Integrating Leading US C4ISR Technologies to Support Nations’ Capabilities

1. Integrating Leading US C4ISR Technologies to Support Nations’ Capabilities Bill Skidmore Engineering Manager, FMS & International Business TAMSCO

2. US’ Situation Awareness Communications Infrastructure Digitized Voice C2 Applications Information Sharing Security Responds to documented recent Operational Doctrine Coalition Members Analog voice telephone and radio communications Computer-generated paper reports Responds to 1970’s Doctrine Typically Employed Technologies

3. Typical Nations’ Capability Requirements • Communications Infrastructure • Support Infrastructure • Information Processing • Country-specific reports • Coalition-required reporting • “Situation Awareness”

4. Getting There - Developing a Roadmap

5. Develop Operational Concept Overview Define Organizations Develop System Architecture Capture Information Flows & Characterize Data Develop a C4ISR System Architecture using Mission Threads

6. Communications Infrastructure Business Process (re)Engineering using appropriate framework Identify Solution Technologies for Nations’ C4ISR Requirements Nations Requirements Roadmap Tasks Buy Communications Stuff Derive • Communications System Design Don’t forget • Define Support Infrastructure • Training • Maintenance • Transportation

7. Considerations for Integrating US C4ISR Technologies • Suitability • Does it address the requirements? • How much ancillary technology is needed? • Exportability • Cost • Capital • Recurring • Support

8. Integrating US C4ISR Technologies • Communications interoperability with legacy systems • Interoperability by purchasing the same systems - retire legacy elements • Limited interoperability because the exported capability is usually at least one version older than what the US is using • Interoperation by utilizing a gateway that can translate between legacy and objective interface • NATO telephony interoperability standards support this approach, but inherent loss of some functionality • Near-universal use of TCP/IP increases probability of success for IP-based voice and data applications (still not guaranteed) • Candidate interoperability techniques can be assessed at interoperability exercises (e.g., Combined Endeavor) But, rate of military technology improvements > military technology interoperability

9. Integrating US C4ISR Technologies (cont’d) • Information interoperability with legacy systems • Purchasing the same systems is unlikely due to export control restrictions • Utilizing a gateway for interoperability inherently inserts error, or causes a loss of granularity or functionality • Relying on standards is not fail-safe • Standards’ interpretation is notoriously inconsistent unless market driven (e.g., Java and XML)

10. Integrating US C4ISR Technologies (cont’d) • Given the significant investment to achieve infrastructure and information interoperability, probably the best way is to utilize Web Portals with underlying TCP/IP infrastructure • Often, dynamic translation is supported • Easily maintained • Relatively low cost Portal demonstrated at AFCEA Europe 2000