Interoperable Architecture for Command and Control

摘要

Legacy defence systems have been characterised by requirements for operationally customised solutions and stringent logistics to ensure system availability, reliability and safety. In contrast, current defence requirements focus on the use of multi-role platforms that should be adaptable for threats that are unpredictable and ever changing. The employment of these platforms is also expected to support joint, inter-departmental and multi-national operations. Current systems engineering approaches have however been optimised for the customisation of systems for specialised operations. In many instances the incorporation of interoperability, flexibility, modularity and portability requirements come at the cost of customisation. In addition, defence forces are setting goals to achieve reduced system procurement costs while significantly decreasing turnaround times between change requests and systems delivery. These trends have forced defence forces to re-think the way defence systems are developed. A move towards establishing common building blocks between procurement projects are evolving. These building blocks have the potential to reduce project costs, reduce duplication, support interoperability and reduce development time-scales. Such building blocks are expected to conform to a common architecture. It has been envisaged that a Common Information Exchange Architecture (CIEA) could expedite the integration of systems into a common communications network and alleviate the need for different projects to define their own communications networks and information exchange mechanisms.