[iwar] [fc:War.on.the.Technical.Front]

From: Fred Cohen (fc@all.net)
Date: 2001-10-02 05:44:12


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From: Fred Cohen <fc@all.net>
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Subject: [iwar] [fc:War.on.the.Technical.Front]
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War on the Technical Front 
By Christine Chudnow, Computer Technology Review, 10/1/2001 http://www.wwpi.com/lead_stories/09_26_01/navy.html

Back in 1997, the Department of the Navy launched Information Technology
in the 21st Century.  IT-21 is a strategy to fundamentally transform the
way the Navy plans and budgets for IT acquisition, shifting from a
centralized, large-scale system approach to fast personal computers and
appliances, along with advanced data networks and high-speed satellite
communications links. 

The Navy identified its key enabler as "smart-sourcing," or the
selective outsourcing of the underlying IT infrastructure -- the IT
infrastructure being viewed as an electronic commodity with warfare and
warfare-support overlays.  Corporate America may use military analogies
in business, but the Navy does the real thing. 

The initiative includes extensive use of web technology, seamless
ashore/afloat transfer of voice, video, and data information,
TCP/IP-based client-server environment with multi-level security,
embracing of industry standards and open architectures, and merging of
tactical and non-tactical data on a common infrastructure.  The goal is
to enable military personnel to exchange classified and unclassified,
tactical and non-tactical information from a single device, shorten
timelines, and increase combat power.  According to the Navy, the result
is a shift from attrition-based warfare to speed of command, which
flattens the hierarchy, puts decision makers in parallel with shooters,
and transforms warfare from a step function to a continuous process. 
Sustainable situational awareness results in fewer questions, clarity of
mission and commander's intent, and no ambiguity.  On-scene commanders
can be empowered with the ability to simultaneously plan and execute. 

A recent deployment happened onboard the U.S.S.  McFaul, based out of
Norfolk, Va..  The McFaul, a guided missile destroyer, is one of the
Navy's newest ships in the Atlantic Fleet.  Along with an extremely
sophisticated weapons system, the Navy has outfitted the McFaul with a
full suite of IT-21 capabilities to test mobile and wireless computing
technologies on board. 

Working with IT-21 guidelines, the McFaul needed to produce efficient
shipboard communication, assignments and schedules, all with an eye to
simulating instantaneous communication and orders in a combat situation. 
The Navy centered its project around the ubiquitous Palm Pilot, and
equipped 30 officers with the handheld devices, which they used both as
PDAs and data sharing devices. 

After the project's initial success, the Navy decided to expand the
program to the enlisted personnel.  It needed to expand its LAN
interfaces from limited desktop connections, and chose Aether's
ScoutWare wireless networking product along with infrared wireless
communications ports from Clarinet that allowed the sailors to upload
and download from the LAN, including its central databases.  It also
contains e-mail capability. 

The Navy plans to continue testing the devices and possibly expanding
the program to the rest of the fleet in 2002.  Of course, with military
action being imminent, the program may get a wartime christening much
sooner than most might have wished. 


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