NAVAL

POSTGRADUATE
SCHOOL
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
CAPSTONE REPORT

INCREASED EFFECTIVENESS OF THE JOINT FIRE’S

KILL CHAIN VIA IMPROVEMENTS IN COMMAND
AND CONTROL RESPONSIVENESS FOR
BETTER COOPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT CAPABILITY

by

Kelly P. Haycock, Lance Kerestes, Brenda Menees,

and Axel E. Rodriguez-Negron

September 2020

Advisor: Eugene P. Paulo

Co-Advisors: Paul T. Beery
Anthony G. Pollman
Wayne Porter
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
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4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS
INCREASED EFFECTIVENESS OF THE JOINT FIRE’S KILL CHAIN VIA
IMPROVEMENTS IN COMMAND AND CONTROL RESPONSIVENESS
FOR BETTER COOPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT CAPABILITY
6. AUTHOR(S) Kelly P. Haycock, Lance Kerestes, Brenda Menees,
and Axel E. Rodriguez-Negron
7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING
Naval Postgraduate School ORGANIZATION REPORT
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13. ABSTRACT (maximum 200 words)
The system of interest (SOI) for this research centers on the mission of a friendly Blue Force (BF)
controlling the enemy Red Force’s (RF) influence on a strategic, bottleneck trade route and the execution of
the kill chain functions performed by the BF during the conflict that ensues. The kill chain function of
“finding the RF threat” is conducted by the BF’s Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR), the
function of “targeting the RF threat” is performed by the BF’s decision maker, and the function of “engaging
the RF threat” is conducted by the BF’s shooter. There are multiple messages exchanged between the BF’s
ISR, decision maker, and shooter during execution of the kill chain functions and a recognized need to
improve the command and control (C2) responsiveness while performing cooperative engagements to
ensure overmatch of a near peer enemy by 2030, when naval unmanned surface vessels are predicted to join
the fleet.

14. SUBJECT TERMS 15. NUMBER OF

joint fires, command and control, C2, link-16, distributed maritime operations, littoral PAGES
combat ship, multi-domain, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned ground vehicles, adaptive 115
force package, carrier strike group, close air support, weapons release authority, data, 16. PRICE CODE
decision, expeditionary, artillery, missiles, kill chain, system of interest, SOI, cooperative
engagement capability, air defense mission, strike mission, Intelligence Surveillance
Reconnaissance, ISR
17. SECURITY 18. SECURITY 19. SECURITY 20. LIMITATION OF
CLASSIFICATION OF CLASSIFICATION OF THIS CLASSIFICATION OF ABSTRACT
REPORT PAGE ABSTRACT
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 Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

INCREASED EFFECTIVENESS OF THE JOINT FIRE’S KILL CHAIN

VIA IMPROVEMENTS IN COMMAND AND CONTROL RESPONSIVENESS
FOR BETTER COOPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT CAPABILITY

Maj Kelly P. Haycock (USMC), Lance Kerestes, Brenda Menees,

and Axel E. Rodriguez-Negron

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the degrees of

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING SYSTEMS

and

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

from the

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL

September 2020

Lead Editor: Brenda Menees

Reviewed by:
Eugene P. Paulo Paul T. Beery
Advisor Co-Advisor

Anthony G. Pollman Wayne Porter

Co-Advisor Co-Advisor

Accepted by:
Ronald E. Giachetti
Chair, Department of Systems Engineering

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 ABSTRACT

The system of interest (SOI) for this research centers on the mission of a friendly
Blue Force (BF) controlling the enemy Red Force’s (RF) influence on a strategic,
bottleneck trade route and the execution of the kill chain functions performed by the BF
during the conflict that ensues. The kill chain function of “finding the RF threat” is
conducted by the BF’s Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR), the function of
“targeting the RF threat” is performed by the BF’s decision maker, and the function of
“engaging the RF threat” is conducted by the BF’s shooter. There are multiple messages
exchanged between the BF’s ISR, decision maker, and shooter during execution of the
kill chain functions and a recognized need to improve the command and control
(C2) responsiveness while performing cooperative engagements to ensure
overmatch of a near peer enemy by 2030, when naval unmanned surface vessels are
predicted to join the fleet.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................1
A. BACKGROUND ........................................................................................1
B. DISTRIBUTED MARITIME OPERATIONS ........................................2
C. SCENARIO OVERVIEW .........................................................................3
D. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES .....................................................................3
E. SYSTEMS ENGINEERING PROCESS..................................................4

II. LITERATURE REVIEW .....................................................................................5

A. BACKGROUND ........................................................................................5
B. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS ...............................................5

III. OPERATIONAL CONCEPT .............................................................................13

A. GENERAL OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT .................................13
B. SPEEDING UP THE DECISION CYCLE............................................19
C. LETHAL TRIAD: ROLES THAT COMPRISE JOINT CEC ...........24
D. PRIMARY FUNCTIONS THAT COMPRISE A JCEC .....................28
E. MESSAGING PROTOCOLS .................................................................30
F. REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITIES ........................31

IV. PROPOSED SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE .......................................................39

A. SYSTEM OF INTEREST (SOI) .............................................................39
B. JF PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS ......................................................42
C. CAPABILITY MODELS OF CURRENT & IMPROVED JCEC C2 43
D. FUNCTIONAL MODELS OF PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS ......48

V. JOINT FIRE DMO SIMULATION ...................................................................61

A. SIMULATING THE JF’S DMO KILL CHAIN ...................................61
B. SIMULATION APPROACH AND PURPOSE ....................................62

VI. EFFECTIVENESS AND PERFORMANCE ....................................................71

A. MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS AND PERFORMANCE...........71
B. DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS ......................................................73
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VII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................85
A. CONCLUSIONS ......................................................................................85
B. RECOMMENDATIONS .........................................................................87
C. FURTHER RESEARCH .........................................................................87

LIST OF REFERENCES ................................................................................................89

INITIAL DISTRIBUTION LIST ...................................................................................95

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 A Tailored System Engineering Process. Source: Blanchard and Fabrycky

(2011, 36). ..................................................................................................4
Figure 2. Network Architectures: Centralized, Decentralized, and Distributed.
Source: Bach, Brier, and McNeil (2019). .................................................10
Figure 3. Region of Interest within the Scenario Space. ...........................................14
Figure 4. Scenario Space’s Major Shipping Lanes ...................................................15
Figure 5. Red Force Military Base Locations ...........................................................16
Figure 6. BF versus RF, First Phase Concept of Operations.....................................17
Figure 7. BF Offensive Fires Concept of Operations ................................................19
Figure 8. Example of Internally Integrated Combat Systems ...................................21
Figure 9. Joint Force Commander’s Fire Cell, Externally Integrated .......................22
Figure 10. Example of CEC Using F-35 and Aegis ....................................................23
Figure 11. Externally Integrated Joint Platforms Emulating Internally Integrated C2
via CEC ....................................................................................................24
Figure 12. Lethal Triad Potential Platforms ................................................................27
Figure 13. CEC Exchanges among the ISR, Decision Maker, and Shooter................30
Figure 14. System of Interest—JF Kill Chain’s Increased Effectiveness ...................39
Figure 15. Shortening of the Kill Chain to Find, Target, Engage. Source: Popa et al.
(2018). ......................................................................................................41
Figure 16. Modified Kill Chain Applicable to JF’s Research. Source: Popa et al.
(2018). ......................................................................................................41
Figure 17. Capability Model for Current JF Kill Chain ..............................................44
Figure 18. Capability Model for Improved JF Kill Chain...........................................46
Figure 19. Operational / Functional Model for Improved JF Kill Chain ....................49
Figure 20. Operational / Functional Model for Finding of Threats via BF ISR..........52
Figure 21. Operational / Functional Model for Fixing, Tracking, and Assessing via
BF ISR ......................................................................................................53
Figure 22. Operational / Functional Model for Targeting of Threats via BF DM ......55

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Figure 23. Operational / Functional Model for Engaging Threats via BF Shooter .....57
Figure 24. IDEF0 of Improved JF Kill Chain .............................................................59
Figure 25. Proposed Lethal Triad JCEC C2 Kill Chain Execution Thread ................61
Figure 26. Establishing the Red Force (RF) and the Blue Force (BF) ........................65
Figure 27. Allocated Munitions to RF and BF Platforms ...........................................66
Figure 28. Locations for Land-Based Platforms .........................................................66
Figure 29. Assigning Location to RF and BF Platforms .............................................67
Figure 30. Dynamic Interplay of RF & BF Platforms and Munitions ........................67
Figure 31. BF Platforms Killed ...................................................................................75
Figure 32. BF Mean % Survivability ..........................................................................75
Figure 33. BF Mean % Survivability for Excursions ..................................................79
Figure 34. Additional BF AMD Munitions Available and Spent ...............................80
Figure 35. Additional BF AMD Munitions Available and Spent for Excursions .......81
Figure 36. Additional RF Munition Neutralized .........................................................82
Figure 37. Additional RF Munition Neutralized with Excursions. .............................84

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 LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Proposed JCEC C2 Interoperability Improvements ...................................42

Table 2. Comparison of Current and Improved JCEC C2 for JF Kill Chain ...........47
Table 3. RF and BF Munition Parameters. Source: Popa et al. (2018). ...................63
Table 4. RF Platform Parameters. Source: Popa et al. (2018). ................................64
Table 5. BF Platform Parameters and Sensors. Source: Popa et al. (2018). ............64
Table 6. Blue Force Platform Capability Categories ...............................................68
Table 7. Simulation Input Timing ............................................................................70
Table 8. 2030 JF MOE & MOPs..............................................................................72
Table 9. Simulation Output Parameters that Relate to JF MOPs .............................74
Table 10. BF Mean % Survivability ..........................................................................76
Table 11. DM Options in Timing for Excursions from Table 7, Column 2. Source:
Moon, Carley, and Kim (2013). ...............................................................77
Table 12. Explanation of SQ0, JCEC1, SQ2, JCEC3, SQ4, JCEC5..........................77
Table 13. BF Mean % Survivability for Excursions ..................................................78
Table 14. Additional BF AMD Munitions Available and Spent ...............................80
Table 15. Additional BF AMD Munitions Available and Spent for Excursions .......82
Table 16. Additional RF Munitions Neutralized .......................................................83
Table 17. Additional RF Munitions Neutralized with Excursions.............................84
Table 18. BF Mean % Survivability Analysis Summary ...........................................85
Table 19. Additional BF AMD Munitions Available and Spent Summary ...............86
Table 20. Additional RF Munitions Neutralized Summary .......................................86

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 LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

