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Army Digitization Master Plan '96

Army Digitization Master Plan

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

"Digitization is the essential enabler that will facilitate the Army of the 21st Century's ability to win the information war and provide deciders, shooters, and supporters the information each needs to make the vital decisions necessary to overwhelm and overcome their adversary and win the overall campaign."

Digitization is about interoperability. It horizontally and vertically integrates the Army's diversified battlefield operating systems into an interlocking information exchange network, while also providing a heightened level of essential joint and combined interoperability within a multi-dimensional battlespace. The rapid sharing of enemy and friendly information among all digitized forces within that battlespace will provide near-real time situation awareness, enhance synchronization of combat power, and enable economy of force by making units more lethal and survivable. Victory in the 21st Century battlespace will be characterized by the effective leveraging of information technology to rapidly mass the effects of dispersed firepower, rather than relying exclusively on the physical massing of weapons and forces that was the primary method employed in the past. Digitization is a means to that end and the Army Digitization Master Plan is the Army's roadmap to getting there.

ARMY DIGITIZATION MASTER PLAN

The Army Digitization Master Plan is a living document that will be updated on an annual basis. As digitization efforts mature, the Master Plan will be further refined and adjusted, based on results from the extensive modeling, simulation, and experimentation built into the program.

DIGITIZATION PROGRESS

The Army has made significant progress toward the digitization effort since the first Master Plan was published. This progress is characterized by the following accomplishments:

• Horizontal Integration of Battle Command Mission Need Statement (MNS). Obtained approval, joint certification, and validation by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) of the Horizontal Integration of Battle Command MNS, which was needed to support the expenditure of Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDTE) digitization funds.

• Architectures. Spearheaded efforts to establish a comprehensive architecture for Force XXI, resulting in an approved Technical Architecture for all Army systems that produce, use, or exchange information electronically. On 1 December 1995, ASD (C3I) selected the Army Technical Architecture (ATA) as the Joint Technical Architecture baseline. Army acquisition documentation packages have been reviewed and modified to ensure compliance with the ATA, thus beginning the process of oversight and standardization across major systems. The initial draft of the Task Force XXI System Architecture has been completed and is being staffed, while the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) has begun developing the process and data models for brigade-and-below operational architectures.

• Applique Systems. Developed the digitized applique distribution and force modernization fielding plans for the Task Force XXI Advanced Warfighting Experiment (AWE), which were subsequently approved. Additionally, the Digital Integrated Laboratory (DIL) at Fort Monmouth has begun certifying equipment and systems designated for use during the planned series of Force XXI AWEs.

• Acquisition Streamlining. Briefed a prototype acquisition streamlining model which was approved as the Army standard; was supported by both Congress and the Office of the Secretary of Defense; and was instrumental in completing a contract award for the applique systems in only six months. This acquisition streamlining model has become the basis for fielding follow-on Force XXI digital systems, beginning with the solicitation package for the Near Term Digital Radio.

• Common Operating Environment (COE). Increased the level of joint coordination and cooperation via Memoranda of Agreement with the other Services. To this end, a two-star Joint Battlefield Digitization General Officer Working Group and a Council of Colonels/Captains have been organized and hold regularly scheduled meetings. This has resulted in a better mutual understanding of the COE and the issues involved in a smooth migration to it. The COE is the set of integrated services supporting mission application software requirements across the Military Services. It provides the corresponding software development environment, architecture principles, and methodology to assist in the development of mission application software.

• Multinational Arena. Made significant overtures in multinational interoperability by extending the U.S. digitization effort to selected allied and potential coalition countries. The International Digitization Strategy seeks to develop an interoperable operational architecture for command, control, communications, and intelligence (C4I); focuses the efforts of existing multinational fora to support the goals and objectives of Army digitization; leverages existing international cooperative programs; and invites allies to observe AWEs and demonstrations. These efforts have led to discussions with many nations and the initiation of an interoperability program with Germany and France.

