Network Centric Warfare: An Emerging Warfighting Capability
Abstract
The U.S. Navy has set a course that implements a vision of Network Centric Warfare (NCW) aboard all vessels, to include amphibious ships. This implementation will have a significant effect on the systems afloat that support Marine Corps Command and Control (C2). The Marine Corps must participate fully in the shaping of Naval NCW or it risks having to operate from platforms ill-suited for its C2 of today as well as its OMFTS vision of the future. The period following the Cold War has provided U.S. Naval forces the opportunity to review the concepts and doctrine on which their capabilities are based. This review has shown that many of the concepts, to include command and control, are in need of considerable revision to support future warfighting requirements. This review process has come a long way towards recognition of amphibious and littoral warfare as the centerpieces of Naval warfare. Coupled with an explosion of information technology capabilities, a new concept of NCW has emerged that places information networks at the center of our warfighting. This concept potentially allows for the development of greater situational awareness and faster speed of command, an important enabler of maneuver warfare. The resulting implementation of command and control concepts through its Information Technology for the 21st Century (IT-21) program goes a long way towards providing NCW capabilities to Naval forces, but it needs further input from the Marine Corps to be able to fully support MAGTF requirements. The Marine Corps needs to become more closely involved in this implementation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA529329
Entities
People
- Donald G. Wogaman
Organizations
- Marine Corps University