AEGIS Advanced Electronic Guided Interceptor System

AFP Adaptive Force Package
AMD Air Missile Defense
ANOVA Analysis of Variance
AO Area of Operations
BACN Battlefield Airborne Command Nodes
BF Blue Force
C2 Command and Control
C3 Command, Control, and Communications
CA Complex Adaptive
CASOS Complex Adaptive Systems of Systems
CCDR Combatant Commander
CEC Cooperative Engagement Capability
CIWS Close in Weapon System
CMN Concurrent Multi-Netting
CNV Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carriers
CSG Carrier Strike Group
CWC Composite Warfare Commander
DOE Design of Experiments
DMO Distributed Maritime Operations
EMCON Emissions Control
ESG Expeditionary Strike Group
F2T2EA Find Fix Track Target Engage Assess
GATOR Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar
HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket System
HVP Hyper Velocity Projectiles
ISR Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance
JCEC Joint Cooperative Engagement Capability
JCS Joint Chiefs of Staff
JF Joint Fire
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JTF Joint Task Force
JTRS Joint Tactical Radio System
LCS Littoral Combat Ship
LHD/LHA Amphibious Assault ships
LUSV Large Unmanned Surface Vessels
MADL Multifunction Advanced Data Link
MCDP Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication
MIDS Multifunction Information Distribution System
MOC Maritime Operations Center
MOE Measures of Effectiveness
MOP Measures of Performance
MUSV Medium Unmanned Surface Vessels
NIFC-CA Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air
NTTP Naval Tactics Techniques and Procedures
NWDC Navy Warfare Development Command
NWP Naval Warfare Publication
OTC Officer in Tactical Command
PLA-N Peoples Liberation Army - Navy
RF Red Force
Rx Receiving
SEA Systems Engineering Analysis
SoS System of Systems
SQ Status Quo
TTP Tactics Techniques and Procedures
Tx Transmitting
U.S. United States
WEZ Weapon Engagement Zone

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 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This capstone examines the combination of an improved cooperative engagement

capability (CEC) and command and control (C2) for an adaptive force package (AFP)
operating within a Distributed Maritime Operation’s (DMO) location. This research
examines four important entities of the CEC. First, a complete CEC has an observer
capable of identifying the precise location of a potential target. In the missile threat
environment, the precision of location detail must be extremely high and updated many
times per second. This functional element will be categorized as the observer/ISR or sensor
function. Second, a complete CEC has the capability to exchange this high-fidelity, target-
quality data from the Observer/ISR platform to other participating platforms. Third, a
complete CEC has a firing platform with a munition capable of successfully prosecuting
the observed target. Fourth, a complete CEC has a decision support/decision making
capability where the human decision maker interfaces with the system and expresses his or
her weapons release authority. The combination of the observer/ISR, decision maker, and
shooter will be referred to throughout the paper as the lethal triad.

This research centers on the mission of a friendly Blue Force (BF) controlling the
enemy Red Force’s (RF) influence on a strategic, bottleneck, trade route and the execution
of the kill chain functions performed by the BF during the conflict that ensues. The kill
chain functions of finding, targeting, and engaging the threat are conducted, respectively,
by the BF observer, decision maker, and shooter. There are multiple messages exchanged
between the lethal triad during execution of the kill chain functions and a recognized need
to increase the C2 responsiveness while performing CEC to ensure overmatch of a near
peer enemy by 2030 when naval unmanned surface vessels are predicted to join the fleet.

Proposed lethal triad interoperability improvements for shortening current C2

cycles during the kill chain execution include digitization of typically analog messages
relayed between the lethal triad, radio messaging translation from one protocol to another,
automation of the best solution for the lethal triad and incorporation of MADL-like
communications similar to that used on the F-35. The implementation of these

xv
improvements on every platform should allow for the creation of a distributed, AFP, ad-
hoc mesh.

Of utmost importance are the effects that shortening the C2 cycle should have on
the kill chain and the outcome of a battle. The kill chain benefits should include faster, less
jammable communication between the lethal triad; more responsive, reliable decision
making in a highly contested environment; and improved matching of weapon systems to
threats which should culminate in a more appropriate and effective ad hoc, self-forming
AFP.

Capability and functional models of the proposed improvements have been

developed along with a simulation of the mission scenario using various combinations of
the BF lethal triads attacking and defending against the enemy RF weapon systems with
realistic weapon system parameters incorporated including unmanned. The simulation data
collection and analysis results indicate a 5.9 % to 6.4% increase in survivability of the BF
while implementing the proposed JCEC C2 interoperability improvements with the
greatest improvements due to automated decision making. Additional data also indicates
that accelerating the kill chain via JCEC C2 improvements allows for as many as 12
additional BF munitions to become available for fire and for 4.6 additional RF munitions
to be destroyed, thus acting as a form of BF multiplier. BF loses are also reduced by 12.6%.

These results indicate that by improving interoperability among the lethal triad and
by improving human decision making through automation, war fighter lives can be saved
because less BF platforms are lost and overmatch against a near peer enemy in 2030 is
maintained. The analysis supports that the single most significant factor the JF is facing is
the mismatch between human cognitive response time and the speed at which future enemy
hyper velocity projectiles (HVPs) may travel. The data indicates that human decision
makers introduce significant delays into the command and control system that could hinder
the ability of the JF to promptly react and defend their platforms in future conflicts. The
JFs of 2030 should consider pursuing artificial intelligence and machine learning
algorithms to greatly reduce the C2 cycle times and data exchange delays of the JCEC C2,
thereby increasing the chances of neutralizing newly developed and faster incoming
threats.
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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many thanks to our advisors, Professors Paul Beery, Eugene Paulo, Anthony
Pollman, and Wayne Porter, for the many lessons learned from years of their cumulative
experience. Special thanks to our teammate, Major Kelly Haycock, USMC, for his
relentless insistence on tackling this subject and imparting his knowledge as a
communications officer to his teammates. Thanks to all for staying well during the
COVID-19 pandemic and for planning and preparing for the inevitable. Be steadfast and
courageous, for good things are conceived from many weekends of revisions.

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 I. INTRODUCTION

A. BACKGROUND
On 13 September 2016, an F-35 and an Aegis combat system demonstrated a
cooperative engagement capability (CEC) where the Aegis platform successfully engaged
and destroyed an incoming enemy missile that was beyond its detection range through the
high-fidelity tracking data provided by the sensors on the F-35 (Lockheed Martin
Newsroom 2019). This required a highly integrated command and control (C2) system
between the F-35 and the Aegis combat system that included sensors, data processors, and
high-data rate radio transmissions to find, target, and coordinate engagement of the missile
prior to entering the friendly Aegis platform’s sensor range. This was a pivotal, yet
incremental step in the futuristic Navy concept of Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter
Air (NIFC-CA) where the fleet’s mission effectiveness in a contested environment relies
on the extended range of airborne and surface-based sensors and a very rapid find-target-
engage cycle among its distributed components to interdict incoming missile threats. While
a single enemy missile does not usually present an unmanageable threat with the Aegis
combat system in defense of the platform, the future threat environment predicts a speed
and volume of missile fire that would overwhelm the Aegis combat system if it was left to
operate alone. In distributed maritime operations (DMO), the naval force may be
configured into custom task organizations known as adaptive force packages (AFPs) where
there may only be a single Aegis combat system close enough to affect the outcome of such
engagements.

While the F-35 acted as a sensor, the pilot acted as a decision maker, and the Aegis
combat system acted as a shooter in the find-target-engage cycle, this is a very novel
combination of platforms that require a large number of very specific situational
circumstances to align in order to be effective. In this research project, the team explores
ways to expand the number of platforms capable of participating in the cooperative
engagement capability desirable in both NIFC-CA (air and missile defense) and surface
and strike warfare through inclusion of joint platforms like the Patriot missile battery,
AN/TPS-80 GATOR radar alongside naval platforms such as the guided missile destroyer,
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littoral combat ship (LCS), F-35, large unmanned surface vessel (LUSV), and medium
unmanned surface vessel (MUSV).

B. DISTRIBUTED MARITIME OPERATIONS

As adversary, sea denial tactics increasingly threaten the Navy fleet with cruise and
ballistic missiles, so too are Navy fleet tactics evolving to address them. In order to conduct
freedom of navigation operations and exert sea control over important maritime regions
while allowing the highest value platforms to maintain appropriate standoff distances from
adversary threats, it may be appropriate to distribute the naval force into task elements
smaller than a traditional carrier strike group (CSG) or expeditionary strike group (ESG)
while still being able to conduct surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, air & missile
defense, and strike warfare. These are components of the composite warfare commander
(CWC) concept (Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC) 2015a). The task
elements organized from their parent CSGs, ESGs, or other maritime groups or squadrons
will be formed into mission-tailored threat-informed AFPs to enter the adversary’s weapon
engagement zone (WEZ) and conduct sea control operations (NWDC 2015b). Because of
the potential absence of high-value platforms such as nuclear-powered aircraft carriers or
amphibious helicopter ships, the AFP must be able to conduct many of the same warfare
functions that previously were centered on a capital ship while operating without the
traditional cover associated with a CSG or ESG. Being able to divide the friendly naval
force into AFPs allows it to conduct DMO.

DMO is smaller-sized AFPs with commensurately scaled-down air and missile

defense, surface and strike warfare capabilities tailored to be a subset of a larger force. The
F-35 and Aegis combat system CEC previously discussed is a prime example of how reach
and firepower can be scaled down and distributed. Distributed platforms are more difficult
for the enemy to find, classify, target, and hit than their high-value counterparts. This is a
far less favorable cost equation for the enemy.

However, distributing the lethality among many smaller platforms and accepting a
higher risk for their expendability does not guarantee robust CEC. The desired
effectiveness of DMO can only be realized with a sufficiently robust C2 system.
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C. SCENARIO OVERVIEW
The timeframe is 2030, and the friendly Blue Force (BF) has unmanned,
autonomous surface ships to deploy that will lower the risk to manned platforms. The Red
force (RF) threat is projecting power to control a highly coveted, narrow strait through
which global trade flows to Red and Blue partner nations. Whoever controls the strait will
most likely win the conflict because they will choke the opponent’s supply line. Both Red
and Blue Forces have partner nations in the area and are building coalition forces to protect
their assets along the strait.

D. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The current Navy C2 capabilities must be capable of supporting an advanced CEC
like that demonstrated between the F-35 and the Aegis. Distributed lethality platforms
depend upon robust and timely C2 to exercise an effective CEC. There is an urgent need to
develop a systems architecture that standardizes and speeds C2 interoperability to improve
the overall joint force effectiveness in air and missile defense, naval surface, and air strike
warfare by bringing platforms together in a joint CEC (JCEC). The focal point of this
research is to understand the increased effectiveness of the kill chain by implementing
shorter C2 cycles between 1) the observer conducting intelligence, surveillance, and
reconnaissance (ISR); 2) the shooter; and 3) a more empowered, forward weapons release
authority also known as the decision maker (DM). This will depend upon improved CEC
interoperability and implementation of a CEC mesh network.

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E. SYSTEMS ENGINEERING PROCESS
The Joint Fires (JFs) team follows a tailored system engineering process as shown
in Figure 1 (Blanchard and Fabrycky 2011). The process begins by analyzing the
stakeholder’s objectives to ensure correct interpretation of the problem. The next step
translates the user’s required capabilities into requirements via the use of operational
scenario. The requirements decompose into major functions which in turn drive the
development and selection of Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs) and Measures of
Performance (MOPs). The simulation and back of the envelope calculations support the
MOEs and MOPs.

