The first generation of 'Skynet'?!
Joint command and control

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Today's Capabilities

DISA is the single DoD integrator for joint, coalition, and combined command and control (C2) and combat support capabilities. The integration of Service and Agency-developed data sources and decision support tools is essential to the Combatant Commanders' abilities to "fight joint." These products must support both fixed-base and deployed decision makers on diverse platforms and under communications conditions ranging from robust to austere. DISA's own joint C2 capabilities are focused on enabling the readiness, planning, mobilisation support, deployment, execution, and sustainment of deployed forces. In addition, DISA provides the infrastructure that integrates those Service and Agency products, to include common distributed track object services, messaging, applications management, data access and translation, and collaboration services.

Through the Global Command and Control System (GCCS), DISA enables joint operations planning and execution, global access to readiness data, situational awareness via a common operational picture, and collaboration and decision support capabilities for Combatant Commanders as well as many joint force commanders. GCCS components form the critical C2 backbone of joint operations, deployed in over 625 locations world-wide, supporting more than 10,000 joint and coalition workstations. Lighter, configurable deployments of GCCS - such as the Bosnia Operational Picture - support selected Joint Task Forces and coalition operations. In support of Operation Enduring Freedom, DISA dramatically improved situational awareness, rapid application of combined force elements, and integration of intelligence in planning and decision-making. Specifically, DISA accelerated the fielding of real-time Unmanned Aerial Vehicle video overlays, multi-source air pictures, intelligence and imagery data source integration, and unit track alerts to all levels in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), including United States Marine Corps units in the field, aboard aircraft carriers for strike planning, and at CENTCOM headquarters for target planning and execution. DISA also provides global military organisational messaging on a mix of commercial off-the-shelf and proprietary applications.

C2 systems at all levels gain significant interoperability across components and increased effectiveness by leveraging a common suite of tools and infrastructure components provided by the Common Operating Environment (COE). Today 125 C2 systems either use the COE or plan to deploy on it.

DISA is deeply involved today in Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrations (ACTDs) working with the Combatant Commanders to pilot key capabilities essential to the ongoing transformation. These ACTDs respond to high-priority capability shortfalls involving complex conceptual or technical issues appropriately addressed early in a technology lifecycle. Active ACTDs include: Adaptive Courses of Action, Combatant Commander for the 21st Century, C4I for the Coalition Warrior, Joint Logistics, Joint Theatre Logistics, Automated Intrusion Detection, Homeland Security C2, and Coalition Rear Area Security Operations Command and Control. This last ACTD is already providing shared force protection situation awareness at more than 10 locations world-wide in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Transformation Required

The Global Command and Control System and the common operational picture it provides serve as a solid foundation for evolving C2 capabilities. New information and communications technologies hold promise for providing highly distributed joint and combined forces an effective joint command and control structure that is better able to integrate combined operations than today. Such a joint command and control structure must reside not only at the combatant commanders' headquarters and the joint staff, but extend down to the Joint Task Force and operational Service components at home and abroad. Tactical systems must have lateral as well as vertical connectivity to enable fusion of available information. The joint command and control system - both the information that flows through the network and the equipment and applications upon which it resides and is processed - must be secure and protected from an adversary's information operations or other attacks. To achieve transformation, a more extensive and robust set of network-centric enterprise services must be provided.

U.S. command and control systems require the ability to share situational awareness with other government agencies as well as allies and friends. Such joint and combined interoperability requires forces that can immediately "plug" into the joint battlefield systems (command and control, intelligence, fire support, logistics, etc.) and perform effectively. These forces need compatible systems with interoperable standards, doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures.

To support joint and combined command and control and enable a common operational picture of the battlespace, DoD needs not only enhanced end-to-end communications but also effective applications for secure collaborative planning and operations. These applications must have access to trusted data, and then catalyse shared situational awareness for the integration of joint fires, manoeuvre, and intelligence. They must be interoperable across all components and tailorable for coalition operations with other countries. These capabilities - the network and its applications - will enable forces to plan and execute operations faster than the enemy and to seize tactical opportunities. On this foundation, innovation will foster surprise. This requires additional applications exploiting web-based technologies and adapted to a wireless environment.

To enable transformation, DoD must develop the C2 capabilities to underpin the Standing Joint Force (SJF) headquarters. These headquarters must have interoperable joint command, control, communications, computing, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities that provide a common operational picture of the battlespace - with awareness of friendly and adversary forces as well as non-combatants - for joint and combined forces. They must also have a responsive integrated logistics system that provides easy warfighter access to essential support without the burdensome lift and for a large information technology infrastructure in the area of operations. The SJF headquarters requires adaptive battlespace awareness, targeting, and mission planning tools enabling U.S. forces to operate within the adversary's decision cycle. Further, these capabilities must be integrated into the Deployable Joint Command and Control centre.

Finally, DoD must find ways to field mission-essential C2 capabilities faster. Today's lengthy oversight processes in which almost any special interest can delay or derail a joint program is lethal to transformation.

Common Operating Environment (COE)

Defence Collaboration Tool Suite (DCTS)

GIG Enterprise Services (GES)

Global Information Grid (GIG) Enterprise Services (GES) is a high-priority, transformational initiative that provides a common set of net-centric, interoperable information capabilities across the Global Information Grid. These capabilities include on-demand access, collection, processing, storage, dissemination, and management of information to warfighters, policy-makers, and support personnel. Information producers will be able to publish their products in an environment that facilitates consumer discovery, retrieval, and utility. Information consumers will be able to publicise their information needs and then be notified when the required information becomes available.

GES is a collaborative effort of the Joint Staff, ASD (NII) - Assistant Secretary of Defence (Networks and Information Integration), and the Defence Information Systems Agency which will leverage the efforts of many organisations for the benefit of the Department of Defence.

Global Command and Control System- Joint (GCCS-J)