Net-Centric Warfare Solutions
Net-Centric Warfare Solutions Turning Data Into Knowledge and Knowledge Into Action
Lockheed Martin Corp.'s technical competency and the analytic capabilities of its systems engineers make it a unique player in the burgeoning new world of net-centric operations, where the rapid use of just the right information can defeat an enemy-terrorist or otherwise-before he can even react.
 To address this challenge, vast amounts of information will have to be quickly and accurately scanned on behalf of multiple users in many locations. The goal will be to blunt potentially complex attacks in coordinated ways that also increase the effectiveness of individual weapons and systems. Networked warriors will have a sophisticated understanding of their enemy's goals and will expect to act inside his decision cycles. They will demand prompt answers to tactical and strategic questions of the greatest importance. They will want knowledge-not data that must be interpreted-because they'll have to act immediately.
Sun Tzu's ancient advice is being taken fully to heart: "Know your enemy, know yourself; your victory will never be endangered."
To help guide its efforts in netcentric operations, Lockheed Martin has organized itself to match the five capabilities to support net-centric operations as defined by the Pentagon's emerging new joint capabilities and integration development process: battlespace or situational awareness, force application, protection, command and control, and focused logistics. The company has added one component of its own, homeland security.
The corporation also has named executives to lead the efforts ensuring horizontal integration. There's "considerable overlap," said Ted Campbell, the Vice President of Advanced Concepts, who also serves as Vice President and Managing Director for C3 and Information Operations. "For example, command and control, battlespace awareness and force application have a tremendous amount of overlap in almost any major initiative."
Recognizing the importance of net-centric solutions for today's national security customers, Lockheed Martin leads the way in:
Battlespace Awareness
Battlespace awareness - which applies to defense as well as homeland security and other areas - results from the ability to focus robust information assets on dynamic events, "get to the answer, act on the answer and get to a desired outcome," said Jeff Harris, Vice President and Managing Director, Situational Awareness. "This is all about information," he explained. A decade ago, the definition of a superpower was a country that had nuclear weapons. Today, it's the ability to process information very quickly.
Command & Control
Command and control "is at the heart of net-centric operations," said Campbell, noting that industry and government are moving toward several goals on this score. One is "machine-to-machine interfaces that try to cut down human error and increase speed." Another is "integrated communications links and tools across the whole joint domain and all of our Air Force, Navy, Army and Marine Corps customer domain space."
Focused Logistics
Focused logistics is another domain in the Defense Dept.'s view of net-centric operations. It's still an evolving concept, but Lockheed Martin has a heritage in the field, having developed the Global Transportation Network (GTN), a backbone system that allows items to be monitored as they travel through the logistics pipeline.
Force Application
In force application, the objective is to define net-centric ways to apply force on land, at sea, in the air, in space and in cyberspace. But this doesn't necessarily mean just military power, said Paul Bavitz, Lockheed Martin's Vice President and Managing Director of Force Application. Since a basic tenet of net-centric operations is simply to achieve desired results, diplomatic and economic power also must be considered.
Homeland security
Homeland security is yet another area of Lockheed Martin's concentration in the realm of net-centric operations. Soon after Sept. 11, 2001, the company saw "a couple of daunting challenges," said Jim Wrightson, Vice President of Strategic Planning. For one thing, "incredibly massive amounts of data" had to be converted into useful knowledge to defend borders and go after terrorists. Wrightson said the task is "probably as large as or larger than anything we've ever attempted to do" for the U.S. defense and intelligence communities.
Protection
Protection is another component of net-centric operations. Its goal is clear - to protect U.S and allied forces from enemy attack. For now, Lockheed Martin's efforts in this area are focused on missile defense. They will broaden in coming months to encompass a range of capabilities. "We're walking into protection," Campbell said.
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