Figure 1 A Tailored System Engineering Process.

Source: Blanchard and Fabrycky (2011, 36).

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 II. LITERATURE REVIEW

A. BACKGROUND

In general terms, the JFs team was asked the following question: “What can be done
to improve the operational effectiveness for manned and unmanned joint fires capabilities
in the maritime operational environment?” This question can be decomposed into many
parts that require an understanding of operations in the maritime operational environment
and DMO, manned and unmanned naval and joint fires, and what constitutes high and low
operational effectiveness. Decomposing these topics even further reveals the sub-topics of
operational and tactical doctrine, specific manned and unmanned joint platforms and their
respective capabilities, tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), enemy doctrine and
capabilities, and the command and control theory and architecture that make all friendly
action possible and effective. A review of previous literature reveals both general
background and context on these topics as well as related research.

B. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

1. Operational and Tactical Doctrine

To develop an understanding of distributed maritime operations, operations in the

maritime operational environment, and naval and joint fires, and to establish a basic
vocabulary on the topic, the JF team reviewed a wide range of doctrinal publications. The
most valuable references were those related to organization and employment of naval
forces in the maritime environment and related to naval and joint fires. This list of key
doctrinal references includes NWCD Navy Warfare Publication (NWP) 3–56: Composite
Warfare: Maritime Operations at the Tactical Level of War (NWDC 2015a); Navy Warfare
Publication 3–10: Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Forces (NWDC 2015b); Joint
Publication 3-09: Joint Fire Support (Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) 2019); Navy Warfare
Publication 3–09: Navy Fire Support (NWDC 2011); Joint Publication 3-60: Joint
Targeting (JCS 2013); and Naval Tactics Techniques and Procedures (NTTP) 3–32.1:
Maritime Operations Center (DON 2013a). Other doctrinal publications were referenced
but excluded from this list because they did not provide substantive information upon
5
which to base theories that address what can be done to improve the operational
effectiveness of joint fires capabilities in the maritime operational environment or aid in
proving or disproving them. Through this research on operational and tactical doctrine, the
team assembled the following shared vocabulary of key terms:
Adaptive Force Package: “A non-standard unit, task organized to meet a specific
operational requirement, as opposed to standard force packages that are comprised of task
organized naval units that routinely train together and deploy in support of combatant
commander (CCDR) operations such as a CSG” (NWDC 2015b).
Distributed Maritime Operations: “The integration of a diversity of
communications, sensors, and weapons platforms within an area of operations grid to form
a real-time configurable Adaptive Force Package to counter the enemy” (DON 2019). For
our research we have added that, “in a DMO environment, AFPs are geographically
dispersed while still operating as a united, fighting, and lethal force” (Geiss 2019).
Joint Fires: “Joint fire support is joint fires that assist air, land, maritime, space,
cyberspace, and special operations forces to move, maneuver, and control territory,
airspace, space, cyberspace, the electromagnetic spectrum, and key waters and to influence
populations” (JCS 2019). This research focuses on joint fires that assist air, land, maritime,
and special operations force to move, maneuver, and control territory, airspace, and key
waters.
Other key terms include Officer in Tactical Command (OTC), Composite Warfare
Commander (CWC), Air and Missile Defense (AMD), Surface Warfare, and Strike
Warfare.
The study of operational and tactical doctrine will help ensure the findings of this
research will fit reasonably well within the existing naval and joint operational framework.
Proposed adjustments to the way forces are task organized and commanders are delegated
decision-making authority must be workable within that framework.

2. Related Research

The Literature Review also includes a previously developed body of research with
findings that share at least one main component with the Joint Fires in DMO research. Key
shared areas of this research included command and control of forces during DMO,
6
command and control of manned and unmanned systems, and networked manned and
unmanned air and missile defense, surface, or strike warfare systems.

a. Theoretical Basis
The most significant body of research that impacts Joint Fires does so by providing
an evidenced foundational theory of fast command and control in a complex and dynamic
environment. This research is presented in the form of the 2019 doctoral dissertation
entitled, “Summary of a Framework for Engineered Complex, Adaptive (CA) System of
Systems (SoS)” (Johnson 2019). Of particular interest for Joint Fires in DMO, this research
illustrated the value of engineering complex adaptive combat systems of systems capable
of displaying emergent behavior to outpace the enemy decision cycle by networking
friendly force platforms with embedded intelligent agents and decision makers in a way
that makes rapid self-organization, distributed decision making, and cooperative
engagement possible. In this Capstone Project, the Joint Fires in DMO team attempts to
apply Johnson’s findings to answer the following two questions: 1) “What are the
requirements for an engineered C2 system that can interconnect friendly force platforms
and decision makers in a way that makes rapid self-organization, distributed decision
making, and cooperative engagement possible?” and, 2) “Can the inclusion of joint manned
and unmanned platforms in the scenario space further improve the results?”

b. Integration of Manned and Unmanned in Support of C2

The next body of research that relates to the JF’s research topic is the 2019 thesis
entitled, “Analysis of Unmanned Surface Vessel Employment in Distributed Maritime
Operations” (Geiss 2019). This research shares the foundational concept that improved
effectiveness can be facilitated by increased speed of command and control and
employment of distributed manned and unmanned platforms. The assertion that improved
effectiveness can be facilitated by increased speed of command and control is supported
by discrete events modeling employed in Johnson’s dissertation. The Geiss research topic
also focuses on the application of fast command and control enabling distributed
cooperative engagement between manned and unmanned surface platforms conducting the
air and missile defense mission. It answers the question, “What is the optimal mix
(considering capability and cost) of manned and unmanned surface vessels which share a
7
cooperative engagement capability to improve the operational effectiveness of the adaptive
force package in distributed maritime operations?” The Geiss research also provides key
friendly and enemy order of battle and capability information. The primary point departure
of the JF’s research topic from the Geiss research topic is the question of joint platform
inclusion and effectiveness in surface or strike warfare that constitutes the focus of this
research.
The next reference that addresses the JF’s research topic is the 2018 capstone report
entitled, “Distributed Maritime Operations and Unmanned Systems Tactical Employment”
(Popa et al. 2018). This research shares the underlying concept of employing fast command
and control to improve operational effectiveness of the friendly force in distributed
maritime operations as presented by Johnson. This paper explores the use of novel
organizations, tactics, and C2 architecture of manned and unmanned systems to improve
the speed and effectiveness of command and control in DMO. Popa further focuses on the
improved mission effectiveness of the friendly naval force when employing larger numbers
of distributed manned and unmanned air and missile defense platforms in conjunction with
counter targeting tactics. While this paper uses modeling support to assess improved
operational effectiveness of manned and unmanned fires capabilities in the maritime
environment, it does not factor in joint platforms or provide significant evidence supporting
improved effectiveness in surface or strike warfare which constitute this capstone’s joint
fires objectives.
The final research paper that relates to the JF’s capstone topic is the 2017
“Command and Control for Distributed Lethality” (Corbett et al. 2017). This addresses the
exchange of command and control information between weapon system platforms and
decision makers conducting manned and unmanned cooperative engagement. This
contributes to the concepts being explored by the JF’s capstone.

c. DMO Network Architecture Options

The next research paper relevant to the JF’s research project is the 2019 capstone
report entitled, “Systems Engineering Approach to Determining the Suitability of Wireless
Mesh Networks for Joint-Fires in Distributed Maritime Operations” (Bach, Brier, and
McNeil 2019). Command and control network architectures are reflections of the way
8
decision makers exert command and control over subordinate commands or systems. For
rigidly hierarchical command and control architectures, subordinate commands or systems
are dependent on the presence of a higher echelon to coordinate their interactions. When
all coordination must be facilitated by a single, central hub or top-level decision maker, to
facilitate the exchange of information, it is known as a star or hub-spoke network
architecture. Loss of that central node (hub) would mean that no two subordinate elements
would be able to connect.
A decentralized command and control hierarchy allows decision making to be
delegated from the top decision maker down one of more levels. This is a standard approach
to military command and control. Major units are organized into subordinate units that
routinely train and operate together. An example of this is when the officer in tactical
command delegates the surface warfare function to a surface warfare commander
responsible to coordinate the activities of subordinate task elements related to surface
warfare. A corresponding network architecture allows for all subordinates of that surface
warfare commander to interconnect directly with the surface warfare commander.
However, in general, if a surface warfare subordinate needed to coordinate with an
air and missile defense platform, the coordination between them would be made at a higher
level of command (i.e., composite warfare commander). This is representative of a
decentralized network architecture where networked nodes must connect with a higher
echelon to exchange information laterally.
Finally, a distributed command and control architecture is where the authority to
make decisions is delegated to the lowest level possible. Adjacent units can form into teams
as necessary to create the desired effects and self-organize the decision cycle as necessary
to respond to emerging problems. Distributed command and control architectures,
conducive to rapidly forming and operating are not optimal with centralized or
decentralized network architectures. A network architecture that reflects the distributed
command and control architecture must be able to connect all nodes with minimal time lost
to reconfiguration. Therefore, a non-hierarchical mesh, or ad-hoc network architecture is
ideal. These three networks architcture options are depicted in Figure 2.

9
 Figure 2. Network Architectures: Centralized, Decentralized, and
Distributed. Source: Bach, Brier, and McNeil (2019).

The report, “Systems Engineering Approach to Determining the Suitability of

Wireless Mesh Networks for Joint-Fires in Distributed Maritime Operations,” (Bach, Brier,
and McNeil 2019) provides evidence to support the claim that wireless mesh
communications architectures are more effective than star or hierarchical networks for
connecting weapons systems and decision makers in the distributed maritime operational
environment. This topic is explored further in the JF’s capstone.

3. Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC)

The other key source of information on operational effectiveness when

implementing CEC is provided by recent technology experiments and the work of
capability integrators. It is evident that in September 2016, according to the U.S. Naval
Institute, a break-through cooperative engagement technology was demonstrated between
the F-35B and the Aegis combat system that accomplished many of the goals of the
aforementioned doctrinal publications and lends weight to the assertions and findings of
past researchers (Lockheed Martin Newsroom 2016). The report of this accomplishment
provides sufficient confidence that this technology is mature enough to build upon within
the scope of the JF’s capstone research.
In December 2017, the Army Fires Bulletin published an article describing the
significant potential to be gained by integrating the F-35’s sensors directly with the M142
10
HIMARS weapon system so that the sensing functions in one could inform the targeting
and firing of the other without the aid of a coordinating agent (Russo 2017). This is one of
many use cases central to the JF’s capstone project. Finally, to provide context to the
desired operational effectiveness of the JF’s research proposal, it is noted that in November
2019, U.S. military service chiefs came together to agree on a strategy of incorporating the
joint manned and unmanned CEC (Hitchens 2019).

