Battlefield Automation: Performance Uncertainties Are Likely When Army Fields Its First Digitized Division

摘要

Over the next decade, the Army plans to field dozens of new and improved battlefield systems through its 'digitization' initiative. Digitization involves the application of information technologies to acquire, exchange, and employ timely information throughout the battlespace. Use of digitization on the battlefield is expected to increase the Army's survivability lethality and tempo of operations. The Army plans to equip its first digitized division with High- priority equipment by December 2000 and its first digitized corps by the end of fiscal year 2004. This report responds to the former Subcommittee Chairman's request that we review the Army's progress toward its goal of fielding a digitized division by the end of 2000. Specifically, the chajan asked us to (1) identify the high-priority systems needed to accomplish the digitization fielding goal, (2) determine the acquisition status of these high-priority systems, and (3) identify any performance uncertainties that could confront the Army after its first digitized division is fielded. The Army's first digitized division will be the 4% Infantry Division. While the Army's overall digitization initiative involves over 100 systems, its December 2000 digitization goal is to field 16 high-priority systems to 3 of the division's 4 brigades. In general, these 16 systems can be described as command, control, and communications systems, the majority of which will support decision-making by commanders located in tactical operations centers at battalion, brigade, division, and corps levels. Examples include the Maneuver Control System (MOS), upgrades to Mobile Subscriber Equipment, and satellite communication systems. One system, however represents an entirely new capability that is intended to accomplish an important digitization objective of sharing battlefield information with the thousands of soldiers operating outside tactical operations centers.