Command and Control on the Nuclear Battlefield in Multi-Domain Operations
Abstract
By analyzing the effects of a low-yield battlefield nuclear weapon, this monograph provides an assessment of an Army corps' command and control (C2) resiliency in the event of a nuclear strike. In particular, it examines the ability to conduct multi-domain operations (MDO) after nuclear effects degrade components of the C2 system; people, command posts, networks, and processes. The analysis shows that a single low-yield battlefield nuclear weapon cannot destroy the entirety of an Army corps' C2 system due to the redundancy and dispersion of command nodes. The severity of C2 degradation is a function of the number of nuclear weapons employed, C2 nodes destroyed, and if an adversary is willing to strike nodes in the continental United States or in space. Although a low-yield battlefield nuclear weapon targeting land forces may not be optimal to deny network connectivity, their use has implications for C2 system design as maneuver units will likely increase dispersion for survivability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 06, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1160929
Entities
People
- Jeff Fanelli
Organizations
- School of Advanced Military Studies