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 III. OPERATIONAL CONCEPT

A. GENERAL OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

A friendly, joint Blue Force (BF) is tasked with maintaining freedom of navigation
and sea control against a near peer, adversarial Red Force (RF) in the south Pacific region.
The area of operations includes friendly and neutral nations that desire safe passage of air
and maritime shipping to ensure continued conditions favorable to trade and economic
growth. The battlespace consists of open ocean, sea lanes, and land masses that range in
size from small shoals to that of continents.

During routine operations, the friendly, joint BF operates in the contact layer, where
naval forces transit sea lanes and aid in enforcement of elements of international law related
to protection of allied regional interests. Amphibious, land, air, and special forces conduct
theater security cooperation exercises to develop stronger ties with allied militaries and
provide nation building aid where possible (DOD 2018).

During periods of escalated tensions, the BFs must rapidly reorganize and refocus
to deter or prevent conflict escalation at the blunt layer. This means that some military
action, usually lethal, is required at a level below full-scale war. Naval, amphibious, land,
air, and special forces assigned to the theater task organize into a joint task force adapted
to create the desired military effects (Colby 2019).

As the need may arise for the friendly joint BF to commit to full scale war against
a major regional maritime power, the force must have the flexibility to reorganize and
surge, as necessary. This means that the friendly nation and allies mobilize reserve forces
and bring them to bear against their regional adversary.

During this scenario, the friendly BF begins operation at the contact layer and must
escalate its posture to support blunt layer and surge layer operations. A friendly, joint BF
consists of a carrier strike group and an amphibious ready group conducting freedom
navigation and theater security cooperation or contact layer operations (Colby 2019). When
transiting sea lanes, the maritime force observes a peer competitor force conducting
maritime operations meant to deter friendly, BF from transiting by the most economical
13
route through international waters. The near peer, adversarial RF is asserting new claims
of ownership over the waterways including natural resources.

Figure 3. Region of Interest within the Scenario Space.

The RF territory is situated in a manner that allows it to reach 1,500 miles or greater
with its anti-ship missile capability placing key waterways under direct threat of attack.
The operational scenario takes place in a focal point of a region. A major chokepoint for
regional shipping is indicated with the brown dotted line box as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 4 depicts a scenario space with its designated shipping lanes. This possible
DMO scenario begins when multi-source intelligence assets observe the adversary RF,
employing medium range surface to surface missiles, striking, and sinking a commercial
vessel from a partner nation in international waters.

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 Figure 4. Scenario Space’s Major Shipping Lanes

The joint, BF commander directs the maritime force to neutralize the RF platforms
that sank the partner nation’s vessel and threaten free navigation of key waterways. The
RF platform’s possible locations are displayed in Figure 5. The friendly BFs conducting
contact layer operations are distributed throughout the region. Based on their understanding
of the enemy strength, disposition, and capabilities, the combatant commander and navy
component commander task-organize a small adaptive force package (AFP) from the
available naval, amphibious, land, air, and special operations resources appropriate to
prosecute the RF platforms. The adaptive force package is placed under a single joint task
force (JTF) commander and will begin conducting blunt layer operations.

15
 Figure 5. Red Force Military Base Locations

This adaptive force package is relatively small consisting of three to five manned
and unmanned surface and subsurface vessels, four to eight manned and unmanned aircraft,
and ground combat units capable of conducting air and missile defense and medium range
rocket attack. The supported JTF commander will also serve as the joint maritime
component commander, and officer in tactical command (OTC), as outlined in the CWC
concept (NWDC 2015a). However, because of the unknown extent of the enemy’s
response, the Navy’s component commander will mitigate risk by maneuvering the naval
force to be able to influence the AFP’s operating area with reinforcing fires.

The objective is to find and neutralize the naval platforms from which the adversary
missiles were launched. However, to do so, the AFP will have to enter the adversary
weapons engagement zone populated by hidden surface to surface missile platforms, safe
harbors for gunboats, and airfields for strike aircraft. The AFP may need to mitigate a wide
spectrum of threats while in pursuit of the objective.

16
 This scenario is divided into two phases. First the AFP will transit to the objective
area across open ocean, inside of the adversary’s integrated air and surface defensive
weapons engagement zone, in which friendly use of fires is characterized as defensive in
nature. During this phase, fires must neutralize threats from adversary strike aircraft, anti-
ship, cruise missiles, or hyper velocity projectiles in flight, and any submarines or gunboats
with which the enemy may attempt to gain an asymmetric advantage. Threats identified
during this phase can be mitigated through radar and integrated surface and air defense,
patrolling manned and unmanned aircraft, surface, or subsurface vessels, and theater aerial
or space-based surveillance. This scenario concept of operations is depicted in Figure 6.

Figure 6. BF versus RF, First Phase Concept of Operations

As the friendly BF transits the open ocean to close with the area of operations (AO),
the joint force commander should seek to bring joint force capabilities to the defense of the
17
AFP. In doing so, the joint special operations force or maritime component commander
provides covert units to seize advanced expeditionary airfields in the vicinity of the enemy
force, and the joint force air component commander provides rapidly deployable strategic
airlift capabilities to covertly transport and deploy land air search and air and missile
defense (AMD) passive sensors or active radars as the situation and threat demands. Also,
in this outer sensor ring, medium displacement unmanned surface vessels, unmanned aerial
systems, and F-35s are interconnected with the ground sensors to exchange target-quality
data. However, they will exercise coordinated emissions control (EMCON) until the
decisive point is cued by theater intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). In a
defensive ring closer to the AFP, the C-17s covertly land Air Defense Artillery platforms
(i.e., Patriot Batteries) that can be linked to, and coordinated with, other integrated counter-
air fire control systems and firing platforms to include other medium displacement
unmanned surface vessels, unmanned aerial systems, and manned platforms.

The second phase will be characterized by the integration of offensive fires. As the
AFP closes with the adversary RF, the RF will reveal its full defensive capabilities. For the
AFP to survive, the transit to the objective area must identify, target, and employ fires to
neutralize the threats. RF threats can be identified by electromagnetic or electro optical
observation of inbound missiles, high velocity projectiles, or missile batteries or by
electromagnetic detection of enemy targeting radars. RF threats can then be cooperatively
engaged and neutralized by fires from a wide range of joint distributed lethality platforms
available to the AFP. These AFPs include, but are not limited to, manned and unmanned
strike aircraft, manned and unmanned surface and subsurface missile platforms, artillery,
or missile-capable land forces. They can be maneuvered to adjacent landmasses by air or
surface connectors and can target with long-range land-based conventional ballistic
missiles. Finally, joint fires will be used for accomplishment of the objective to neutralize
the enemy, RF targets. In Figure 7, the integration of offensive fires concept of operations
is depicted.

18
 Figure 7. BF Offensive Fires Concept of Operations

It is important to note that both phases of the scenario bear some risk to non-
combatant vessels, though significantly more when operating in the littoral environment or
among sea lanes. Increased use of semi-autonomous or fully autonomous portions of the
kill chain must not infringe on the necessary weapons release authority delegated to the
AFP’s OTC.

B. SPEEDING UP THE DECISION CYCLE

The following quote from the Marine Corps doctrine emphasizes the criticality of
speed in warfare.

Speed is a weapon. In war, it is relative speed that matters rather than

absolute speed. Superior speed allows us to seize the initiative and dictate
the terms of action, forcing the enemy to react to us. Speed provides
security. It is a prerequisite for maneuver and for surprise. Moreover, speed
is necessary to concentrate superior strength at the decisive time and place.

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 (Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication (MCDP) 1997) To generate the tempo
of operations we desire and to best cope with the uncertainty, disorder, and
fluidity of combat, command and control must be decentralized. We must
not try to maintain excessive control over subordinates since this will
necessarily slow our tempo and inhibit initiative. (MCDP 1997)

Within the scope of AFP operations, there are two primary command and control
problems to solve. The first is the enemy missile barrage problem which poses a threat that
centralized command and control struggles with, at least in a hierarchical model reliant on
the cooperation of multiple echelons of command and control agencies. The second
problem is conducting surface and strike warfare quickly enough to preemptively
neutralize enemy weapon platforms or to stop them from posing a continued threat.
However, the ranges of the various platforms in the AFP are finite and do not, individually,
cover the entire scenario battlespace. To dominate in the battlespace, the AFP must make
use of coordinated fires, where systems and platforms come together to perform the
functions of the targeting cycle. This consists of finding, targeting, and engaging the
enemy. AFP assets must also iterate through this coordinated targeting cycle faster than the
adversary can react. There are two basic paradigms for coordinated fires: internally
integrated and externally integrated.
Internally integrated fires systems would include the Aegis combat system or the
Patriot anti-air missile battery. An internally integrated fires system is very fast because all
sensors and weapons systems wait in a high state of readiness for the threat to appear, and
when the threat appears within the engagement zone and engagement criteria (set by the
rules of engagement and the commander’s intent) are met, then only a single human is
required to authorize the release of lethal munitions. That human may be aided by other
humans or decision support systems, but if the authority has been granted, and the decision
maker is trained on correct employment, then no higher or adjacent coordination needs to
be sought.

20
 Figure 8. Example of Internally Integrated Combat Systems

With an internally integrated combat system like the Aegis combat system, as
depicted in Figure 8 (top), where the AN/SPY-1 radar is operating, the weapons are armed
and ready, and a means of positive identification is active, the time from detection to launch
should be less than one minute. The Patriot missile battery, as depicted in Figure 8
(bottom), is a combat system with similar internal integration.
Conversely, especially within the joint environment, external organizations rarely
form at the tactical level. Usually, a Joint Force Commander is appointed and acts as the
coordinating authority for joint fires (JCS 2019). This generally means that for a Navy
platform to provide fires against a target identified by an Army platform, detailed target
coordination, including weapons release authority, would be requested up or tasked down
several echelons in a chain of command all the way up to the Joint Force Commander’s
21
fires cell, see Figure 9. In a joint force, it may take as long as 20 minutes for the force to
engage an unexpected target of opportunity because of centralized control exerted over
joint fires which are externally integrated.

Figure 9. Joint Force Commander’s Fire Cell, Externally Integrated

In September 2016, an F-35 demonstrated its CEC by passing missile tracking data
to the Aegis combat system that then successfully engaged the incoming missile while it
was outside the Aegis system’s radar range (Lockheed Martin Newsroom 2016). The
missile was destroyed just as it entered the Aegis system’s radar range (Lockheed Martin
Newsroom 2016). The primary example of CEC by means of a C2 system that
interconnected the F-35 in an observer role and the Aegis combat system in a shooter role,
as depicted in Figure 10, increased the effective range of the Aegis combat system and thus
eliminated several minutes which the missile would have spent closing the distance toward
the friendly force.
22
 Figure 10. Example of CEC Using F-35 and Aegis

In order for joint CEC to emulate the speed of an internally integrated combat
system (like the Aegis or Patriot missile battery), participating joint platforms must be
directly connected, and command and control authority must also be delegated to the
lowest level possible. If the observer platform (e.g., Army Grey Eagle) is interconnected
with all of the potential shooter platforms in the area (e.g., Littoral Combat Ship), and
weapons release authority is delegated to the shooter platform, the amount of time it takes
to complete the targeting cycle may be reduced as shown in Figure 11. Externally
integrated joint platforms may emulate internally integrated C2 systems to reduce target
cycle time through CEC.

