Information Warfare Force XXI Situational Awareness
Abstract
The 80's saw the introduction of stovepipe digital architectures in the primary combat arms branches (Aviation, Armor, Artillery, and Infantry) weapon systems. Some of these systems were not interoperable due to their unique software protocols. Aviation and Artillery platforms were interoperable since they utilized the same protocol. In the 90's, General Sullivan expounded on his Force XXI vision to digitally link all the combat arms horizontally and vertically to increase situational awareness. The materiel and combat developments communities produced an internet type system for the combat arms to provide situational awareness. An applique system was installed on some of the platforms so the weapons systems could digitally communicate within the internet. The applique system proposed to solve the stovepipe architectures will not work. Each combat arms system (AH-64D, MlA2 Abrams, M3 Bradley, Paladin/Crusader) has limited space, weight, and power constraints which prevent the integration of the applique system. The Army Acquisition Executive must charter a Project Manager with adequate resources to fully integrate an open architecture system with one operating system tailored into each platform. The Army can not meet the situational awareness objective of Force XXI with another stand alone, federated applique system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 06, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA342718
Entities
People
- Laurence E. Thomas Jr
Organizations
- United States Army War College