Naval Warfare Doctrine-Is it Ready for the 21st Century?
Abstract
Among the challenges facing U.S. naval forces, as the 21st Century approaches, is the need to develop operational doctrine that not only accounts for the revolutionary improvements in information processing, computer modeling, smart- and brilliant-weapons technology, visualization, communications, and other promises of the military technical revolution, but also considers the very strong possibility that maritime operations will be multinational. The operational commander of the future must be able to integrate less capable multinational forces, as well as forces with significantly different doctrine, into his operational scheme. The need for all participants to have access-along with the United States and her major allies-to some level of battlespace 'omniscience;' and the need for the operational commander to integrate all sensors and weapons in some optimal way, is the crux of the burden of the military technical revolution at the operational level. Will U.S. naval doctrine only react to changes brought about by the military technical revolution or will a revolution in doctrine define 21st Century maritime operations and shape technology to fit its needs? Today's naval theoreticians and operational commanders have, in light of the remarkable changes taking place in both technology and world politics, the opportunity and responsibility to ensure that naval doctrine is ready for the demanding command and control challenges of the high-tech multinational world of 21st Century maritime warfare.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA311662
Entities
People
- Michael J. Carron
Organizations
- Naval War College