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 Figure 11. Externally Integrated Joint Platforms Emulating Internally
Integrated C2 via CEC

C. LETHAL TRIAD: ROLES THAT COMPRISE JOINT CEC

In order to establish common terminology that is agnostic to specific platforms, and

in consideration of the preference to distribute command and control down to the lowest
level, the JFs team has decomposed the CEC into a bare minimum organization. Three
roles are needed: a platform capable of observing joint fires; a platform capable of firing
munitions; and a platform with weapons release authority. These three roles will be
hereafter referred to as the ISR/Observer role, the Shooter role, and the Decision Maker
(DM) role.
The ISR/Observer role takes the name of ISR to denote that the platform’s primary
role in this case is intelligence, surveillance, and/or reconnaissance. This applies to many
24
manned and unmanned aviation or surface platforms. However, since many platforms that
can perform ISR have additional capabilities such as air search, surface search, airspace
control, or fires support the name Observer may be used interchangeably with ISR. It is
also possible that an ISR/Observer platform needs to be directed to a location by cueing
from another ISR asset. For example, a search radar identifies a contact, but the fidelity of
the search radar’s data is not high enough to target the contact. The data from the search
radar cues the platform with a better radar to collect targeting-quality data. Other sources
of cueing might be ground-based or satellite-based. It is important to note that the
ISR/Observer platform does not need to be manned. On the other hand, unless the decision
is made to pursue artificial intelligence and/or fully automated weapons release by the
Shooter, targeting data must make its way to a platform capable of positive identification,
which can only be performed by a human decision maker.
The Shooter role refers to a platform that has the capability to fire munitions to
engage a target. Not all shooters can engage all targets and many platforms discussed in
this research can perform the roles of both Shooter and ISR/Observer. Examples include
the F-35 cited earlier. In a few cases, the shooter does not have its own internal
‘ISR/Observer’ capability. The M142 HIMARS is an example of a shooter platform that
relies on calls for fire from forward observers to provide fire control information. It is
important to note that a Shooter platform may require human interaction to bring the system
into a state of readiness according to the tasking and the threat. However, for the fastest
joint cooperative capability, the platform should be able to fire immediately upon remote
triggering by the decision maker WITHOUT another human in the loop.
The decision maker role refers to the only necessary human in the loop. With an
ISR/Observer platform providing targeting-quality data and a Shooter platform that has
been placed into a state of readiness for remote triggering, the DM is responsible for C2,
including launch authority. The DM must consider the rules of engagement and
commander’s intent, whether the target has been positively identified as a threat, and
whether an appropriate Shooter can adequately and proportionally engage the target. If
these criteria are met, the DM authorizes weapons release and remotely triggers firing of
munitions to engage the target. In delegating decision authority to the lowest level, the DM

25
must ideally be the lowest echelon in the tactical chain of command that can receive and
process sufficient information to authorize weapons release. The DM must therefore have
access to a decision support system that processes, correlates, and simplifies the many
aspects of the threat and defensive capabilities available.
This capstone argues that the more an AFP is networked and equipped to connect
its various ISR/Observer, Shooter, and DM platforms into a joint CEC (JCEC) (as it does
with the F-35 and the Aegis combat system), the better it will be able to rapidly execute
the find-target-engage kill chain cycle in response to dynamic missile threats or targets of
opportunity. The future fight is joint in nature and will benefit greatly from the inclusion
of manned and unmanned joint platforms engineered as complex adaptive systems of
systems. This will require the integration of a common JCEC into a much wider range of
joint platforms (Johnson 2019). This capstone research explores the benefit of
interconnecting the sea-based, land-based, or aviation-based, manned, or unmanned
platforms in the joint inventory in the battlespace to make this JCEC possible. According
to the principles of complex adaptive systems of systems (CASoS), the force would then
be able to self-organize in response to changes in the threat environment to display
emergent behavior of the sensor, shooter, and DM, also referred to as the lethal triad, in the
rapid and decentralized prosecution of enemy targets.
A lethal triad consists of one or more sea surface-, ground surface-, or aviation-
based, manned, or unmanned platforms in the joint inventory which, together, are able to
perform all three of the ISR/Observer, Shooter, and DM roles. Figure 12 depicts potential
ISR/Observer platforms on the right, Shooters on the left, and DMs at the top.

26
Figure 12. Lethal Triad Potential Platforms

27
D. PRIMARY FUNCTIONS THAT COMPRISE A JCEC

With the understanding of what constitutes a cooperative engagement capability,

we can decompose the capability into its constituent functions and organize them into four
basic functional elements. First, like any joint fire’s capability, a complete CEC has an
observer capable of identifying the precise location of a potential target. In the missile
threat environment, the precision of location detail must be extremely high and updated
many times per second. Platforms capable of this high-fidelity target-quality data include
the Aegis combat system (specifically the SPY-1 radar), the F-35, the AN/TPS-80 GATOR
radar, the Patriot battery radar, and many others.

Second, a complete CEC has the capability to share this high-fidelity target-quality
data from the Observer/ISR platform with other participating platforms. Within the Aegis
combat system, the SPY-1 radar communicates this data internally via its tightly integrated
internal fire control network. Between the F-35 and the Aegis platform, this exchange of
targeting data occurs over a tightly integrated, jam-resistant, high-data rate, radio network
like the multifunction advanced data link (MADL). Also, the ability to seamlessly enter
into a CEC network with any platform from the joint force is desirable. It is feasible that a
ubiquitous, open standard means of secure communication of targeting and fire control
data can be replicated and integrated into new combinations (USNI NEWS 2016).

Third, a complete CEC has a firing platform with a munition capable of

successfully prosecuting the observed target. In the missile threat environment, this
munition can be any of the joint inventory of guided anti-air missiles such as SM-2, SM-3,
SM-6, PAC-3, and AIM-9 Sidewinder. The firing platforms must be able to receive a
stream of high-fidelity, target-quality data which updates many times per second. Once
launched, the anti-air missile must rely on this stream of target-quality data until it is close
enough to the target for internal guidance systems to acquire the target and perform
terminal control. Also, to intercept incoming enemy missiles, a platform launching guided
anti-air missiles must respond very quickly to launch commands. Human actuation of firing
mechanisms must be minimal or non-existent after the decision to launch has been made,
else critical moments in the CEC response time will be wasted. It is for this purpose that

28
any CEC firing platform is recommended to have a slave mode of operation. Once the
human operator has configured the firing platform for the air and missile defense mission,
a distant decision maker with training and authority can trigger the munition’s launch
remotely. In strike or surface warfare, this munition can be any of the joint inventory of
surface to surface missiles. While less critical for surface or strike warfare, the high speed
of the surface to surface missile response is also necessary for the successful engagement
of fleeting targets of opportunity. Therefore, a slave mode of operation could be employed
for surface-to-surface engagements as well. These munitions-firing functions will be
categorized as the shooter functional element.

Fourth, a complete CEC has a decision support/decision making capability where

the human decision maker interfaces with the system and authorizes weapons release. The
weapons release decision is informed by a combination of commander’s intent related to
fires objectives and rules of engagement, a fires-related decision support system identifying
the available and optimal munitions for each target, and other sources of shared situational
awareness. This weapons release decision is communicated in the form of an execution
command that activates the slave-mode munition capable of prosecuting the observed
target. This decision support and promulgation function will be categorized as the C2
functional element. The CEC exchange of data as described above is shown in Figure 13.

29
 Figure 13. CEC Exchanges among the ISR, Decision Maker, and Shooter

E. MESSAGING PROTOCOLS

Digital fires-related C2 information is exchanged between systems based on the

United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standardized messaging
protocols defined by MIL-STD-6016 and STANAG 5516 (Hura et al. 2000). Messages
related to precise participant location and identification (PPLI) of friendly and surveilled
enemy platforms, weapons coordination, platform system and status, tasking, control, and
network management are all defined according to the standardized Tactical Digital
Information Link (TADIL) J-series message format (DOA 2000). Several communications
systems have been developed over many years to support transmission of these digital J-
series messages, or the near-real-time exchange of J-series messages among tactical data
systems. Each such system is specified by hardware/software characteristics as well as by
message and protocol standards (Hura et al. 2000).
30
 A complete CEC will continue to make use of standardized J-series messages to
remain interoperable with the joint force at the digital level regardless of which radio
waveform, modulation schemes, rates, or transmission media are used. There are many
systems currently fielded which interoperate at the digital level because they use J-series
messages. This includes Joint Range Extension Application Protocol (JREAP) which can
travel over radio signals, telephone lines, and internet connections (DON 2013b) as well
as Link-16.

“Link-16 is an encrypted, jam-resistant, tactical digital data link network

established by communication terminals that transmit and receive standardized J-series
data messages” (Hura et al. 2000). In the United States, Link-16 generally refers to the J-
series message processor and the L-band, UHF radio that transmits and receives them. In
general, NATO recognizes Link-16 as the capability to process J-series messages while
each particular type of Link-16-capable radio system is defined by its characteristics of
frequency, size, weight, power, hopping algorithm, compatible platform etc. It is useful in
this research to separate these two aspects of digital message exchange. Hereafter, the
important aspect of Link-16 which will be carried forward into the proposed system of
interest will be the J-series messaging protocol and capability of processing or translating
it. However, this research will challenge a few aspects of the common approach to the radio
transmissions of Link-16 including frequency and directionality. The strengths,
weaknesses, and conclusions about JCEC radio capabilities will be elaborated in the next
section.

F. REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITIES

a. Transmission Rate and Responsiveness

Entering and exiting a Joint CEC network must be seamless to allow the rapid
formation of a complete CEC assembled from whichever distributed lethality platforms are
present in the time and location of the enemy attack. To be fast enough to start engaging
an enemy missile barrage early enough to survive, the first platform to observe the enemy
missiles must be able to immediately feed the closest firing platform’s fire control system
with targeting data. This is delayed if the participating platforms first need to enter a

31
different radio network than each is currently monitoring. If a verbal command and the re-
configuration of radios is first required to enter the network, then additional response time
is wasted. If the ideal observer and shooter platforms do not even share compatible radio
protocols between them, then a third-party platform with radio cross-banding or protocol
translation would be required before cooperatively engaging the target. Those more
centralized (versus distributed) communications architectures may be inadequate for C2
situations that require a high degree of responsiveness (Corbett et al. 2017). At a minimum,
a mesh network where any member can exchange data with any other member is preferred
over a star/hub-spoke/centralized network topology (Bach, Brier, and McNeil 2019).

The two-part Link-16 capability, including J-series message processing and anti-
jam radio transmission, is implemented on various joint platforms as variations and
improvements upon the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS). The
following is a direct quotation from Navy Tactics Techniques and Procedures.

