Attrition in Network Centric Warfare
Abstract
Network Centric Warfare (NCW) is concerned with exploiting information to maximize combat power. Integration of C2 systems is able to increase military effectiveness, whether in maneuver, engagement, logistics, or protection. However, this increases the potential length of the electronic chain from sensor to shooter. This paper acknowledges that battle damage and force attrition (both equipment and human) occur in real conflict. The hypothesis is that at some point this may result in decreased force effectiveness rather than increased advantage. Information warfare means that positive attacks on systems themselves compound the problem. Emerging technologies applicable to NCW as a force multiplier need to be recognized as counter to the impediments to progress in the development of NCW. The impact of battle damage, attrition, and cyber attack is addressed as well as system security and the associated human factors of authority and responsibility. Options to minimize these vulnerabilities are postulated. The development of distributed systems and the potential of using arbitration in decision making is viewed as one way to minimize the impact of performance on C2 effectiveness. The paper also recognizes that while dominance (in its widest sense) is the ambition of symmetric warfare, in the asymmetric case structures can be undermined by relatively unsophisticated attack. In particular, the paper's purpose is to underline the fact that implementations need to ensure that attrition results in graceful, rather than catastrophic, degradation. At the extreme end of the C2 performance spectrum the following question must be asked: To what extent can degraded C2 performance threaten force effectiveness? Assessment at this level is difficult and real answers are only likely to come from real-life exercises that study the degree of reliance on C2 effectiveness during battle. The output will indicate that steps that need to be taken. (8 briefing charts, 6 refs.)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA425258
Entities
People
- John Erbetta
Organizations
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory