Anyone who does information technology will tell you that integrating different software packages is notoriously tough--there are lots of unintended consequences when you try to run different applications together--and even commodity hardware like PCs can break. If you're in an ordinary workplace, you call the "help desk." But what if you're a combat Sailor or a Marine in the front lines? How can Navy warships and Marine riflemen use the American information advantage in the wet, mucky, and dangerous arena that is their workplace?
Ultimately, the men and women who defend us will need:
These are essential components of the Navy's new concept called "FORCEnet." The Office of Naval Research has taken the lead on creating the science and technology foundation for the information architecture that will serve the Navy's new operational vision, Seapower 21. ONR has teamed with the Navy's system commands to provide real warfighting benefit now, while drafting a roadmap to the future.
The long-haul network is emerging from several initiatives. The Joint Task Force Wide Area Relay Network (WARNET) is a hardware and software architecture that ties command, control and communications systems from all the Services together in a robust combat network. The forces of US Pacific Command were involved in developing JTF WARNET from the beginning, and they have already begun to deploy it.
A variety of intelligent agents--specialized computer programs that pick out and present important data--and the software architectures these agents need to work well together make up the knowledge management part of FORCEnet. They can help Sailors and Marines sort out the important information from the trivia--if you don't manage information well in combat, you'll find that you've just replaced the fog of war with the glare of war.
New antenna technologies being developed through ONR's advanced multi-function radio frequency concept (see "Felling Antenna Forests" http://www.onr.navy.mil/media/tipoff_display.asp?ID=34#1 ) (AMRF-C) will eliminate the mutual interference plaguing the antenna farms that sprout on ships and around command posts.
AMRF-C, one of the most technologically challenging and revolutionary steps to fully implementing FORCEnet, is rapidly moving ahead in shore-based demonstrations. The FORCEnet concept was a product of several years work by the Navy's Strategic Studies Group, a forum of savvy officers with plenty of fleet experience. It aimed at bringing the Navy's concept of "network-centric warfare" to reality. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Vern Clark has decided to accelerate FORCEnet for early delivery.
"FORCEnet isn't another big-think 'vision' that generates more PowerPoint than combat power," says ONR's Dr. Bobby Junker. "JTF WARNET--which was built with fielded systems--has already been demonstrated and is being deployed."
For more information on FORCEnet, or to interview Dr. Junker and his team, contact Ed Walsh at walshw@onr.navy.mil or call 703-696-5031.