JTIDS (AN/URC-107 series systems) and Multifunctional Information

Distribution System (MIDS) (AN/USQ-140 series systems) are high-
capacity, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems that provide
integrated communications, navigation, and identification of friend or foe
(IFF) capabilities. They provide electronic counter-counter measure
(ECCM) capabilities such as spread spectrum and frequency hopping for
aircraft and surface ships, extended range of communications, and over-the-
horizon communications for surface ships with an airborne relay platform.
The maximum transmission rate with full anti-jam and error detection and
correction is 59.5 kbps with an effective data throughput of 26.8 kbps. Data
throughput of 107.5 kbps is attainable but with a sacrifice of some anti-jam
and error detection and correction capability. Timeslots are preassigned for
transmission, which eliminates the need for a net control station. Air and
surface tracks are nominally updated once every 12 seconds. Land tracks
are reported less frequently than air tracks (nominally at 48 seconds). Tracks
are reported in latitude, longitude, and height coordinates, which allows for
reporting of tracks anywhere on Earth. (DON 2005)

In general, 12 seconds between transmissions is too slow to effectively update precise

target locations many times per second as required in a joint CEC.

The legacy MIDS Link-16 construct are improved upon with recent development
of the MIDS Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) per the following quote.

32
 When integrated into a host platform, MIDS JTRS provides Link 16 digital
datalink, Link 16 digital voice communications, and Tactical Air
Navigation (TACAN) capabilities, plus three additional programmable
channels capable of hosting additional JTRS compliant waveforms in the 2
Megahertz to 2 Gigahertz radio frequency band. In addition, MIDS JTRS
provides the capability for Link 16 enhanced throughput and Link 16
frequency re-mapping. (DOTE 2012)

These aspects of Link-16 are better suited for the dynamic cooperative engagement
capability and spectrum denied environment. Of specific interest to this research, “MIDS
JTRS terminals have been developed to conduct Concurrent Multi-Net Reception using
four-channel Concurrent Multi-netting with Concurrent Retention Receive. This provides
improved digital receivers, improved buffering, and faster processors to allow host aircraft
to receive more Link 16 messages during periods of high message exchange demand”
(DOTE 2012). This makes it possible to essentially quadruple the number of terminals that
can participate in the otherwise fixed-size network and can make it reasonable to assign
individual sensor or shooter platform with multiple time slots, so that time between
transmissions can be shorter intervals than 12 seconds (DOA 2019). However, it is unclear
if this decrease in time between time slot allocations will lead to operational improvements
to friendly naval forces when applying CEC.

b. Resistance to Electromagnetic Interference

Further, the cooperative engagement capability demonstrated by the F-35 and

Aegis combat system was designed to resist a significant amount of electromagnetic
interference. The proprietary multi-function advanced data link (MADL) fulfills the
requirement for high data throughput and high resilience to electromagnetic interference
(Lockheed Martin Newsroom 2019). While the MADL’s proprietary characteristics are not
available for this research, principles of communications engineering reveal what a
hypothetical high-data-rate, jam-resistant radio protocol might look like.
Spot Jamming is jamming technique that causes overwhelming interference to a
single frequency (DOA 2019a). “Frequency hopping is the repeated switching of
frequencies during radio transmission” and minimizing unauthorized interception or
jamming of single frequency radio transmissions (DON 2013b). “The overall bandwidth
required for frequency hopping is much wider than that required to transmit the same
33
information using only one carrier frequency” (DON 2013b). This is also a form of what
is known as “spread spectrum.”
A minimally effective jam-resistant radio protocol is identified by its ability to hop
between many frequencies far enough apart from each other that the enemy cannot use
simple narrowband (spot) jamming techniques. This research assumes that narrowband
(spot) jamming capabilities are available to any individual or nation-state actor that may
be found in the battlespace. Further, the hopping algorithm should be unpredictable to the
enemy to avoid allowing the enemy to establish a time-sync with the friendly radios thereby
predicting the next frequency in the hopping algorithm, and jamming each frequency
before it can be used to transport friendly information. Many amateur radio enthusiasts,
and certainly industrialized nations can obtain the ability to observe a range of frequencies
and use computer software to decipher the hopping algorithm and jam specific frequencies
(Schweizer 2017).
Many industrialized nations can likely also employ high-power broad-spectrum
interference signals (known as barrage jamming) to jam all frequencies in an adversary’s
hopping algorithm at the same time (DOA 2019a). While more difficult, it is reasonable to
expect that peer nation states can produce high-power, barrage jamming signals against a
moving target from a long range for a long enough period of time to interfere with the
friendly find-target-engage fires cycle.
Frequency hopping alone is not enough to mitigate the effects of enemy jamming.
In order to best mitigate threats to enemy jamming, a joint CEC radio should also be
directional (DOA 2019a). Many current MIDS/Link-16 systems employ omni-directional
antennas and are therefore susceptible to jamming effects from any direction. Directional
antennas close the window of opportunity for enemy jamming down to the minimum size
possible according to the limits of physics (Johnson 1993). Minimum beam size in a
dynamic mobile environment equates to minimal time of exposure as well. Communicating
over directional antennas requires geometric alignment of the transmitter and receiver
(Johnson 1993). Any misalignment will result in radiated electromagnetic energy failing
to reach its intended destination. This cannot be overcome by extra power and better
frequency tuning.

34
 Directional antennas require the members of the network to be geospatially self-
aware and able to communicate their three-dimensional position information to all other
members of the network to generate useful antenna orientation information. However, if
the system of interest is designed with directional antenna coverage pointed to and from
the front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom of a platform (aerial platform in this case), the
platform gains the ability to direct its radio signals to any other available platform within
signal range. Further, given equal input power, a directional antenna provides radio signals
and data rates that are orders of magnitude higher than their omnidirectional counterparts
(Johnson 1993). This means that, should the enemy attempt broad-spectrum jamming, the
desired friendly signal would likely still be stronger than the jamming signal or have only
a momentary impact because of the constant change in relative position between the
friendly receiver and the enemy jammer. Phased array radio frequency transceivers are
found on many military platforms and have many benefits over omnidirectional or
mechanically steerable antennas (Ong 2004). While heavier and more complex than their
parabolic counterparts, phased array transceivers can be designed to fit any candidate CEC
platform including the F-35 (Ong 2004).

When aggregating these various assured, high-data rate radio communications

factors, unifying theory of jam-resistance emerges based on low probabilities. When
frequency hopping and directional (phased array) antennas are combined to produce a
highly jam-resistant radio capability, an increasingly rare set of circumstances would be
required for the enemy to create an effective jamming signal. For instance, the jammer and
the friendly receiver would need to be geometrically aligned due to the requirement for
directionality. Further, the jamming platform would need to observe and record the full
hopping algorithm, decipher it, and produce a stronger interference signal in time-sync with
a friendly signal. It would also have to employ a higher degree of directionality than the
friendly platform, which is likely closer to, and receiving pointing information from, the
friendly radio at the distant end. The jamming platform may alternatively attempt to jam
the entire range of frequencies in the hopping algorithm, which is again extraordinarily
difficult against a moving target, even more so when the friendly radios are already in
closer proximity to each other and are using location-informed, auto-tracking, high power

35
directional antennas. If the combination of the above conditions were to exist, they would
likely only exist momentarily because of the constant change in relative position and
attitude among the various moving friendly and enemy platforms.

Finally, a sub-system could be designed that automatically nulls the receiving

antenna when a desired radio signal does not carry an encrypted authentication code,
indicating that it is a jamming signal. If one face of the phased array antenna is receiving a
signal that is determined to be a jamming signal that face of the antenna could simply be
turned off. The remaining antenna panels, assuming they are facing friendly forces in a
distributed network architecture and have radio-relay abilities like the MIDS JTRS, will
provide alternative radio pathways for the platform. In this way, any jamming signal that
does not overcome all the above conditions, would be ineffective.

As of this research, fielded MIDS terminals do transmit and receive on phased array
or flat-panel directional antennas. As long as the four way concurrent multi-netting (CMN-
4) MIDS JTRS time slots are allocated in a way that increases message exchange between
observer, ISR, and DM platforms to the high rate necessary to update dynamic CEC
tracking information, the CMN-4 MIDS JTRS network may be sufficient. However, this
research assumes that this is not yet the case. This research offers the alternative possibility
that an ad hoc frequency hopping point-to-point network be established between every two
platforms which are in range of each other that would overall constitute a full, force-wide,
distributed mesh architecture.

Also, truly seamless entry into the JCEC network requires that every potential
participant can enter and interoperate without any user adjustment to configurations or
verbal relay of messages. The CMN-4 MIDS JTRS still relies on pre-planned addressing
of all nodes in the network each time the network is re-formed. This suggests that a JCEC
network requires each participant platform in the joint force be issued a globally unique
address and authentication code that allows for automatic entry into the network regardless
of which component of the joint force or originating base, the platform came from.

Based on recent developments where the F-35 and Aegis or F-35 and HIMARS
were paired together to execute missions, this capstone proposes an engineered J-series

36
message processing system like a MIDS terminal to be integrated on the various joint
forces platforms using a new MADL-like open-standard radio protocol which can be
designed by 2030. This system would have high-data rate and jam-resistance capabilities
while also hosting an addressing schema favorable to seamless entry by any joint
distributed lethality platform for enhanced, joint fires cooperative engagement.

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38
 IV. PROPOSED SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

A. SYSTEM OF INTEREST (SOI)

The system of interest (SOI), shown in Figure 14, centers on the mission of a
friendly, Blue Force (BF) controlling the enemy, Red Force’s (RF) influence of a strategic,
bottleneck, trade route and the execution of the kill chain functions performed by the BF
during the conflict that ensues. The kill chain function of finding the RF threat is conducted
by the BF ISR, the function of targeting the RF threat is performed by the BF decision
maker, and the function of engaging the RF threat is conducted by the BF shooter. There
are multiple messages exchanged between the lethal triad during execution of the kill chain
functions and a recognized need to shorten the C2 cycle, improve interoperability between
the lethal triad platforms while performing CEC, and therefore increase the effectiveness
of the kill chain to ensure overmatch of a near peer enemy by 2030 when naval unmanned
surface vessels are predicted to join the fleet.

Figure 14. System of Interest—JF Kill Chain’s Increased Effectiveness

39
 Based on previous research by the SEA 27 capstone group in 2018, as captured in
Figure 15, the kill chain functions were shortened from find, fix, track, target, engage, and
assess (F2T2EA) to find, target, and engage (FTE) due to the modernization of weapon
systems which now perform multiple functions simultaneously (Popa et al. 2018). The ISR
platform performs the find role by collecting location information about the threat and
maintaining track (Popa et.al. 2018). The decision maker performs the targeting role by
determining the resources available, prioritizing the threats, developing the options,
selecting the methods, and deciding to further engage by allocating the resources (Popa et
al. 2018). The shooter performs the engage role by striking the threat (Popa et al. 2018).
For the purposes of this research, however, the JF team has chosen to modify the
SEA 27’s groupings to those shown in Figure 16 by moving the ordering of engagements
and transmitting of orders to the decision maker’s targeting activities as indicated by the
yellow highlights. Further, the assess function will be considered part of the ISR’s finding
functions as indicated by the blue highlights.