• Publicity and Education. Conducted a broad-based information and education campaign about Army digitization and its future role on the battlefield. There is now a widespread understanding of digitization and a proliferation of new ideas and technologies to support Army XXI, the Army of the 21st Century. The Army Digitization Office (ADO) assisted in this effort by:

• Publishing the first Army Digitization Master Plan in January 1995.
• Establishing an interactive, HTML-based Army Digitization Home Page on the Internet (http://www.ado.army.mil).
• Developing, publishing, and regularly updating a Digitization Master Schedule which provides visibility and synchronization of major contributing programs.

EXPANDED SCOPE

In this second release of the Army Digitization Master Plan, particular attention is paid to providing the current status of digitization efforts. In addition, the following informational areas have been added or expanded:

C4I INTEROPERABILITY CONCEPTS

Army digitization efforts are based on the Joint Staff C4I for the Warrior concept, which envisions a widely distributed, user-driven infrastructure. The warrior plugs into it to obtain information from secure and seamlessly integrated computer and communications systems. The framework to meet and conquer the challenges of this concept is encompassed by the Army Enterprise Strategy, which focuses on the information needs of the Army as a whole. It addresses the Army's requirements to organize, train, and equip the force; the interoperability requirements as a component of a joint or multinational force; and the functional requirements for sustaining the force from both tactical and business perspectives. These documents-along with the Navy's Copernicus, the Air Force's Horizon, and the Marine Corps' Sea Dragon strategies-contain the intellectual basis for current and future digitization efforts.

DIGITIZATION DEFINED

Digitizing the battlefield is the application of information technologies to acquire, exchange, and employ timely digital information throughout the battlespace, tailored to meet the needs of each decider (commander), shooter, and supporter…allowing each to maintain a clear, accurate vision of the surrounding battlespace necessary to support both planning and execution.

Figure 1. Digitization Effects

The digitization picture is based on common data collected through networks of sensors, command posts, processors, and weapons platforms. This allows participants to aggregate relevant information and maintain an awareness of what is happening around and among them. Specifically, digitization provides:

REQUIREMENTS

The key requirements documents guiding the digitization effort are:

• Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade-and-Below (FBCB2) ORD, which defines the needed command and control capabilities down to the lowest echelons. The ORD will be refined and updated as a result of knowledge gained from the Task Force XXI AWE.

ARMY DIGITIZATION OFFICE (ADO) MISSION

The mission of the ADO is to oversee and coordinate the integration of Army battlespace digitization activities. The Director of the ADO is the Army Vice Chief of Staff's means for providing Departmental-level guidance pertaining to digitization across the major commands, while also serving as the Army Acquisition Executive's (AAE's) instrument for providing guidance, assistance, and direction in acquisition matters related to digitization.

ADO RELATIONSHIPS

The ADO functions as principal advisor to the Vice Chief of Staff and the Army Acquisition Executive on digitization-related matters. In those parallel roles, the ADO coordinates directly with the primary commands and agencies of the acquisition and user communities, to include:

The AAE is the Army's Technical Architect for all information systems. The Director of Information Systems for Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (DISC4) supports the Technical Architect by developing and maintaining the technical architecture for both battlespace systems and installations. The Director of the CECOM Research, Development and Engineering Center (RDEC) is the Systems Engineer, providing technical support to the DISC4. The ADO ensures that all digital efforts are compliant with the technical architecture.

ARCHITECTURE

The Army's approach to improving its capabilities across the spectrum of potential scenarios is to develop architectures from the views of operational requirements, system capabilities, and technical standards. These three architectural views are termed the Operational, System, and Technical Architectures, as depicted in Figure 2.

• System Architecture (SA) is a description of the systems solution used to satisfy the warfighter's operational architecture requirement. It defines the physical connection, location, and identification of nodes, radios, terminals, et al associated with information exchange. It also specifies the system performance parameters. The system architecture is constructed to satisfy operational architecture requirements according to the standards defined in the technical architecture. The Program Executive Officer for Command, Control, and Communications Systems (PEO C3S) is the System Architect for Force XXI.

Figure 2. The Three Architectures

THE GLOBAL COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM (GCCS)

The Department of Defense is migrating its command and control systems towards the common environment of the GCCS to provide the warfighter with a single integrated picture of the surrounding battlespace. Positioned at the upper levels of the joint command and control structure, GCCS provides the seamless, integrated information interface to manage and execute crisis and contingency operations. GCCS is the single command and control system for joint operations, and interfaces with the Army Battle Command System (ABCS). A Defense Information Infrastructure (DII) COE was recently established which will encompass both the GCCS and the Global Combat Support System (GCSS) in a single, integrated COE.

