NCW : Strategic to the Tactical

KPM DasGlobal National Security & Defence Team21 April 2011

Themes for Today

• Levels, Elements, Seams, State, Evolution of NCW

• Themes

– Command Push vs Int/ReccePull

– Demand vs Supply at S,O,T

– Sharing vs Security

– S>>O>>T Architecture

– Info Richness vs Info Reach

– Collaboration

– Command and Staff Attention

– Procurement Conundrum

• Factors at an Operational Level

…it is difficult to decide exactly where a strategic movement ends and a tactical movement begins, yet in conception the two are distinct.

Liddell Hart

Levels in the NCW Context The levels of war are doctrinal perspectives that clarify the links between strategic objectives and tactical actions. There are no finite limits or boundaries between the levels of war (strategic, operational, and tactical) and the levels of war are not necessarily associated with specific levels of command, size of units, types of equipment, or types of forces or components. However, certain commands tend to operate at particular levels of war, e.g. Army Commands typically operate at the strategic and operational levels of war while a Corps will typically operate at the operational and tactical levels of war. Actions are strategic, operational, or tactical based on their effect or contribution to achieving strategic, operational, or tactical objectives.

Reference : http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/army/docs/st100-3/c1/1Chp.htm

Levels in NCW – Another View

CC/CG/CT Ops Inf Ops Fire Sp & AD Electronic W LOC Protection

Strategic Defence Info Systems & Networks

T

O

S

ISR Resources Combat Resources

Reference : http://cio-nii.defense.gov/docs/pt2_ncw_main.pdf

NCW – The Football Analogy• Few rules and few opportunities to restart

play on favorable terms.

• Every player to be aware of the field, the person who is controlling the ball, where the ball is on the field, capabilities and positions of own and rival players and dynamic interactions of these factors (if Ronaldinhogets a free kick at 40 yards and below- goal certainty >90%!!)

• Fresh players taught to play specific, limited roles, standard/copybook situations

• Mature players given more freedom, more responsibilities…..libero role (Beckenbauer), defender free to attack at own judgement, with an aim to create positional advantage to own team

• At the highest level of the game (World Cup), play is fully fluid- moves always complex and changing.

• Ability to sense, react and attack with minimal verbal communications (Latin American style)

Elements of NCW

Ref: http://www.c2coe.org/c2pedia/index.php?title=Network_Domains & RAND MG267-2.4.

State of the Indian NCW Context

LegendS O T

Reference : http://cio-nii.defense.gov/docs/pt2_ncw_main.pdf

• Strategic vs Operational vsTactical Sync (tail wagging the dog)

• Systems.– Tactical. Minimal info

networks.– Operational. Early days,

pilots, ltd deployments in ltd Zs.

– Strategic. Multiple, but stovepipes

• Multiplicity of architectures- networks, radios, supply chains

• Arms/ Services silos.

A look At The Seams

Counter-Point•System of Systems•Discrete, disconnected at Strategic level•Minimum compromise on D Day

Theme 1 Command Push vs Recce/ Int Pull

Read :en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maneuver_warfare

Theme 1 Command Push vs Recce/ Int Pull

Read :en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maneuver_warfare

Smaller Sized Units

New tactics & doctrines

No need to maint tight fmns

Quick mov, secure rear/ flanks incidental

Fewer tps, widely dispersed, less vulnerable

Attack straight into the centres of gravity

T

O

S

Low

Med

High

Theme 2 NCW-Demand Vs Supply (bandwidth)

Reference : http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/2005/RB9064.pdf

Theme 3Bandwidth – We are here

Dimensional SkewFront to Rear

VsLeft to Right

Lag LagTactical Operational Strategic

Theme 3 Sharing versus Security – the Tradeoffs

“immediate access to the RIGHT information to accomplish the mission.”

"Achieving Interoperability in a Network Centric Environment"

Netcentric = Discoverable + Interoperable + Collaborative + Effective

Information Security

Info

rma

tio

n S

ha

rin

g

Netcentric = The Acceptable Intersection of Information Sharing & Information Security

Theme 4Transforming Strategic-Operational-Tactical ArchitecturesConnect the Front to the Rear

FLOT

Level

of

“Q

uali

ties” r

eq

uir

ed

Transport

Tactical

Weapons,

Sensor, Soldier Systems

BMS

FINSAS

FICV

DCN Strategic Core

ASCON

AWAN

Long Haul Pt to Pt

BSNL

Terrestrial

Space

Operational/

Tactical Net

CIDSS

BSS

ACCCS

ADCRS

EWS

ASMS

A set of end-to-end “services” that meet the needs

of the company at one end and can be “serviced by

the Signals across the levels/ echelons

Services, SWAP & Form

Factor unique to the

digital divide

SWAP & Form

Factors for

Transportability

Theme 5 Info Richness Vs Info Reach

VideoPicturesVoiceData

Reference : http://cio-nii.defense.gov/docs/pt2_ncw_main.pdf

Theme 6 Collaboration Tools For Different Process Needs

Complex

Decisionmaking

Simple Information

Sharing

SynchronousAsynchronous

Audio

Conferencing

Web

Broadcasts

Application

Sharing

Instant

Messaging

Information

feeds &

repositories

Email & Voicemail

groups

Collaboration space

Virtual team rooms

Communities

& discussion

boards

Video

Conferencing

Remote Access

Calendar

TelePresence

S,O, T

S,O

S,O, T

S,O

O, T

S,O, T

S, O, T

S,O, T S,O, T

S,O, T

S

Theme 6 CollaborationConnectivity: An NCW Minimum

Theme 6 Collaboration Voice, Data, Video

Theme 7

Command and Staff Attention

• Bandwidth as much a resource as ammunition

• Spectrum as much a resource as weapons

• Include separate section in OO• Include equivalent of G6 in Div

Staff (Sigs) responsible for bandwidth, spectrum and cyber-security

• Convergence of ICT, Cyber security and IS under single agency in the battlefield and mutual synergies

Theme 8 NCW- Procurement Conundrum

Reference : Page 72, NCW Case Study, Kevin J. Cogan, Ray De Lucio

Theme 8 NCW- Procurement Conundrum

Reference : Page 72, NCW Case Study, Kevin J. Cogan, Ray De Lucio

CapexOptimization

ThroughIntegration

Differentiators at an Operational Level• Jointness and combined arms

application requires this model.• Not a substitute for good leadership,

makes good leaders make better decisions

• Uncertainty management better-calculated risks now possible

• Location agnostic command• “Richness” of info helps quality of

interactions• Tradeoff- connectivity and network -

linearly degraded rear to front.• Bandwidth a high demand resource-

requires command attention.• Power requirements increase

significantly in battle areas.• Integration with shape-form of the

battle vehs and mob platforms. • Training with network-centric-

architecture necessary for readiness.• Unification of IS, Sigs and Cybersecurity

Theme 3Interplay : Factors at an Operational Level

KPM Das

Global National Security & Defence Team

Thank You