40
Figure 15. Shortening of the Kill Chain to Find, Target, Engage. Source: Popa
et al. (2018).

Figure 16. Modified Kill Chain Applicable to JF’s Research. Source: Popa et
al. (2018).

41
B. JF PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS

The proposed improvements for shortening the Joint Fires kill chain’s C2
responsiveness include improving interoperability between the lethal triad and creating an
effective, distributed, ad-hoc mesh network, like that shown in Figure 2, by integrating the
following on all JF platforms by 2030 for platform commonality:

Table 1. Proposed JCEC C2 Interoperability Improvements

Improvement Description
JCEC C2 Incorporate high speed digital interoperability among the lethal
Message Exchanges
triad, rather than the analog voice method, and automate the
selection of the most effective combination of lethal triad for a
given threat for the decision maker.
MADL-like Incorporate anti-jamming capabilities, seamless ad-hoc
Communications
participation entry via improved addressing schema, radio
translation capability from one protocol to another, and high-speed
transmission data rates for multi threat tracking and common
situational awareness.

The substantiation for the proposed improvements in the C2 cycle are developed
from the examples given in Figures 8–11 in section III-B and from the writings given in
sections III-C through F. Incorporation of these proposed improvements are found at the
lowest levels of the proceeding capability and functional models in Figures 17–23 as
indicated.

The benefits of creating and using a distributed, mesh network to quickly

reconfigure dynamic, self-organizing, ad-hoc AFPs for effectiveness have been discussed
previously in Section II’s DMO Network Architecture Options paragraphs. It is highly
plausible that a joint force warfighting scenario will be complex, dynamic, and have the
potential for confusion with its many participants. A distributed mesh network is an optimal
architecture for both communications and C2 for any joint force. It allows for the
connection of all nodes with minimal time lost to reconfiguration due to jamming or as
42
participants join and detach from the AFP for whatever reason. In addition, long C2 cycles
can take several minutes and diminish the effectiveness of a dynamic, quick reactionary
AFP. These C2 cycles must traverse each service’s own decision maker before moving
onto the higher echelon’s, joint force decision maker, as discussed in Section III.

While the recommended improvements in Table 1 do not change the kill chain
functions, they do improve the way in which the lethal triad conducts JCEC C2 by
improving interoperability through MADL-like communications and JCEC C2 message
exchanges. Of utmost importance are the effects that shortening the C2 cycle should have
on the kill chain and the outcome of a battle. The kill chain benefits should include faster,
less jammable communication among the lethal triad; more responsive, reliable decision
making in a highly congested environment; and improved matching of weapon systems to
threats which should culminate in a more appropriate and effective ad-hoc, self-forming
AFP.

C. CAPABILITY MODELS OF CURRENT & IMPROVED JCEC C2

The current JF kill chain’s capability model is shown in Figure 17, and the
improved JF kill chain’s capability model is shown in Figure 18. Table 2 offers a
comparison of current capabilities versus improved capabilities based on Table 1’s
proposed improvements. Figure 17 shows the first two layers as the JF kill chain which
decompose into three major capabilities: 1) finding of threat capabilities, 2) targeting threat
capabilities, and 3) engaging threat capabilities which decompose into the BF ISR, BF
decision maker, and BF shooter capabilities, respectively. The BF ISR decomposes into 1)
finding the RF threat, 2) fixing the RF threat, 3) tracking the RF threat, and 4) assessing
battle damage of RF threats. The BF decision maker decomposes into the follow/target
capabilities. The BF shooter decomposes into the strike/engage threat capabilities.
Embedded within each of the BF ISR, BF DM, and BF Shooter capabilities are the
capabilities of performing JCEC C2 interoperability which then decomposes into 1)
performing non MADL-like communications and 2) performing analog C2 messaging as
highlighted by colors at the lowest level of Figure 17.

43
Figure 17. Capability Model for Current JF Kill Chain

44
 The Joint Fires kill chain’s improved capability model is shown in Figure 18 which
is built from the current kill chain functionality shown in Figure 16. Figure 18 shows the
proposed improvements from Table 1, which are MADL-like communications and
improved JCEC C2 message exchanges, and are incorporated in the last two, colored
layers. Figure 18 does not change the kill chain capabilities, but it does improve the way
in which the lethal triad conducts JCEC C2 while performing the kill chain functions by
improving interoperability. The first two layers of Figure 18 indicate the JF DMO Kill
Chain, the third layer is composed of the 1) finding the threat, 2) targeting threats, and 3)
engaging the threats. These decompose into the fourth layer of 1) BF ISR capabilities, 2)
BF decision maker capabilities, and 3) BF shooter capabilities. These are the platforms
executing the kill chain and have their inputs defined in the simulation per Table 7. The
fifth layer represents the kill chain capabilities which each platform performs and maps to
the colored bubbles in Figure 16. Each of these capabilities is further decomposed into
performing improved JCEC C2 interoperability on the sixth layer which then decomposes
into 1) performing MADL-like communications capabilities and 2) performing improved
JCEC C2 capabilities on layer seven.

45
Figure 18. Capability Model for Improved JF Kill Chain

46
Table 2. Comparison of Current and Improved JCEC C2 for JF Kill Chain

JCEC C2 Capabilities for JF Kill Chain Current Improved

CA.1 Finding of Threats Capabilities Standard Standard
CA.1.1 BF ISR Capabilities Standard Standard
CA.1.1.1 Find RF Threat Capabilities Standard Standard
CA.1.1.1.1 Perform Improved C2 CEC Interoperability Standard Improved
CA.1.1.1.1.1 Perform Improved C2 CEC Capability Standard Improved
CA.1.1.1.1.2 Perform Improved MADL-like Comms Not Supported New
CA.1.1.2 Fix RF Threat Capabilities Standard Standard
CA.1.1.2.1 Perform Improved C2C CEC
interoperability Standard Improved
CA.1.1.2.1.1 Perform Improved MADL-Like Comms Not Supported New
CA.1.1.2.1.2 Perform Improved JCEC C2 Capabilities Standard Improved
CA.1.1.3 Track RF Threat Capabilities Standard Standard
CA.1.1.3.1 Perform Improved C2 CEC interoperability Standard Improved
CA.1.1.3.1.1 Perform Improved MADL-Like Comms Not Supported New
CA.1.1.3.1.2 Perform Improved JCEC C2 Capabilities Standard Improved
CA.1.1.4 Assess Battle Damage of RF threat
capabilities Standard Standard
CA.1.1.4.1 Perform Improved C2 CEC interoperability Standard Improved
CA.1.1.4.1.1 Perform Improved MADL-Like Comms Not Supported New
CA.1.1.4.1.2 Perform Improved JCEC C2 Capabilities Standard Improved
CA.2 Targeting Threats Capabilities Standard Standard
CA.2.1 BF Decision Maker Capabilities Standard Standard
CA.2.1.1 Follow/Target Threat Capabilities Standard Standard
CA.2.1.1.1 Perform Improved C2 CEC Interoperability Standard Improved
CA.2.1.1.1.1 Provide Improved BF DM/Support
Capabilities Standard Improved
CA.2.1.1.1.2 Perform Improved MADL-like comms Not Supported New
CA.3 Engaging Threats Capabilities Standard Standard
CA.3.1 BF Shooter Capabilities Standard Standard
CA.3.1.1 Strike/Engage Threat Capabilities Standard Standard
CA.3.1.1.1 Perform Improved C2 CEC Interoperability Standard Improved
CA.3.1.1.1.1 Perform Improved MADL-Like comms Not Supported New
CA.3.1.1.1.2 Perform Improved JCEC C2 Capabilities Standard Improved

47
D. FUNCTIONAL MODELS OF PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS
The Joint Fires kill chain’s improved functional model is composed of the
proceeding Figures 19–23 which represent the kill chain functionality shown in Figure 16.
Figure 19 represents the overall functional model for the proposed improvements and is
nine layers deep although only seven layers are shown for readability. The proposed
functional improvements are derived from Table 1 and begin at the sixth layer with JCEC
C2 interoperability, shown in color. While Figure 19 does not change the kill chain
functions, it does improve the way in which the lethal triad conducts JCEC C2 by
improving interoperability through MADL-like communications and JCEC C2 message
exchanges.

The first two layers of Figure 19 indicate the JF kill chain, the third layer is
composed of: 1) finding the threat functions, 2) targeting the threat functions, and
3) engaging the threat functions which decompose into: 1) performing BF ISR functions,
2) performing BF decision maker functions, and 3) performing BF shooter functions,
respectively. and correspond to the high-level boxes on the right side of Figure 16. These
are also the platforms executing the kill chain in the simulation with their inputs in
Table 7. The fifth layer represents the kill chain functions which each platform performs
and maps to the colored bubbles in Figure 16. The sixth layer is where the improvements
from Table 1 are incorporated. Each of these functions is decomposed into performing
improved JCEC C2 interoperability which then decomposes into 1) performing MADL-
like communications functions and 2) performing improved JCEC C2 functions on layer
seven. Functions of layers eight and nine will be explained in greater detail in the following
Figures 20–23.

48
Figure 19. Operational / Functional Model for Improved JF Kill Chain

49
 Figure 20 represents the finding threat functions of the overall model in Figure 19.
Performing BF ISR functions decomposes into performing the four major functions of 1)
finding the threat, 2) fixing the threat, 3) tracking the threat, and 4) assessing the threat.
Figure 20 only represents one of the four functions mentioned previously for readability.
These four major functions correspond to the four blue bubbles in Figure 16. Each of these
four major functions is decomposed into performing improved JCEC C2 interoperability
which then decomposes into the proposed improvements of 1) performing the functions of
improved MADL-like communications and 2) performing the functions of improved JCEC
C2 exchanges. In Figure 20, JCEC C2 functions, derived from Table 1, decompose into 1)
converting analog voice to digital data, 2) transmitting digitized readiness signal to the DM,
and 3) transmitting digitized location data to the DM and shooter.

The MADL-like communication functions, as derived from Table 1, will repeat

across all four major functional areas under BF ISR but will only be decomposed and
discussed in detail once while JCEC C2 will change across the four major functional areas
based on the types of messages being exchanged. Proposed functional improvements for
MADL-like communication decomposes into 1) performing BF anti-jamming, 2)
implementing addressing schema to allow ad hoc joining of participants to the AFP, 3)
receiving, transmitting, and updating high speed multi threat tracking data for common
situational awareness, and 4) translating radio messages from one protocol to another.
Providing BF anti-jamming decomposes into 1) transmitting directionally, 2) frequency
hopping, and 3) nulling threat signals on receive.

