Examination of the Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) in the Context of Network-Centric Warfare (NCW): Enormous Potential and Alarming Pitfalls

摘要

Hailed by its proponents as a Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA), Network-Centric Warfare (NOW) is still a broadly defined evolutionary concept. However, enabled by vast leaps in Information Technology, the network-centric transformation is already happening today and lessons are being learned. Promising new hardware systems, dependent on a network of other systems for function, have been introduced. The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), having recently completed operational evaluation and been employed in Operations ALLIED FORCE and SOUTHERN WATCH, is one of these new systems. By examining JDAM in the context of Network-Centric Warfare concepts, three results are achieved: * Optimization of the JDAM system; * Validation (or non-validation) of the Network-Centric Warfare concept; * Identification of potential pitfalls in the Network-Centric Warfare concept. JDAM holds enormous potential in the Joint Vision 2020 operational concept of Precision Engagement. Conversely, JDAM's shortcomings, although in the process of being remedied, identify some alarming pitfalls in the transformation to network-centric operations and hold some important lessons for the modern warfighter implementing this revolutionary concept.