directory Services, Web, Chat and Common Operating Picture (COP).

The Griffin approach is that different domains consisting of different coalition communities can be set up using a common architecture. This allows faster establishment and introduction into service. The use of common applications, training, management, maintenance and support all help make the capabilities more efficient and lower the overall cost of ownership. The domains are cryptographically separated, which allows information to be passed over different domains at the same time, but using common communications and terminal equipment.

A Griffin domain is currently operational between the five CCEB nations, and another domain between Australia and the United States is nearing completion. Planned future domains include other bilaterals and one with the Multinational Interoperability Council, of which Australia, Canada, France, Germany, United Kingdom and the United States are members.

Because Griffin uses the Defence SECRET network (DSN) as its national communications backbone, its reach is the same as the reach of the DSN. Currently, Griffin is available to authorised users deployed to the Middle East, to deployed headquarters (eg C2 Ships) and to staff in selected overseas Embassies.

Defence

Chief Information Officer

Networking coalitions

Networks now enable the effective exchange of classified information between Coalition partners. Roger O'Sullivan explains two key multinational networking initiatives.

Coalition Networking Strategy

Delivering Coalition Networking Capabilities

CENTRIX Capability

Griffin Capability