Network-Centric Warfare and the Operational Concepts of War: A synergistic Effect

摘要

The rapid development of information processing technology portends a change in the ways and means U.S. forces will conduct future warfare. This potential revolution military affairs (RMA), termed Network-Centric Warfare (NCW), promises to increase freedom of action at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels of war by allowing greater control of the operational factors of space, time, and force than has been previously possible. The most significant benefit of conducting war in a network-centric environment is enhanced battle space awareness. This enhanced awareness will allow the operational commander to work inside the enemy's decision cycle, better manage force disposition, and tailor forces to specific engagements using precision maneuver and precision guided, standoff munitions. Smaller, more effective and efficient forces will be able to accomplish a given objective and the pace of war will quicken, as combat in a network-centric environment becomes non-linear in conduct marked by simultaneous massing of effects. Network-Centric Warfare will serve to compress the factor of time and expand the factor of space. While it applies to all levels of war, its greatest effect will be at the operational and tactical levels of war where NCW will become the way to match the right force to the best course of action. While the synergistic effects of Network-Centric Warfare are evident in nearly every aspect of armed conflict, the true determinant of success will be the individual capabilities of the operational commander.