Integrated Battlefield Management Begins in Space
Abstract
On July 3, 1863, "Lee's stubborn pugnacity still pushed the attack forward, until three divisions totaling about 15,000 men suffered wreckage beyond recovery in the failure of Pickett's Charge." Sadly, Robert E. Lee stands out for miscalculating the impact of an ongoing revolution in military affairs. He was knowledgeable in the new weapon systems he faced, yet was unwilling to adapt his strategy and tactics to the new realities of war. At the close of the 20th century, military leaders face a similar dilemma. Today, a highly volatile technological environment is reshaping the battlefield. The challenge is to understand and adapt, for if the United States fails to shape the new technologies, they will shape it with potentially disastrous results. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), through Joint Publication 6-0, established a benchmark for future C4. The nation must build a future in which an effective C4I structure is able to support virtually any type of joint operation. This future vision is captured in the concept of real-time battlespace information. The JCS describes the system's objective as follows: "The warrior needs a fused, real-time, true picture of the battlespace and the ability to order, respond and coordinate vertically and horizontally to the degree necessary to prosecute the mission in the battlespace." To understand the issue of battlefield management, this paper addresses the following key questions: (1) Is this concept part of a revolution in military affairs, (2) What is a reasonable vision for an integrated battlespace goal, (3) What are the acquisition issues associated with the concept, and (4) What is the best method for converting this concept into a strategy to guide U.S. efforts? These questions are central to the concept of battlefield dominance and U.S. success in reaching this goal in the next century.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 18, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA442715
Entities
People
- Allen G. Branco Jr.
Organizations
- National War College