Katherine Ziesing | Canberra
ADM’s annual Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) edition is always a learning opportunity for the editorial team, given the highly technical nature of the space and the constant evolution of this technology.
C4ISR combines all the systems that allow military commanders to understand their operational environment, identify mission critical factors, and control their assets. Therefore, it covers a broad range of capabilities and technologies, from on the ground sensors to the final frontier of space. I would argue that the commercial market rather than a pure Defence requirement has driven much of this evolution.
Experience in adjacent, or even unrelated fields, has led to innovations in how the ADF utilises C4ISR technologies. From the app mentality that smart phones have delivered to navigation and communication technologies that were the stuff of science fiction novels, innovation in the C4ISR space has been consumer led.
“The battle front now is not so much about the fog of war, ... but the swimming in the sea of data and how not to drown in it.”
This same innovation is hard to realise in a Defence environment given the time constraints of the procurement process. Technology that has been in the hands of the public for some time can take years to filter through to Defence. There are, of course, a number of reasons for these delays (read this month’s From the Source interview with CASG Deputy Secretary Kim Gillis about his push to change this) but the end result is the same: we wave at the cutting edge rather than ride it.
The risk management readers among you will argue that there’s a good reason for that; new is not always better or reliable.
Operators gain decision advantage from command and control systems that allow for parallel – not sequential – planning and decision-making abilities. Systems to enhance situational awareness and keep ahead of adversaries in accelerated operational environments are key in the digital battlespace.
The battle front now is not so much about the fog of war, always present but able to be navigated, but the swimming in the sea of data and how not to drown in it. Across air, land, sea and space, thousands of sensors onboard manned and unmanned military platforms are collecting huge amounts of data from a range of sensors. These ISR systems task, collect, process, analyze, fuse and disseminate the most mission-critical information in a framework that has become to known as PED or processing, exploitation and dissemination. Essentially, getting the right information to the right people at the right time.
Information dominance (an ADF mission) requires secure, resilient and adaptable networks and communications. By leveraging sophisticated satellite, wireless and tactical radio technology, the ADF aims to ensure that its forces are able to share and receive information securely. There are a raft of programs in train to achieve this aim but it is fitting them all together in a timely way that is an ongoing challenge.
This is not a simple puzzle where all the pieces fit together nicely, with the pieces interlocking to form a coherent whole. Different standards, different approaches between services and providers plus integration with legacy and partners are just some of the puzzle pieces in this space.
This is a perfect opportunity for Defence and industry to partner early and effectively to work the puzzle together. A new perspective can be an innovation in and of itself.
On a personal note, November 2016 marks my 10-year anniversary with Australian Defence Magazine. I’m not exactly sure how it happened but here I am, firmly part of the Defence community. The learning curve was steep but well worth climbing with the help of a very supportive team. I would like to thank publisher Judy Hinz who took a chance on me, advertising gurus Mike Kerr (who gave me a love of Defence over the aviation or national security titles I started on) and David Jones, fellow writers Julian Kerr, Nigel Pittaway, Tom Muir and Philip Smart. Heartfelt thanks must go to former ADM Editor Gregor Ferguson who mentored me through my early years and was ever open to endless questions. For example, he reliably informed me that yes, ruggedized is a real word and not a typo.
And of course, many thanks to all the people I’ve met in this role. Industry, uniformed, and APS characters are the reason I stay in this community. This is not a farewell but rather an acknowledgement of reaching a milestone thanks to people not process.