Gina Kingston

How much of an increase in mission effectiveness does the Link 16 communications system provide in prosecuting air-to-air combat and how can the observed increase in actual performance be attributed to the advantages of network-centric operations? Link 16 enables network-centric operations (NCO) in ways that voice-only communications cannot. How does this increase in effectiveness translate into success in battle? More than 12,000 sorties were flown in the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System Operations Special Project, where Link 16 and voice-only communications were evaluated. Using NCO metrics, the authors gauged improvements provided by Link 16. The almost threefold increase in effectiveness shows the merits of the Link 16 and NCO concepts. The authors conclude that further studies should examine more complex missions and increase understanding of NCO concepts.

Describes the operational challenges posed by the urban environment and proposes several recommendations to surmount them. In every operation, the functions of command, control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and communications are all fundamental to success. But in cities, the dense population, many manmade structures, and other challenges act to severely impede these functions in several ways. This monograph contemplates the nature of those challenges and proposes several recommendations to surmount them in both the short and longer terms.

Presents a methodology for helping the Swedish Ministry of Defence assess the costs and benefits of architectures for network-based operations as the Swedish Defence Forces are reoriented to a wider suite of operations than homeland defence, including operations far from Sweden. 450-character abstract: Presents a methodology to help the Swedish Ministry of Defence assess costs and benefits of architectures for network-based operations as the Swedish Defence Forces are reoriented to a wider suite of missions than homeland defence, including operations far from Sweden. Offers criteria for certain network measures and metrics for those measures, and relates those metrics broadly to interaction categories that support identification of common subnetworks and analogous systems/components in the cost-estimation process.