Battlefield C3I -an evolving capability
Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence (C3I) systems are crucial to the achievement of information and battlefield superiority. Such systems are likely to evolve enabling their integration with the newer concept of Network-Centric Warfare (NCW) that further integrates battle force assets.
The C3I environment is being progressively developed by the ADF in response to the Government's directives for the defence of the nation's possessions, to support nations that Australia is committed to defend and coalition forces that may be engaged in distant defensive and policing operations.
C3I systems are complex computer-based, human operated systems that are used by all three services. In the three applications their architecture varies, but their purpose is fundamentally common. The systems rely on dense communications networks for collecting battlefield information and distributing battlefield command and control data in real-time. As the ADF operates as a single integrated force, C3I systems are interconnected with the HQ Australian Theatre (HQAST) organisation to enable intelligence, tactical and strategic data to be merged and cohesive defensive plans to be developed and implemented. C3I systems for land forces will necessarily possess or employ the following capabilities.
Tactical intelligence is generally limited to an immediate area of operations (See Fig.). It is collected in real time by using assets that may include electronic passive sensor systems to collect Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), signals intelligence (SIGINT) and communications intelligence (COMINT) from hostile EW, radar and communications systems as well as randomly generated electronic noise.
These sensor systems may be ground-based or airborne and in the latter case are carried by tactical UAVs, fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Also, these aircraft are likely to be fitted with electro-optical (EO) sensor systems, operating at visible light and IR wavelengths, that provide high resolution imagery about the size and characteristics of a hostile force and the topography. In the future other sensors such as Foliage Penetrating and Hyper Spectral Imaging radars will be added to airborne platforms to aid detection under adverse conditions. Finally, information may also be provided by field observers.
Strategic intelligence has no geographic boundaries and is collected and analysed continuously, in peace and conflict. This intelligence is collected by very long range radar systems, such as JORN, long range UAVs and satellites carrying radar and EO imaging systems, COMINT and SIGINT systems and by the continuous collection and analysis of political and economic data about a perceived aggressor nation. This early warning intelligence provides sensitive information that is invaluable to the development of long term strategies. The Defence Information Environment (DIE) using the resources of Command, Control, Communications and Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Electronic Warfare (C4IRSEW) systems provides reliable intelligence to the HQMAST organisation.
Battleforce communications are provided by redundant networks including landline, HF and VHF radio networks and satellite systems. These systems carry secure voice, facsimile message, e-mail and video, but the mix of communications systems available to a given battleforce will depend on its location and composition. In the future secure personal communications will pervade the battlefield, but the application of this technology will need to be carefully developed to prevent its abuse.
CS Systems operate in a real time environment with precise and accurate knowledge of own and hostile forces and the battlefield situation being keys to battlefield superiority. They are highly developed examples of C3I systems designed for a specific purpose. One of the most important developments of CS Systems is the presentation of data in an unambiguous, easily assimilable, form that enables accurate and timely decisions to be made by operators. CSS operators are highly trained in battlefield tactics and must have deep knowledge of the capabilities of own and an opposing force and the engagement zone which may spread over an area of several hundred kms square.
The development of tactics and battlefield superiority is optimised by these computer-based systems and begins with the collection and reduction of incoming strategic and tactical information. This process includes time tagging the information, analysing it, storing it and reducing it to valid data by cross-checking its origin and time. Time is a particularly valuable criterion as it allows a history of the data to be developed that assists in its verification. Much of this processing is carried out automatically, or on demand, to facilitate the generation of a battlefield situation.
A battlefield situation, showing own and hostile forces in a given environment, is likely to be superimposed on topographic and demographic maps to facilitate operator decision processes. Specific tasking may be required to collect more data about the movements of a hostile force and to determine a real attack from a diversion and these data may be acquired using reconnaissance helicopters and tactical UAVs.
C3I systems have been evolving for many years for maritime, land and air applications. Naval systems came first with the purchase of the RAN's DDGs fitted with the USN's Junior Tactical Data Processing System (JPTDS), that by today's standards had a very modest capability. The RAN set up a JPTDS in its Combat Data System Centre (CDSC) in Fyshwick (ACT) that was used to further develop the system, provide combat team training and facilitate development of RAN tactics.
A similar, but more modern, combat system came with the purchase of the FFGs, and it was also installed in the CDSC. The CDSC capability was later augmented by the addition of Link11 enabling its real-time operation with ships at sea. Relevant knowledge acquired by using these systems was embedded in the tactical data system for the Anzac class ships.
The Battlefield Command Support System (BCSS) that is now in service is the most notable Australian-designed C3I development for the Army. This system, based on COTS software operating systems, has been progressively developed over some three years and is now a highly capable, mobile, user-friendly system.
The RAAF has operated C2 systems for command and control of its airborne assets for many years. The current system is now totally obsolete, but problems of replacing it through the Vigilare project have been frustrated for many years. It appears most likely that Vigilare will spawn a system based on the technology employed in Wedgetail that is yet to emerge. An interim update of the system, pending the delivery of Vigilare, may provide a stopgap remedy for what is becoming a serious capability shortfall.
The ADF has also developed and put into service a range of systems to support the Joint Command Support Environment used by higher command echelons. This environment uses the Joint Command Support System (JCSS) - the architecture of which differs from BCSS - that interfaces with tactical C3I systems. A notable feature is the development of a mobile JCSE and its installation on HMAS Manoora, to provide mobility for HQAST organisations.
The ADF has been developing and implementing a very broad range of communications systems to meet the emerging needs of an integrated force that is capable of operating on Australia's mainland, the littoral and support of forces assigned to near and distant operations. Many of these systems, such as HF Modernisation (JP 2043) and the mobile MILSATCOM (JP 2008) projects are principally strategic in nature, but they also fulfill a tactical requirement.
Other systems have evolved to provide tactical communications and they include the Parakeet (JP 65) secure tactical trunk network, that has now been adapted to use X-band satellite communications; Raven and Wagtail providing HF and VHF secure, mobile combat net radio and landlines where these are available.
The ADF continues to evolve its communications with the objective of eventually providing seamless connectivity throughout its organisation, irrespective of its distribution and location. Two examples of this objective are the Defence Wide Area Communications Network (JP2047) for fixed elements of Defence and Battlespace Communications Land/Air (JP2072), currently an unapproved project, providing a holistic battlespace communications architecture for the land environment.
NCW is a warfare philosophy that espouses the critical importance to battle success of integrating all the assets of a battle force, rather than continuing to conduct warfare on a platform-centric basis. The establishment of the ADF as a single integrated force with a single Commander is a high-level command example of the application of this philosophy, but its application at lower levels is yet to be established.
The US DOD perceives that its future engagements will be conducted less on huge land areas, but rather may begin by land attack from the sea. In NCW, all the forces and assets assigned to suppress an aggressor will be combined into a single force entity, with the components of the entity including as required, submarines, surface combatants, aircraft (fixed, rotary and UAVs) forces on land, surveillance satellites and seamless communications. A step in this direction is the US Navy's Cooperative Engagement Capability, where ships operate within a tactical network, using Link16 for data communications.
In operation, NCW will begin with Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance activities followed by identification, targeting and engagement of threats with all the assets in the entity carefully coordinated in time and by capability to achieve the objective.
The adoption of the NCW concept of operations by the ADF will require further evolution of its communications and C3I systems, but if it is to be truly interoperable with the US Armed Forces it cannot ignore this process.
By Fred Haddock with Tom Muir, Canberra