Combined Arms in the Electro-Magnetic Spectrum: Integrating Non-kinetic Operations

Abstract

Anti-access, area denial (A2AD) environments provide adversaries with an asymmetric advantage too costly for a 21st - century military to overcome. Arguably, a counter to a defense-in-depth environment is an attack-in-depth strategy. However, regaining a relative advantage requires leveraging the electro-magnetic spectrum to offset the high cost of traditional targeting methodologies. This monograph suggests a framework for negating an anti-access, area denial advantage by integrating non-kinetic operations to induce strategic paralysis within the enemy's decision cycle. Electronic warfare, computer network operations, and space control negation require the same level of command and control, integration, and synchronization as kinetic fires in order to produce discernible effects on the battlespace. This paper postulates that there is not a common understanding of what non-kinetic effects encompass. This is because terms like information operations (IO) and non-kinetic effects are ambivalent and do not help military planners bring capabilities to bear as easily as with kinetic operations. In addition, planning and operating in the information environment requires a different perspective from that of traditional, kinetic fires. How do planners create non-kinetic options for the commander that increases relative advantage? One answer is through an examination and synthesis of a proposed evolution of the Clausewitzian definition of force with John Boyd?s notion of a mental-moral-physical harmony that exists within the cognitive dimension of human decision-making. This monograph proves that there is a more effective mechanism for targeting outside the brackets of kinetic effects. The employment of electronic warfare and computer network operations throughout the non-kinetic battlespace serve as the mechanism to uncover an adversary?s strengths and weaknesses, exploit the friction caused by his inability to cope with unfolding circumstances, and overwhelm the critical co

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 23, 2013
Accession Number
ADA583814

Entities

People

  • Jeffrey C. Crivellaro

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Cyber
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Combat Areas
  • Command And Control
  • Computer Networks
  • Defense Systems
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Information Operations
  • Information Systems
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Multiple Access
  • Network Protocols
  • Network Science
  • Students
  • Voice Over Internet Protocol
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
  • Microelectronics
  • Space