1. An integrated communications system is comprised of the networks and services that enable joint and multinational capabilities. The aim of the integrated communications system is to assist the force commanders in command and control (C2) of military operations. Effective C2 is vital for proper integration and employment of capabilities. The Armed Force’s end-to-end communications system supporting the force commanders is the Armed Force’s Communication Network (AFCN). The AFCN is the set of information potential and associated progressions to collect, process, store, disseminate and manage information on demand to the forces, decision makers and support personnel. The network can be interconnected or stand alone, including either an owned or a leased communications and computing systems and services. It also encompasses software (including applications), data, security services, other associated services and national security systems. The AFCN conceptually unifies the Armed Force’s information and communication systems and networks into a real-time information system of systems that provides increased information capabilities to the joint force. Communications systems are more than electronic boxes, wires, and radio signals, and the AFCN is more than a collection of information networks. The interdependence of the sub systems, as well as the processes and data on these systems, infuse daily life and preparation for and execution of operations. An effective communications and network system helps the commanders to maintain the unity of effort and to apply their forces’ capabilities at critical times and places to achieve the objectives.
Command and Control
2. Elements of the C2 System. The first element of a C2 system is human beings, who acquire necessary information, communicate, make decisions, take action and collaborate with one another to achieve a common goal. People right from the senior commander framing a strategic model to the most junior member at the tactical level calling in a battle field situation report, are the integral components of the integrated communications system and not its merely users. The second element of the C2 system consists of the equipment, facilities, communications, staff functions and procedures that are essential to a senior commander to plan, direct, monitor and control the operations of assigned forces pursuant to the mission. Although the set of hardware are often referred to as systems, the communication system is more than simply equipment. State of the art equipment and advanced technology do not assure adequate communications or effective command and control. Both begin with well-trained and competent people supported by an effective and proven guiding philosophy and procedures.
3. Quality of Information. There are two basic uses for information. The first is to help generate situational awareness (SA) as the source for a decision. The second is to coordinate and direct actions in the execution of the decision. In one way or another, effective C2 is inherently dependent on information: getting it, evaluating its accuracy, judging its value, processing it into useful form, acting on it, and sharing it with those who need it in the most expeditious, secure manner. The C2 system must present the required information in a form that is quickly absorbed and is useful to the receiver at every required level of warfare be it strategic, operational or tactical.
4. Information Management (IM). Managing and maintaining the quality of information is as important as other military tasks. Good IM makes accomplishment of other tasks less complex. Automation and standardisation of communications system processes and procedures improve IM and assist the commander’s effectiveness and speed of C2. Improved technology in weapons, sensors, mobility and communications continues to decrease the reaction time, increase the operating pace and generate large amounts of information. If information is not properly processed, the abilities of commanders in decision making and ultimately, the joint force may be degraded. It is therefore essential that the integrated communications system complement human capabilities and reduce/ eliminate anticipated or known limitations towards mission accomplishment. A well-designed and coordinated set of integrated procedures and interoperable systems is important to operating in a joint, multinational and interagency context of current and future operations. A comprehensive and meticulously rehearsed set of operational procedures is critical to develop the required degree of proficiency. The communications system must be of capable of sensor fusion, be of sufficient capacity, reliability, reach, have good survivability and robustness to support evolving operational and training missions. Additionally, the communications system should continuously evolve and integrate new technologies to deliver the right information to the right person and at the right time in an actionable format.
Role of Communication Network
5. A secure, robust, and reliable communications system gives the force commanders the means to assimilate information and to exercise authority and direct forces over large geographic areas and a wide range of conditions. A communications system that provides connectivity throughout the operational area from the strategic to tactical levels is vital to plan, conduct, sustain operations, and enable information superiority. The force commanders should maintain reliable, resilient, jam-resistant, and secure communications with higher, supported, supporting, and subordinate commands during all phases of an operation and in all types of degraded environments. Operations at all levels usually require long-range and mobile communications. Consideration must be made for en route, intra-theatre and inter-theatre communications. In addition, the communications system must be designed to interface other mission partners. This same standard and rigidity of communications must be maintained throughout the levels of commands. This requirement supports a positive flow of information along with desired information security.
6. The communications system is the force commander’s principal tool to collect, monitor, process, shield and distribute information. Given the criticality of information, the security of the communications system is essential to ensure that the force commanders can completely rely on the information it provides. Effective command and control, through the exchange of information, integrates joint force components and allows them to function effectively across vast geographical locations, in complex environments and all weather conditions. The aim is to rapidly achieve secure information dissemination to ease a common understanding of the prevailing situation throughout the operational environment. It also ensures information availability and access across the operational environment and facilitates the following :
(a) Joint and Multinational Operations and Interagency Coordination. The communications system facilitates joint operations and inter agency synchronisation by providing the resources to share operational area visualisation, manage information and facilitate joint planning, rehearsal, mission execution and assessment with other mission partners.
(b) Strategic Agility. The communications system supports the swift deployment and employment of joint forces anywhere in the world. Rapid information sharing in any theatre permits synchronised and interactive planning from widely dispersed geographic locations, thereby remotely allowing the use of commanders to develop and coordinate a plan and execute an operation order. It provides force commanders, the ability to reach back to data repositories, thereby increasing deployability, reducing footprint and enhancing access to global intelligence assets. The communications system supports teamwork that assists force commanders in conducting detailed and parallel planning.
