The IDF C4I Branch, in cooperation with various service branches, are developing communication capabilities that would enable tactical echelons in all various sectors to communicate with one another directly
One of the goals of the IDF C4I Branch is to prepare the IDF for the era of network-centric warfare. Smart platforms, wearable computer systems, real-time decentralized status picture and intelligence data fusion in seconds – all of these capabilities require high-speed communication and mainly inter-arm tactical communication. The voices that once encouraged each arm to operate apart from the others are being replaced by other voices that encourage cooperation. This is based on the understanding that on the crucial day, the trooper, the tank, the helicopter and the naval vessel will all share the same fire cycle, and if we want to win – we must be able to communicate with one another.
For Maj. Dorit, Head of the Tactical Connectivity Section at the IDF C4I Branch, it is a day-to-day mission. “This is a major project that can bring about a change on the battlefield,” explains Dorit, who has recently been selected for the Chief of Staff’s outstanding serviceperson award for her contribution to the project. “The program bundles together 12 different development projects. The objective is to provide the ability to exchange voice and data communication between air, sea and ground elements at the tactical level, within a time constant that is close to real time. When the program is completed, the information will be communicated directly between the various arms and enable a common combat realm. When the program is completed, the Ground Arm, for example, will be able to view the aerial status picture and vice versa.”
At present, the IDF enable inter-arm communication, albeit indirectly. A system designated "Kelim Shluvim" (Connected Vessels) serves as an inter-arm information mediator of sorts. Admittedly, this is a fairly advanced capability, but at the IDF C4I Branch they strive for direct communication, without mediators. In this way, the data conveyance rate may be improved. “If you launch an operation, all of the participants should see the same status picture. Let us assume that a ground force wants to call in an air strike. It will mark a map reference on the map and within seconds, that information will be translated into a strike mission for the air force. This capability does not exist yet,” explains Dorit. “Our objective is to create direct connectivity, all through encrypted communication.”
One should bear in mind that in the context of asymmetrical warfare situations, the life cycle of a target is about 30 seconds and sometimes even less. During that time, a Hamas missile launching detachment breaks cover, launches its missile and goes back into hiding. Alternately, the same scenario may be imagined in Lebanon for a Hezbollah antitank detachment. During this time, the sensor-to-shooter cycle must be closed and target destruction must be ensured. This leaves just a few seconds for target acquisition, the actual firing and the attainment of feedback. “The IDF C4I Branch has positioned itself as a regulator. It recognizes the independence of each arm and the tactical interoperability effort is made cooperatively. Everyone understands that the need exists, and everyone has transcended above the organizational politics in order to accomplish this goal.”
Layered Connectivity
Simply described, tactical connectivity may be divided into three layers: the information routing layer, the communication layer and an upper layer of command and control systems that present the information to the user. Today, at each arm, these layers are made up of different elements and a part of the development effort is aimed at duplicating the successful elements of each layer between the arms. In this way, the communication layers throughout the IDF will be standardized, based on the best software elements currently available. This will retain both the intra-arm and inter-arm connectivity.
For the routing layer they rely on elements that exist in the Ground Arm, and for the communication layer on elements that exist in the Air Arm. Above those two layers, the command and control systems of the IDF will enable each arm, as well as IDF GHQ, to share the same information and the same status picture.
“One of the projects in the program involves the creation of a standard map infrastructure that would make it possible to generate and share an accurate map reference for the purpose of closing the sensor-to-shooter cycle. This project is known as ‘accurate map reference’. Today, each arm uses a different infrastructure, and in some situations, the munitions fired might miss the target by dozens of meters because of lack of standardization of the map infrastructure. We want to change that,” explains Dorit. “Additionally, we are also developing a tactical modem for helicopters. This development will enable the direct exchange of data between a helicopter and the battalion echelon and lower echelons.”
Another development involves a transceiver installed on a UAV to enable the operator to communicate directly with a ground force and provide it with data such as video or map data. “We understand that this is a primary activity of the IDF. The transceiver installed on the UAV will be able to provide communication to a range of hundreds of kilometers without changing the communication equipment currently used by the Ground Arm,” says Dorit.
With regard to the issue of incorporating the intelligence elements in the tactical communication, the people at the C4I Branch explain that owing to the need to analyze, process and study the intelligence material, which takes time, the communication with the intelligence elements will be provided through a strategic communication system. In this way, the C3 systems will receive, on the one hand, tactical information about whatever is happening on the ground, and on the other hand – intelligence information that will explain the picture more profoundly, so as to enable intelligent decision making.
For the purpose of this project, 18 combined-arms operational processes for which a tactical communication capability should be developed were characterized. The development process was divided into 12 blocks. Some of these blocks, such as the one intended to enable direct UAV-infantry communication, have already been launched, while the remaining blocks will be launched by 2017. “We completed a characterization process with the operational people. We characterized the operational process all the way to the level of the information entity and the fields of which it will consist. The operational process begins with the mission order and ends with the feedback from the field,” explains Dorit. “Between the second Lebanon war (2006) and Operation Pillar of Defense (2012), the target output capacity of the IDF increased by several orders of magnitude. A major part of this achievement may be attributed to the C4I capabilities we are developing here at the Branch.”
The financial scope of the project is estimated at hundreds of millions of NIS, and it will provide such capabilities as live streaming video feeds, in HD format, from the ground, encrypted communication, a routing layer with cutting-edge capabilities of information security, survivability and validation of the information being conveyed. “We are also developing mechanisms capable of containing a cyber event in a manner that will prevent the attack from spreading into the other arms. Along with information security, we need to know how to ensure the functional serviceability of the information entity. Each entity is made up of several fields, and we need to ensure that the entity has received the information conveyed to it. It should also indicate a current availability status (green/red) for the users,” concludes Dorit.
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