Page 17 - Williams Foundation Integrated Force Design Seminar

Designing the Integrated Force: How to Define and Meet the Challenge?

One of the most interesting aspects of the discussion was the need to evolve the IT and Coms systems to
support the ADF as its reach were expanded for the extended defense of Australia. This meant that reach,
security and flexibility were crucial to ensure that platforms were not flying blind and their contributions
minimized by lack of an ability to leverage various networks.

“The proliferation of networks proliferates the risks. And this could affect the availability and contribute of
very expensive combat platforms at crucial points in combat operations.”

Various networks is really the point. It is not about everyone being on the same network: it is about shaping
ways for force packages to integrate by leveraging discrete, diverse and flexible networks.

“Mobility is a serious consideration; we need to provide digital capabilities where the force operates.”

Williams Air/Sea/Land Integrated Force 2030

• Maintaining spectrum
• Making best use of spectrum
• SATCOM capability gaps

• Supporting mission flexibility
• Planning the integrated battlespace network
• How does that network support a ‘Kill Web’?
• Contested environments - diversity and redundancy
• End to end services
• Matching integration effort with protection effort
• Decisive and timely defensive cyber decision making
• Developing mobility
• Dealing with fragility
• Understanding Defence priorities
• Managing obsolescence
• Increasing costs and reducing budgets

Shaping a Way Ahead – The Perspective of Air Vice Marshal (Retired)
Blackburn
This seminar was different from the earlier Williams Seminars. In the earlier seminars, the new platforms on
air, sea and land transformation was discussed in detail and the service perspectives highlighted. This seminar
built upon these earlier presentations and then asked the question of how one would build by design more
integration into such a force, rather than doing so after the fact.

John Blackburn provided a final perspective on the challenges and way ahead in designing an integrated
force rather than cobbling together platforms into a force, which is, integrated piece meal after the fact.

Question: The seminar looked at a very tough issue. US services are individually looking at service
integration, rather than force integration. The seminar explored how one might design in joint force

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