Letters

Decision Tools Critical To Precision Engagement

July’s articles on precision engagement were excellent. Both articles keyed in on the one-track/one-target requirement that is required for a common, engagable targeting picture. I agree that we also need a common picture database, but that doesn’t mean everyone needs to see all of the information available.

The targeting picture could be scalable to provide a geographic, mission, warfare area or unit picture of the battle space. In other words, sliced or diced as required. However, regardless of the targets or area displayed, they must be based on common track. Everyone who selects that track must have the same geographic reference and database information. I believe that communication paths will facilitate the level of services that are required, desired or capable of receiving, but communications must be an enabler, not the driver.

A command-and-control element may require more overall information than a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), however an LCS may require greater detail. This will be determined by the area their weapons or decisions can influence, and by the threats that can influence them. The required scope should, therefore, drive the bandwidth requirement.

I foresee the Navy desiring multiple network communication paths and it may even elect to send different types of data/info over different, or the best available, pathways. Rear Adm. Kilkenny’s statement [in the July Interview] regarding decision tools is an important one. During a past Fleet Battle Experiment, I saw that automated sensor networking and weapons paring timeline improvements were lost due to chain of command availability and decision matrix requirements.

Decision aids and tools must be used to provide graphic metrics, confidence levels, checklists, weapons fragment patterns, overlays, etc., in order to provide confidence in identification, collateral damage assessments, weapons’ effectiveness and help select the optimum platform and weapon.

Ray Ivie
Captain, U.S. Navy, retired
L-3 Communications
ComCept Division
Rockwall, Texas

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