Page 28 - Australian Defence Magazine Nov 2018

The 5th Generation Information Management Environment
Enabler or Roadblock?
A Combat Controller from No. 4 Squadron Combat Control Team conducts an airfield survey on a dry lake bed in the Nevada Test and Training Range.
THE ADF will need an integrated com- munications architecture and network, one that is not purely defined by individual projects. There is a need for systems archi- tecture; however, this is not a function that Defence can perform by itself.
The phrase 5th Generation (or Gen) is often dismissed as just another fad, whilst totally missing the paradigm shift in both technology and operations that is implied or intended by it. It is envisaged that ma- ture 5th Gen forces will incorporate sensor proliferation across all imaginable spectra, exponential growth in data generation, data fusion analytics and integrated artificial in- telligence. The RAAF is already headed in this direction as it acquires platforms such as P-8A, JSF and Triton that are already equipped with multi-spectrum sensors.
Decades ago, US Air Force Colonel John Boyd developed the model of the OODA loop, the decision cycle of Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act. He noted that in order to win (in combat), we should operate at a faster tempo or rhythm than our adversary’s OODA loop.
This will be a significant challenge for the ADF in the future 5th Gen environment. The projected threat from ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles, for example, will produce time compression and fire control integration issues that will make current OODA loop processes, networks and communications bearers obso- lete. Time sensitive targets take on an increas- ingly new meaning for the future. The joint environment, in which the Space domain is now a key fundamental component, also cre- ates a level of complexity as the focus shifts
28 | Month 2000 | www.australiandefence.com.au
C4I
ARCHITECTURE
IAN MCDONALD AND JOHN BLACKBURN | CANBERRA
The issue faced by the ADF today is that existing communications and information networks were not “designed” as an integrated system and do not appear to be a good foundation upon which to build the
5th Generation Force the ADF is acquiring.
DEFENCE