Back to news

September 6, 2018 | International, C4ISR

What’s standing in the way of multidomain operations?

By:

WASHINGTON — Mutlidomain operations are set to become standard for the U.S. armed services in the coming years, but technical, doctrinal and organizational hurdles remain.

One impediment to multidomain operations involves issues in linking the service's disparate communication and information networks to share targeting data and communications. Rebecca Grant, a national security analyst with IRIS Independent Research, identified her “No. 1 problem" as “the communications architecture.”

This stuff is not there yet," she said Wednesday at the Defense News Conference. "I'm less worried about the platforms, we've got some magnificent platforms. We've got to have that communication architecture. All the ability to do that is there, whether that's secure waveforms or the [radio frequency] links, but we have to take the plunge now, immediately, to go out and experiment with this next year.”

The need for an integrated communications network was echoed by L3 Technologies' vice president of communications technology.

“You need a network that can take all the networks we have right now, a systems-of-systems-level approach, that can tie these disparate networks together because you don't want to get rid of that install base because its too expensive to replace,” Keith Gentile said.

Another challenge involves changing the services' doctrinal approaches to operations, especially as each branch becomes more dependent on one another.

Gentile said that if the U.S. plans to quickly respond to enemy developments, doctrine surrounding operations in the domains must change.

“There's a role mission and function issue that needs to be addressed when you talk about cross-domain or multidomain capabilities because each of the services operates in different domains," he said. "You got to go ahead and get away from the parochial pieces of service stovepipes, mission roles and functions — and realize you are talking about cross-domain capabilities.”

Jaret Riddick, the director of the Vehicle Technology Directorate at the Army Research Laboratory, cited the service's recently stood-up Futures Command as one example of change within the services.

“I would not downplay the steps the Army is making in standing up Futures Command. To take a four-star command and make the type of reorganization that has not happened since the early 1970s — I would not call that incremental,” he said.

https://www.defensenews.com/smr/defense-news-conference/2018/09/05/whats-standing-in-the-way-of-multidomain-operations

On the same subject

  • Northrop Grumman Armament Systems advances M-ACE development

    August 21, 2020 | International, Land

    Northrop Grumman Armament Systems advances M-ACE development

    by Andrew White Northrop Grumman Armament Systems is moving to verify the design and upgrade its Mobile Acquisition Cueing and Effector (M-ACE) system following a test event completed in July. Conducted at the company's private proving grounds, northwest of Armament Systems' headquarters near Minneapolis, the event was aimed at demonstrating advanced predictive cueing integration between the M-ACE vehicle – which is equipped with radar, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR), radio frequency (RF) sensors, and a command and control (C2) suite – and several Scorpion air defence (AD) vehicles fitted with 30 mm M230LF Bushmaster cannons. M-ACE comprises a multi-mission ground and air security which can be tasked with counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) operations, company officials told Janes . Northrop Grumman's Business Development Director, Armament Systems C-UAS, Robert Menti, said the event successfully proved a fully “networked, integrated, full kill chain” capable of detecting ground and UAS threats at extended ranges. “The advanced predictive cueing capability enables shortening the kill chain decision cycle (target identification, classification, and prioritisation) at near machine speed,” Menti explained. “This is accomplished through the fusion of sensors and autonomous/artificial intelligence capabilities of the system.” The next test event is scheduled to be conducted at Big Sandy Range in Arizona in October which will see the Scorpion AD vehicles firing proximity fused ammunition from the M230LF to destroy UASs that are initially identified, tracked, and targeted by M-ACE. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/northrop-grumman-armament-systems-advances-m-ace-development

  • Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme received EUR 60 million in funding from EDIRPA which promotes European defence procurement

    November 19, 2024 | International, C4ISR

    Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme received EUR 60 million in funding from EDIRPA which promotes European defence procurement

    The joint programme enables the development of the Patria 6x6 vehicle platform as well as the cost-effectiveness of life-cycle support, quick procurement and equipment compatibility, strengthening defense cooperation in Europe

  • Argentina chooses to buy US-made Chinook over Russian Mi-26

    June 17, 2022 | International, Aerospace

    Argentina chooses to buy US-made Chinook over Russian Mi-26

    Argentina has kicked-started the process for procuring four Boeing-made CH-47 Chinook heavy helicopters from the U.S., military sources in Buenos Aires have told Defense News.

All news