Network Centric Warfare Implementation and Assessment

Abstract

This study examines three primary questions: (1) What is the definition of network-centric warfare?, (2) Are the military services implementing the network-centric warfare concept?, and (3) Is the network-centric warfare concept a new theory of warfare or rather a modification or extension of previous theories? To answer these questions, various publications on network-centric warfare and the various military service transformation plans were reviewed. The definition of network-centric warfare developed is the linkage of people, systems, and platforms to form a self-synchronized networked force that creates shared battlespace awareness for information superiority and speed of command. A review of the services transformation plans showed that the services may not be using the same terms, but they are implementing the concepts of network-centric warfare. The study concludes that network-centric warfare is not a new theory of warfare, but a concept that supports the maneuver theory of warfare, similar to the concept of blitzkrieg developed by Germany prior to World War II. To emphasize this the term "network-enabled warfare" is suggested as a more appropriate term.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 17, 2005
Accession Number
ADA436488

Entities

People

  • Thomas K. Braunlinger

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Combat Areas
  • Command And Control
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Information Exchange
  • Information Systems
  • Military Applications
  • Military History
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Naval Operations
  • Naval Warfare
  • Network Centric Warfare
  • Organizational Structure
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies