Combat System Integration

Abstract

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) created the Navy's Strike Force Interoperability (SFI) program in 1998 in response to critical shortfalls in the introduction of integrated and interoperable System of Systems (SoS) to deploying Strike Forces. Interoperability concerns still exist today as new systems are introduced to the Fleet, interoperating with older systems, and the complexity of the SoS integration has continued to increase. These programs mitigate SoS integration and interoperability issues by identifying critical shortfalls before the systems are released to the Fleet. Warfighters depend on these programs on a daily basis to remove or reduce the interoperability risk associated with the systems they are tasked to operate. Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (COMNAVSEA) acts as management lead for Joint System Command (SYSCOM) system certification policy and guidance and certifies platforms for interoperability within the platform and throughout the enterprise, in accordance with Commander, US Fleet Forces Command/Commander, Pacific Fleet COMUSFLTFORCOM/COMPACFLT) Ins. 4720.3C dated 18 SEP 2017 (C5ISR Modernization Policy). COMUSFLTFORCOM/COMPACFLT INST. 4720.3C also requires that COMNAVSEA act as administrative agent for Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR) Command and Control, Communications, Computers, Combat Systems, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Modernization Process (C5IMP), and execution agent for Navy Command and Control, Communications, Computers, Combat Systems, Intelligence, and Surveillance and Reconnaissance Modernization Council (NCMC). This program conducts Interoperability Assessments that are required to certify Aircraft Carriers, Amphibious Assault Ships, and Surface Combatants in accordance with the Naval Warfare System Certification Policy (NWSCP) NAVSEAINST 9410.2A, NAVAIR 5230.20, AND SPAWAR 5234.1). The SFI program ensures overall Strike Force Interoperability is characterized and assessed. COMNAVSEA is assigned central United States Navy (USN) responsibility for interoperability, directing the development of policy and architecture for Strike Force Warfare Systems engineering and implementation of common warfare systems engineering processes. There are three priorities within the Strike Force Interoperability Program: (1) Support Fleet "as-is" state which includes Navigation System Certification (NAVCERT), Strike Group Interoperability (SGI) Capabilities & Limitations (CAPS&LIMS), and Interoperability Tactical Information Coordinator Technical Aids (TIC TECHAIDs). These functions provide the critical review, assessment and documentation to properly inform the warfighter of the status of the interoperability for the systems they operate. (2) Support Ship's system modernization (non-HME) including warfighting capability & other C5I upgrades including C5IMP Baseline Management. These functions ensure the warfighter is provided integrated and interoperable fielded systems to fulfill mission success. (3) Support Ship Warfare System Certification & Force Level Assessments. This includes Warfare Systems Certification, Interoperability Certification, Force Level Interoperability Analysis, & Assessments, Cybersecurity Assessments and recommendations for improvements to the program offices for implementation at the systems' level. This critical function provides the confidence to the warfighter they are getting the best possible systems and that through the certification process the systems have been properly tested and assessed to ensure the best possible interoperability. Project 0164 Combat System Integration: This project consists of four key Pillars executed within the Strike Force Interoperability (SFI) Program: (1) Command & Control, Communications, Computer, Combat Systems, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Modernization Process (C5IMP). The C5IMP validates the introduction of new systems and upgrades to existing systems into the fleet and ensures systems' maturity prior to shipboard installation thereby reducing risk and enhancing readiness and effectiveness of deploying ships and strike groups. (2) Warfare Systems Certification (WSCERT), which is essential to validating the maturity and operational performance of warfare systems prior to Fleet delivery and deployment. (3) The integrated Navigation System Certification (NAVCERT) program certifies the shipboard integrated navigation suite for safe navigation using the Electronic Charting and Display Information System Navy (ECDIS-N) as the primary plot. To support Strike Force Interoperability and ship's mission requirements, it ensures that the installed integration navigation suite provides accurate and timely navigation information (position, velocity, speed, heading, roll, and pitch) to all navigation data consumers (Warfare/Weapons Systems, Control Systems, and precision approach and landing systems). This ensure the safe maneuver of naval forces to execute missions throughout the full spectrum of conflict. (4) Interoperability Certification and Assessment (IOP C&A) is the critical independent assessment of strike group warfare systems operational performance. Interoperability assessment examines force level engagement threads, aircraft control, air battle management, and operational displays to ensure the warfighter is being provided the most interoperable systems available. Assessments of deploying ships in strike force configurations are accomplished through the use of the Navy's Distributed Integration and Interoperability Assessment Capability (DIIAC) which supports the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (DASN) "shift to the left" policy by providing early interoperability testing in the acquisition lifecycle. It is a Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (CFFC) and Commander U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) requirement that all strike forces undergo interoperability assessment testing in the DIIAC prior to deployment. The support for DASN and requirements of the combatant commander cannot be accomplished without the full funding of these programs. Interoperability characterization results are used to develop fleet tactical tools (Capabilities & Limitations (C&L) documentation and Tactical Information Coordinator Technical Aids (TIC TECHAIDS)) on which the warfighters rely daily, that ensure that systems' operators understand the interoperability capabilities and limitations of their combat systems, as well as all units within the networked architecture, and have the watch station tools necessary for the execution of their tactical responsibilities. These are Fleet desired and NAVSEA required programs that must be fully funded to ensure the warfighter awareness of Strike Force Interoperability.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2024
• Source ID: 0603582N_4_1319_PB_2024
• Service Agency Name: Navy

Entities

Organizations

• United States Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Cyber
• Ground and Sea Platforms
• Human Systems
• Kinetic Weapons
• Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Battle Management
• Command And Control
• Control Systems
• Developmental Tests
• Engineering
• Fleet Exercises
• Inertial Navigation
• Inertial Navigation Systems
• Information Systems
• Naval Operations
• Naval Warfare
• Navigation
• Navy
• Reconnaissance
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation
• Warfare

Fields of Study

• Engineering

Readers

• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.

Technology Areas

• Cyber
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Microelectronics
• Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems