IO Range
Abstract
The National Military Strategy of the United States stressed the importance of integrating Information Operations (IO) capabilities for the success of Joint Operations and Decision Superiority. The Defense-Wide IO Program Review revalidated a requirement for an integrated range supporting “exercises, testing, and development of IO capabilities.” Further direction by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) identified the need for an “integrated IO test and evaluation capability to assess IO technologies and tactics in a representative operational environment against realistic targets.” The 2006 National Security Strategy identified "Strengthening Alliances to Defeat Global Terrorism and Work to Prevent Attacks Against Us and Our Friends", which involves significant Information Operations (IO) and Cyber operations as a goal. Through the Defense Planning Guidance (DPG) and the Integrated Priority Lists, COCOMs repeatedly stated the need to expand IO/Cyber training and education for the developing cadre of IO/Cyber professionals and provide an environment for analysis, testing, training, combat assessments, and measures of effectiveness for more reliable IO/Cyber capabilities. The Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum on the IO Range had established the requirement for creating a cooperative IO range among the Military Services. The IO Range provided a secure, flexible, and seamless environment for the Military Services and Joint warfighters to test, train, develop tactics, and exercise selected IO/Cyber capabilities. The basis of the functional structure of the IO Range was the integration of existing ranges, laboratories, information warfare centers, and other Government facilities that currently support IO/Cyber test, training, exercise, and experimentation events. Capabilities at the selected sites were securely connected and integrated into the IO Range. A key feature of this concept was a persistent, secure connection that linked the sites together, allowing the exchange of data and the visualization of effects as we employed capabilities. Creation of a “virtual range” based on persistent connections significantly reduced the amount of lead-time required to set up each new warfighter event. The IO Range was a full spectrum IO/Cyber Range supporting: operations security (OPSEC), computer network operations (CNO), electronic warfare (EW), military information support operations (MISO), and military deception (MILDEC). This environment enabled warfighters to visualize non-kinetic weapons effects, understand the intricate and interactive effects generated by kinetic and non-kinetic weapons and achieve the same level of confidence and expertise in employing IO/Cyber capabilities as they have with kinetic capabilities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2014
- Source ID
- 001_0303166D8Z_6_0400_PB_2014
Related Documents
- Root: Support to Information Operations Capabilities
- Child Accomplishment: IO Range