Page 73 - North Atlantic and Nordic Defense

North European and North Atlantic Defense: The Challenges Return

He argued that although they are interested in the future of autonomous systems, they will work with allied
navies as they introduce such capabilities and to sort out a way ahead for Norway with regard to such
systems in the future.

For example, in my recent interview with the USCG Commandant, he highlighted that he believed that
Unmanned Underwater Vehicles might of interest, namely in the Arctic region. I am sure the Norwegian Navy
will watch this closely and interact with the USCG on their operational experiences as part of their own
learning curve.

http://www.sldinfo.com/the-way-ahead-for-the-uscg-the-perspective-of-admiral-paul-zukunft-commandant-
of-the-uscg/

The Rear Admiral did point out that the P-8 and the F-35 are man-machine systems and as the Norwegian
forces got operational experience with these systems, they would open the aperture with regard to
expanding the scope of including autonomous systems as well.

Indeed, it should be noted that the USAF is working hard on fifth generation aircraft incorporating
autonomous systems as part of future deployment packages (this is what Secretary Wynne has referred to as
the Wolfpack operational concept).

http://www.sldinfo.com/shaping-the-wolfpack-leveraging-the-5th-generation-revolution/

The Rear Admiral closed by highlighting the challenge of shaping rapid decision making systems which can
make effective use of the new systems. In many ways his concern on this issue reminded of the comments by
the Commander of the Australian Fleet:

“We are joint by necessity.

“Unlike the US Navy, we do not have our own air force or our own army. Joint is not a theological choice, it’s an
operational necessity.”

It was clear both from his presentation and our discussion during the interview that Rear Admiral Mayer was
focused on how the build out of the Navy in the period ahead would be highly correlated with the evolution of the
joint network.

“The network is a weapons system.

“Lethality and survivability have to be realized through a networked effect.”

http://www.sldinfo.com/the-network-as-a-weapon-system-the-perspective-of-rear-admiral-mayer-
commander-australian-fleet/

Burden Sharing in NATO: Innovations in Shaping a Way Ahead

2017-03-13

As NATO nations rework their defense strategies to deal with evolving threats, clearly the question is
investment in relevant capabilities.

This means that although a % criterion for investment is certainly part of the equation, it is not the only
criterion.

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