Network Centric Warfare Assessment - Preliminary study

Authors:

  • Alsér Lisa
  • Aksberg Jan
  • Höstbeck Lars
  • Lundgren Leif
  • Nilsson Sten Åke
  • Pelo Johan
  • Waldemark Karina

Publish date: 2002-01-01

Report number: FOI-R--0338--SE

Pages: 64

Written in: Swedish

Abstract

Studies about Network Centric Warfare, NCW, are in progress in the project FoRMA at FOI. NCW describes a system for warfare, where the functions are separated into different platforms and at the same time are working together, through a network that is realized by information technology. The working group NCW was formed in May 2001 and the task was to develop and apply methods to assess armed combat in net-centric environment. The issue when analysing NCW should be if NCW is possible and what limitations and advantages NCW can provide compared to Platform Centric Warfare. The purpose of the preliminary study report is to describe the way of working and show the results of the preliminary study. At the same time it will serve as a common base for the group and it´s further work. Interesting scenarios for which we later want to investigate the possibility to use NCW are studied. Scenarios are described for a fixed target, tank, fighter aircraft, surface combatant and an underwater case. Trivial networks between Command and Control, Sensors and Shooters are introduced. A possible structure for a general network is shown, which can be used for studying characteristics and effects of a network consisting of a number of different components. Some well-known modelling methods are mentioned in the report. They can be of importance when finding a method for modelling the scenarios, which describe NCW.