Indian Defence Review

Network Centric Warfare

With the rapid advances in Information Technology (IT), logical follow up evolution of the combat systems evolution is the Network Centric Warfare (NCW). This concept emerged at the turn of the century and is transforming the conduct of warfare; in particular of the maritime dimension by linking together ships, aircraft, submarines and shore operations control facilities into a highly integrated computer/telecommunications networks. Such networking can lead to the following advantages:

• Real-time intelligence and information sharing.
• Synergising the resources of each integrated unit in the management of combat functions and operations of the network units.
• Precision and accuracy of operations.
• Disruption and degrading of the adversary’s strategy by bearing upon him the weight of the combined units instead of stand-alone platforms. This is also known as Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC).
• Enhance the radius of the theatre of operations.

Cyber Security and Warfare

NCW is still a work-in-progress although many of the major navies have already incorporated it in their plans for 21st century operations. However, there are aspects which need critical attention and refinement, primary among them is cyber security. In stand-alone platforms, data links to their integral units were still a safe bet and difficult to interfere with, unless one interposes in their Line Of Sight (LOS) communications. However, in an NCW environment, electronic and cyber-attacks are a real possibility which need to be taken care of. At the same time, one’s own NCW Systems should be able to degrade the adversary’s capabilities using cyber warfare. This aspect calls for an entirely new discipline and the requirement of highly trained personnel in cyber warfare. The beauty is that this art can be practiced 24/7 throughout the year. The NCW will have an impact on:

• Tactics, doctrine and organization.
• Overall fleet design and composition.
• Interoperability.
• Information Security (CRS Report for Congress June 2001).

Future Perspectives

Advent of Unmanned Vehicles

The development and deployment of unmanned surveillance and combat vehicles is significant as it will have a transformational effect on Naval Combat Systems. We already have surveillance drones operating, as also offensive drones as part of war on terror. Underwater unmanned vehicles are already available for mine sweeping operations and in the same sphere, such vehicles are under advanced stages of development for harbour defence and efforts are also underway to use them from ship-borne platforms for submarine detection. Unmanned ships are almost on the horizon, DNV – GL is seriously working on autonomous ships. Parallel research and efforts are also being carried out in the maritime warfare sphere. The operationalisation of such vehicles will bring in revolutionary changes in the conduct of maritime operations.

Cloud Computing or Virtualisation of Data

Whilst the digitisation has eased the solutions in combat operations, there is a case to find venues for storage of data, which keeps increasing in volume by the hour. Relatively, the processing speeds slow down. In addition, the rising costs of specific equipment, draws on the limited resources from other projects. Consequently, interest is being evinced in finding venues for storage of data, as if in a bank, to be drawn upon at the time of need. Cloud computing or virtualisation of legacy data are the options.

•  Cloud Computing: Cloud computing has been defined as the practice of using network of remote servers hosted on the internet to store, manage and process data, rather than on a local server. More specifically, the US National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) defines it as “a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resource e.g. networks, storage, servers, applications and services that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interactions.” (Mell & Grance, 2009 P 1)

•  Virtualisation: This on the other hand, is an abstraction of computer resources to allow a single physical resource such as a server, an operating system, an application or a storage device appear to function as a multiple logical resources, designed to deliver on demand, data to specific users. This is somewhat analogous to the internet and the World Wide Web, where the web comprises a subset of all services available to users via the internet. This provision gives the advantage on ship-borne environments in that it reduces the physical foot prints of the combat system’s architecture as also optimises the need for large computers, thereby reducing heat and noise signatures. It also reduces the load on energy requirements for cooling.

A thesis study was undertaken to examine this proposition in its application on the AEGIS Combat System, at the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California, authored by Eric S Roberts in September 2011. The paper looked at all aspects some of which included life-cycle costs, shelf life and obsolescence and related industry support over long periods of service life, (Gap in shelf life of equipment and production lines), availability of trained, in-house manpower for technical support and maintenance, advantages of reduced footprint of proprietary equipment and concluded that employment of open architecture technology and maximising the use of shared resources through virtualisation was a viable option. Work on this avenue is continuing and holds promise for the future trends of Naval Combat Systems.

Trends and Analysis

The market and the need for Naval Combat Systems is alive as host navies seek to modernise and upgrade their existing systems to keep pace with fast-changing technology in keeping with the evolving threat spectrum. Defence IQ had undertaken a survey in first half of 2016 to assess the factors that would impinge on the continuing evolution of NCS, in a potentially game-changing technology environment including the use of Commercially Off The Shelf (COTS) equipment and components to secure long term solutions in this field. The survey was undertaken across, users, commercial industry, government organisations, academia and the media. The survey has identified significant challenges for modernisation for NCS.

•  Obsolescence: The militaries rated obsolescence (44 per cent), academia rated budgetary limitations (74 per cent) whereas the industry considered lack of direction from users and Government (36 per cent) and issues of inter-operability (40 per cent) as the most significant challenges.

•  Game Changing Technologies: The industry saw unmanned underwater vehicles (63 per cent), whereas the military (users) saw interoperability and open architecture systems as most potentially game changing technologies. The Academia (48 per cent) thought Directed Energy Weapons would fit this bill.

•  Prioritisation of Elements of Combat Systems: The Academia (65 per cent) rated surveillance Systems, whereas the Industry considered Combat Management Systems (42 per cent) and Weapons and Missile Control Systems (34 per cent) would hold sway, the Military however, rated Cyber security (64 per cent) in its priority list. Electronic Warfare also rated high at 48 per cent.

•  Interoperability: Majority (59 per cent) of the respondents across the spectrum, thought that inter-operability would play an important part in the future NCS. However, most felt that it would be majorly in place only in the next two decades.

•  COTS: Opinion was divided on the use of Commercially Off The Shelf (COTS) equipment and hardware as an economical and accessible solution. Aspects of associated risks on mil-specs vis-a-vis commercial specs precluded a decisive verdict.

Conclusion

The evolution of Naval Combat Systems has had a chequered history with more successes on the board. Their evolution has responded to the evolving nature of maritime combat operations. Technological, electronics and information technology revolutions have shaped their growth and evolution. The ever-changing nature of threats in terms more sophisticated and smart weapons too have played a significant part in shaping the configurations of Naval Combat Systems.

The spectre of obsolescence and rapidly changing technology, especially the advent of unmanned vehicles, will drive the future trends of NCS. Open Architecture and Cyber Security will take centre stage. Aspects of inter-operability, commercially viable substitutes and budgetary constraints will also play a significant role. All in all interesting times are ahead in the continuing development of Naval Combat Systems; we may see smart phones, in not so distant future, being used in Combat Operations Management.