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The integration of communications, electronic data management, collection and collation of sensor data and imagery and other decision making tools for the armed forces through seamless networking is recognized as being essential to bring about increased synergies in effectiveness of manpower and material whilst reducing overall costs. This is equally true for agencies involved in providing internal security, disaster management and related aspects, especially those working at a state or national level. Networked enabled capabilities allow true unity of command where macro-control is essential for achieving mission success, such as active air defence operations, disaster relief or controlling civil unrest, while simultaneously permitting decentralised management of dynamic and emergent situations like aircraft hijack, border intrusions or the rescue of citizens immediately after a natural calamity.
All responsible governments have numerous military, para-military, police and civilian agencies in place,to provide one or more of these services, sometimes through multiple organizations when these functions are controlled by state, provincial or local governments. Although the jurisdiction of these agencies is usually well defined, in practice there is a fair amount of commonality of raw data as well as overlap of effort. Lack of networking creates avoidable gaps in information and duplication of tasks. For instance, the envelope of operations of the Navy and Coast Guard, or Homeland Security and Police, or Civil Air Traffic Control and the Air Defence System are prime examples of well defined activities but which would benefit greatly by data sharing, with continuous updating on a real-time basis.
Commercial organizations have been using some form of enterprise networking for many years. The success of these electronic solutions have always been a great attraction to the defence and security communities for their own unique missions, but they have always been acutely aware that early users have had to endure frequent breakdowns in communication links, repeated software glitches and hardware problems. Budgetary constraints was another major factor inhibiting the widespread acceptance of networked systems.
However, the last decade has seen significant improvements in sensors, high speed digital data transfer using worldwide space, optical and mobile telephony links, and the ruggedisation of the hardware, coupled with greater affordability. Military and security agencies of developed nations have already adopted the concept in a big way, overcoming the challenging transformation.The new technology called for close interaction between vendors and users, as well as training of personnel and mission managers in order to make best use of common platforms in combined and coordinated operations. Modern security operations are so seamless that the end user is often unaware of whether the information being flashed on his screen is from a sensor in space or from an unmanned aerial vehicle, or whether the imagery is from an optical device or a composite radar picture. Cutting edge sensor technology has ensured that the results remain unaffected by bad weather and light conditions.
The important thing is that precise data and/or imagery required for quick and accurate decision making is available on call, creating battlefield transparency and situational clarity even under the most trying circumstances.
History will mark the 21st century as the age of networking, with individual systems plugging into larger systems, thus leading to the ultimate goal of a system of systems.
Air Marshal Subhash Bhojwani's last three appointments with the Indian Air Force have been Commandant, Air Force Academy, Senior Air Staff Officer ( SASO ) Western Air Command and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, Bangalore.
© Copyright Air Marshal S. Bhojwani and Informa India. All rights reserved.
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