Networks in war

The concepts of network-enabled warfare and network-enabled operations have become a central theme in war fighting in recent years.

As the names imply, these concepts are based on the use of networked systems to collect, analyse, evaluate and manage information. The information is then used to organise, concentrate and apply combat power more efficiently and with much greater effect.

While the idea of this type of information exploitation is not new to military operations, it is only through the advances in communication and information technology in the past two decades that we have been able to fully realise the true potential of this concept.

Examples of the success of this concept are provided by operations in the Gulf War and more recently in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanisatan.

For all practical purposes, the network-enabled warfare concept was first trialed during the Gulf War. The integration of disparate sensor, tactical data and command and control systems was used to make real-time decisions about the allocation of weapons against specific targets and, in concert with precision-guided munitions, significantly improved the combat effectiveness of the coalition air and ground forces.

The result was the elimination of the Iraqi air force as a credible threat and the destruction of Iraq’s army. The use of these same networked systems, now much more refined and capable, in Afghanistan has allowed allied forces to use information derived from a vast array of sensor and intelligence gathering systems.

These systems enable tracking and engagement of targets across the entire country and around the clock with success even more devastating than seen in Desert Storm.

Presented with such evidence of the effectiveness of this war-fighting concept and to ensure we remain relevant as a fighting force in the future, it is imperative that the ADF develops its ability to conduct network-enabled warfare.

To do this successfully it is necessary to think differently about the way we hope to operate.

The ADF is an organisation that has traditionally structured its operations around the capabilities of individual services, or specialised systems and platforms such as fighter aircraft, submarines or battlefield helicopters. To fully exploit the operational benefits of networked warfare we must move from this platform-centric view and embrace the concept of network-enabled operations.

This requires that we consider each platform as a component of a larger network of capabilities that includes not only combat assets, but also sensor, intelligence and support systems.

Such a view allows our commanders to fully appreciate the collective power and the disposition of ADF capabilities.

Network enabling is not necessarily about direct combat power. The awareness of the battlespace provided by network-enabled operations broadens the options available to commanders, allowing them to apply measures to achieve the desired tactical or strategic effect. Such measures might even be non-lethal.

While these networks allow us to develop a greater appreciation of our own capabilities, using them to create a common real-time battlespace picture also improves situational awareness and knowledge about the strength, capability, location and intent of potential adversaries. Armed with this knowledge the ADF will be able to accurately identify areas of weakness or vulnerability and so coordinate and apply its offensive potential to maximum advantage.

This also means that the effective combat power of our platforms can be increased significantly, allowing the ADF to target, engage and destroy forces that have an apparent numerical advantage – in essence giving us the ability to fight above our weight. From the perspective of an adversary, the collective power of a network-enabled force is extremely formidable and presents fewer opportunities to gain a decisive advantage.

In the future, the effective use of networks will allow the ADF to become a more flexible, capable and efficient organisation.
We will also, through the adaptation of network-enabled capabilities and technologies, be able to satisfy the expectation that the ADF will participate in a broader range of joint and coalition operations within our region and internationally.

It has also been suggested that network enabling is a concept that will support our efforts to go “beyond jointery” and become a “seamless force”, able to combine the unique capabilities of the three services and provide Australia with a military that is truly a “force to win”.

More information about the aerospace power concepts and capabilities can be found in The Fundamentals of Australian Aerospace Power, by visiting the Aerospace Centre web site www.defence.gov.au/aerospace or by contacting the AeC on (02) 6287 6563. You can also find out more about ADF future concepts in Force 2020 at www.defence.gov.au

• This is the second in a series of articles from the Aerospace Centre.

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