ARMY BATTLE COMMAND SYSTEM (ABCS)

The ABCS integrates Army battlespace systems and communications to functionally link strategic, operational, and tactical headquarters. ABCS components are:

• Army Tactical Command and Control System (ATCCS), which will migrate to the DII COE and meet the command and control needs from brigade to corps.

Figure 3. Army Battle Command System

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

The execution of the Army digitization effort will be conducted in four major thrusts:

Figure 4. Digitization Axes, Phase Lines, and Objective

ACQUISITION STRATEGY

The primary goal of the acquisition strategy is to minimize the time and cost of satisfying Force XXI digitization requirements, consistent with basic DoD policies, sound business practices, available funding, and common sense. The strategy will be tailored to meet the specific needs of the Army digitization program and the evolving streamlined acquisition process. The intent of the strategy is to use a variety of contract types to accommodate the diversity of efforts required.

The approach adopted by the ADO involves four basic means for digitizing current and future platforms:

The acquisition strategy will be event-driven, with developmental efforts divided into three phases to avoid premature commitment to emerging technologies:

ASSESSMENT STRATEGY

The Army has designed an iterative, building-block series of AWEs, modeling initiatives, and multi-level simulations to demonstrate discrete changes in force effectiveness as a result of fielding information technologies. Initial emphasis will be placed on the brigade-and -below piece of the future Army XXI.

Each experiment is structured around a rolling baseline concept that integrates experimentation, modeling, and simulation efforts. This rolling baseline uses cumulative data from relevant preceding experiments and exercises as the baseline for the next exercise.

Experiments offer many data collection opportunities to meet evaluation and assessment requirements. They will be designed and executed with the test and evaluation community (e.g., OPTEC, AMSAA, Electronics Proving Ground (EPG) and others) on-board from the beginning, so that the scope and level of dedicated testing and evaluation subsequently required to support procurement and fielding decisions is minimized. System performance data collection during train-up and exercises will be conducted so as to minimize interference with training and realism.

Figure 5. Experimentation Process

INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY AND SURVIVABILITY

Digitization systems must operate at an appropriate level of security. This will be accomplished by integrating computer and communications security capabilities using technologies currently available. The three architectures provide the framework for security implementation:

To properly manage ongoing actions necessary for information security within the digitized battlespace, the overall security effort is divided into four general activities:

JOINT AND MULTINATIONAL INTEROPERABILITY

Joint and multinational interoperability is a continuous thread running through the entire fabric of the Army digitization effort. Established fora, such as the Military Communications-Electronics Board (MCEB) along with newly created structures-such as the Joint Battlefield Digitization Council of Colonels/Captains and the Joint Battlefield Digitization General Officer Working Group-are used to manage and integrate the Services' digitization efforts.

Bilateral Memoranda of Agreement between the Army and each of the other Services have been signed. All have agreed to participate in the major AWEs, provide input to the Army Digitization Master Plan, and conduct experiments to improve digital interoperability.

The goal in multinational cooperation is to establish and implement a basic strategy supporting coalition warfare through an increased level of digital interoperability. The objectives of multinational cooperation are outlined in the independently published International Digitization Strategy, which identifies and describes the priorities and processes that enhance the interoperability of the U.S. and its current/potential multinational partners. Success in all operational environments requires the harmonization of national doctrines, tactics, and techniques in support of coalition warfare and the development of cooperative technologies and standards to enable a truly seamless architecture. These objectives and goals are being accomplished by meeting and overcoming the challenges of separate doctrine, varying degrees of automation, differences in technology, communication systems interoperability, financial variance between nations, political and economic disparities, and issues of security.

SUMMARY

The objective of the ADO and all the organizations involved in making Army XXI a reality is to create a force that will evolve into the Army of the 21st Century-equipped to face any contingency throughout the world; to win the information war against any adversary; and to provide deciders, shooters, and supporters the information each needs to make the myriad of vital decisions necessary to prevail in any future campaign.