(c) Operational Reach. The communications system supports the synchronisation of force capabilities, allowing commanders to locate and identify friendly forces in the operational environment and support the conduct of over-the-horizon operations with beyond line-of-sight communications and communications on the move.
(d) Tactical Flexibility. The communications system allows the joint force to enhance SA and timely decision making to rapidly and positively identify and engage targets and to develop and conduct a wide range of military operations. The communications system supports the development and dissemination of the commander’s intent and planning guidance, fostering decentralised execution. Timely delivery of information relating to targets, force movement, equipment condition, levels of supplies and assets disposition of both friendly and adversary to the joint force enables more effective and a decentralised execution.
(e) Network Enabled Operations. The modern communications system allows the interconnection (networking) of geographically separated forces, which permit network-enabled operations. Network-enabled operations are military operations that exploit information and networking technology to integrate widely dispersed human decision makers, situational and targeting sensors, forces and weapons into a highly adaptive and comprehensive system. Network enabled operations exploit the combat power derived from the networking of well informed and geographically dispersed forces. A networked-force with secured communications can increase operational visibility and combat power thereby achieving swiftness of command decisions and increasing the lethality, survivability and responsiveness of the force. Network connectivity is mission critical and can determine mission viability during planning and implementation. The loss of network connectivity is a critical factor and can put the force at a great risk, threatening lethality and survivability. The indivisible link between tactical communications, force capability and command and control should be continually addressed during planning and execution to ease the unfavourable impact of unforeseen consequences. Since a significant portion of any communications system relies upon wireless transmissions, access to the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) must be a consideration when planning network connectivity. Today, all joint force operations rely upon assured EMS access throughout the operational environment. The joint force’s growing dependence on the EMS is thus a critical vulnerability and any adversary will make all possible efforts to exploit it. The joint force’s ability to use the EMS effectively to their use and at the same time keep it protected, is a key to success in the future operational environment.
(f) Information Superiority. Information superiority is the operational advantage derived from the ability to collect, process and disseminate an uninterrupted flow of information while exploiting or denying an adversary’s ability to do the same. The communications system must facilitate information superiority and information management. Information superiority and information management lie at the core of every military activity. Information superiority does not only means having an information edge over an adversary or sustaining the information needs of our own forces but also denying an adversary’s ability to do the same. This mandates the requirement to develop doctrine, tactics, techniques, procedures, organisational relationships and technologies to win the information war.
7. Functions of a Communication System. The communications system supporting the military forces must anticipate and adapt to changing demands and provide information that meets all information quality attributes. By meeting these primary objectives, the communications system facilitates joint forces to grasp opportunities and meet mission objectives. The communications system facilitates information sharing and decision support and is an essential building block in the operational environment. Information system components that make up the communications system normally have the following capabilities:
(a) Acquire. The introduction of information into the communications system.
(b) Process. Specified sequence of operations performed on well defined inputs to produce a specified output.
(c) Store. Retention, organisation and disposition of data, information or knowledge to facilitate sharing and retrieval.
(d) Transport. End-to-end information exchange and dissemination in a global environment.
(e) Control. The function of directing, monitoring and controlling communications system functions to fulfil operational requirements within specific performance parameters.
(f) Protect. Information integrity, safe processing and transmission with access only by authorised personnel.
(g) Disseminate. Distributing processed information to the appropriate users Present Information provided to the user in the method that best facilitates understanding and use.
8. Joint Communication System Principles. A force that is linked and synchronised in time and purpose is considered networked. The joint force capitalises on information and near simultaneous dissemination to turn information into actions. An integrated communications system helps the Force Commanders to conduct dispersed operations. The communications system’s ability to network the force can influence the decisions for Joint force employment. This inseparably links network control to C2 prioritisation and decisions. Networked joint forces increase operational effectiveness by allowing dispersed forces to more efficiently communicate, manoeuvre, populate, access and share a common situational picture and attain the desired end state at all levels of command. To provide the flexibility to dynamically meet mission objectives, the communications system must follow certain principles. These are as follows:
(a) Interoperable. A system is said to be interoperable when information can be exchanged between communications systems/equipment directly and satisfactorily between them and/or their users. It is facilitated by common equipments, compatibility of equipments, standardisation and liaison.
(b) Agility. In order to provide it the right kind of agility, a system should have the following qualities:-
(i) Responsiveness. The ability to react to a change in the environment in a timely manner.
(ii) Flexibility. The ability to employ multiple ways to succeed and the capacity to move seamlessly between them.
(iii) Innovation. The ability to do new things and to do old things in new ways.
(iv) Adaptation. The ability to change work processes and to change as per the organisation.
(c) Trusted. Trusted communication attributes are survivability, security and sustainability. Security includes physical security of the communications system components and facilities, personnel security of individuals authorized access to the communications system and operations security procedures and techniques protecting operational employment of the communications system components.
(d) Shared. The system should be able to facilitate information, services and capabilities.
(e) Low probability of intercept (LPI) and low probability of detection (LPD) capabilities and techniques designed to defeat adversary attempts to detect and exploit the communications system transmission media.
(f) Robustness . It is the ability to maintain effectiveness across a range of tasks, situations, and conditions.
(g) Resilience. It is the ability to rapidly recover from or adjust to misfortune, damage, or a destabilising event in the environment.