Figure 21 shows the major functions of 1) fixing the RF threat, 2) tracking the RF
threat, and 3) assessing the RF threat from layer 5 of the Figure 19. Fixing the threat
decomposes into improving the JCEC C2 interoperability which then decomposes into 1)
performing MADL-like communications, and 2) performing improved JCEC C2. In this
case the JCEC C2 functions, as derived from Table 1, decompose into 1) converting analog
voice to digital data and 2) transmitting digitized CEC threat location updates to the shooter
and DM.

50
 Figure 21 further shows the major function on layer five of the functional
decomposition as tracking the RF threat which decomposes into improving the JCEC C2
interoperability and then into 1) performing MADL-like communications, and 2)
performing improved JCEC C2. The JCEC C2 functions, as derived from Table 1,
decompose into 1) converting analog voice to digital data and 2) transmitting digitized
CEC threat location updates to the shooter and DM.

The last major function shown in Figure 21 on layer five is assessing battle damage
of the RF threat. Assessing battle damage functions, which are derived from Table 1,
decomposes into improving the JCEC C2 interoperability and then decomposes into 1)
performing MADL-like communications and 2) performing improved JCEC C2. In this
case performing JCEC C2 decomposes into 1) converting analog voice into digital
messages to the DM and ISR and 2) transmitting and receiving digitized BDA to and from
the DM and shooter.

51
 Table 1
Improvements
Begin Here

Figure 20. Operational / Functional Model for Finding of Threats via BF ISR

52
Table 1
Improvements
Begin Here

Figure 21. Operational / Functional Model for Fixing, Tracking, and Assessing via BF ISR

53
 Figure 22 is a representation of targeting the threat which is the second major
function on the third layer of the overall functional model in Figure 19. Targeting the threat
decomposes into the performing improved BF DM functions. This in turn decomposes into
follow/target threats and represents the yellow bubble shown in Figure 16. Figure 22
decomposes into improving the JCEC C2 interoperability which decomposes into 1)
performing MADL-like communications functions and 2) providing BF decision
making/support functions.

Proposed functional improvements, which are derived from Table 1, for MADL-
like communication decomposes into 1) performing BF anti-jamming, 2) implementing
addressing schema to allow ad hoc joining of participants to the AFP, 3) receiving,
transmitting, and updating high speed multi threat tracking data for common situational
awareness, and 4) translating radio messages from one protocol to another. Providing BF
anti-jamming decomposes into 1) transmitting directionally, 2) frequency hopping, and 3)
nulling threat signals on receive.

Providing BF decision making/support functions, also derived from Table 1,

decompose into 1) converting analog voice to digital data, 2) receiving readiness signals
from all the ISRs and shooters, 2) sending and receiving digitized CEC messages including
shooter engagement orders, 3) processing shooter availability and inventory, and 4)
automatically optimizing and selecting the best combination of ISR/DM/Shooter for a
given threat.

54
 Table 1
Improvements
Begin Here

Figure 22. Operational / Functional Model for Targeting of Threats via BF DM

55
 Figure 23 is a representation of engaging the threat functions which is the last major
function on the third layer of the overall functional model in Figure 19. Engaging the threat
decomposes into the performing BF shooter functions. This in turn decomposes into
striking and engaging threats. Striking and engaging threats decomposes into improving
JCEC C2 interoperability which in turn decomposes into the proposed functional
improvements of 1) performing MADL-like communications and 2) performing improved
JCEC C2.

Proposed functional improvements which are derived from Table 1, for MADL-
like communications, decompose into 1) performing BF anti-jamming, 2) implementing
addressing schema to allow ad hoc joining of participants to the AFP, 3) receiving,
transmitting, and updating high speed multi threat tracking data for common situational
awareness, and 4) translating radio messages from one protocol to another.

Providing BF anti-jamming decomposes into 1) transmitting directionally, 2)

frequency hopping, and 3) nulling threat signals on receive. Performing improved JCEC
C2 functions, as derived from Table 1, decomposes into 1) converting analog voice into
digital data, 2) transmitting readiness signals to all DMs and ISRs, 3) receiving digitized
fire control data from the DM, and 4) transmitting digital engagement status to ISR and
DM.

56
Table 1
Improvements
Begin Here

Figure 23. Operational / Functional Model for Engaging Threats via BF Shooter

57
 The IDEF0 diagram for the improved JF’s kill chain is shown in Figure 24. The
proposed JCEC C2 interoperability improvements from Table 1, are shown as part of the
mechanisms of the IDEF0. The proposed improvements increase the responsiveness of the
lethal triad as they conduct their interoperability functions when executing the kill chain,
but they do not change the kill chain functions. The diagram has three major functions
which match the kill chain functions of find, target, and engage. The inputs are on the left
and include the red force threats coming into the find threats function using the BF ISR,
along with the proposed JCEC C2 improvements as the mechanisms. Target location data
is passed from the find threats function to the target threats function where the BF DM,
along with the proposed JCEC C2 improvements as the mechanisms, decides whether to
engage the red force threat based on controls like rules of engagement and commander’s
intent. The fire control command is passed from the target threat function to the engage
threat function where a BF shooter, along with the proposed JCEC C2 improvements as
the mechanisms, engages with the red force threat if so directed. The outputs are the JF
MOPs listed in Table 8, which include, but are not limited to, the number of BF missiles
launched at the RF targets and the number of RF targets destroyed or disabled. The inputs,
outputs, controls, and mechanisms directly relate to the simulation.

58
Figure 24. IDEF0 of Improved JF Kill Chain

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60
 V. JOINT FIRE DMO SIMULATION

A. SIMULATING THE JF’S DMO KILL CHAIN

The interactions during an engagement scenario between the RF threat and the BF
lethal triad platforms, which have integrated the JCEC C2/MADL functionality on every
platform to create a distributed mesh, are shown in Figure 25.

Figure 25. Proposed Lethal Triad JCEC C2 Kill Chain Execution Thread

61
 The scenario begins with shooter and ISR platforms sending their readiness signals
to the DM. The ISR’s threat location information is then transmitted to the DM. The ISR
platform identifies the threat, tracks the threat, and transmits the tracking data to the DM
for automatically selecting the best combination of lethal triad based on its effectiveness
against the threat. Based on the ISR information about the threat, the decision maker
transmits a fire control decision to the shooter which then engages the threat. The ISR
transmits a battle damage assessment report back to the shooter and decision maker for
reengagement purposes.

B. SIMULATION APPROACH AND PURPOSE

The modeling and simulation approach is to use ExtendSim 10. This is a software
tool that allows the team to create a force on force model to simulate different scenarios
for exercising the assumptions and concepts of operations for an AFP. The scenario to be
simulated is as described in the Operational Concept in section III with both the RF and
BF locations as shown in Figures 3–7. The simulation will show the results of the BF
engaging with the RF in both a defensive and offensive posture. The simulation should
determine the kill chain’s percentage of increased BF survivability while comparing the
baseline runs of current JCEC C2 implementation with the Table 1 recommended
improvements for JCEC C2 runs.

Simulation assumptions include the expectation that the BF will have superior
range for detecting, finding, targeting, tracking, and engaging the RF because of the
connectedness of remote observers. Further simulation assumptions include expectations
that the BF platforms are better organized and trained in the cooperative engagement
capabilities. The exact RF employment of capabilities is unknowable unless informed by
intelligence. The BF will use notional ISR to place its platforms in locations not occupied
by the RF. The BF is limited to identified detection ranges of its platforms.

The platforms and munitions selected for employment by BF are current U.S. Navy
ships and weapon systems, while RF platforms and munitions are based upon the current
unclassified PLA-N Naval Order of Battle. Platforms are integrated based on certain
characteristics of surface, air, and ground attributes. Platforms included primary strike

62
munitions, if capable, as well as primary air defense munitions, if capable. Each platform
from both forces will employ one type of strike warfare munition and one type of AMD
warfare munition, if able. The RF ability to defend against BF strike warfare is not
measured. The RF has sufficient observation capability over the scenario space and will
engage the BF with strike warfare munitions at their longest engagement ranges. There are
no RF MOPs associated with their ability to coordinate strike warfare. These parameters
are detailed in Tables 3–5.

Table 3. RF and BF Munition Parameters. Source: Popa et al. (2018).

63
 Table 4. RF Platform Parameters. Source: Popa et al. (2018).

Table 5. BF Platform Parameters and Sensors. Source: Popa et al. (2018).

64
 Figures 26–30 show how the RF and BF are established in the simulation, how
they are assigned munitions, the steps involved in physically placing them in the
battlespace, and finally the dynamic interplay of platforms from both forces. The RF
resource pool is put through a randomizer to select an aircraft, ship, or ground force. The
RF platforms are assigned a longitude and latitude. The RF platforms target BF strike
platforms based on proximity to each target and the distances identified. Next, the RF
platforms have their defense munition and capacity identified. The final attribute assigned
to the RF platform is the targeting of a BF air target. The distance to the BF air target is
identified. This assignment process creates the RF baseline. It does this for the RF aircraft,
sea, and ground locations. Once the RF platforms have locations, they get their assigned
BF targets and the distance to the target. The attributes of the RF platform will be assigned
to the munition. The munition will be assigned the platform’s location.

The BF platforms and munitions will go through a similar process as the RF

platforms and munitions. The BF will choose available locations from the remaining 150
available locations. The BF platforms will receive sea, air, and ground locations. The BF
platforms will be given a certain number of strike and air defense munitions based on their
capacities. At the end of the setup phase, RF platforms will have assigned targets with
associated distances. The RF munitions will be designated with range, velocity,
probability of kill, strike target, and distance to target. The BF platforms have the same
parameters assigned.

Figure 26. Establishing the Red Force (RF) and the Blue Force (BF)

65
Figure 27. Allocated Munitions to RF and BF Platforms

Figure 28. Locations for Land-Based Platforms

66
 Figure 29. Assigning Location to RF and BF Platforms

Figure 30. Dynamic Interplay of RF & BF Platforms and Munitions

67
 The engagement phase has process markers used in the lethal triad kill-chain
algorithm. It begins with RF munitions receiving targets assigned. This begins the
calculation of the RF travel time in which it is the actual movement of the RF munition at
a BF target. The BF munitions have munitions with targets assigned. There is an additional
attribute of calculating communication time between platforms. The BF platforms engage
targets following the JF kill chain’s proposed improvements from Table 1. The BF
platforms have five possible capability categories and are listed in Table 6.

Table 6. Blue Force Platform Capability Categories

Blue Force Platforms Capability Categories

Sensor /Shooter/DM
Sensor/DM
Shooter / DM
Sensor/Shooter/Unmanned
Sensor/Unmanned

The Sensor-Strike-DM, for example, engages when it can sense, strike, and
provide strike decision-making against the target. This engagement design is robust
enough to incorporate additional platforms’ capability categories for future modeling
and simulation. Based on the BF platform roles, there are process time delays outlined in
Table 7.

The simulation of BF munitions targeting automates the process for the DM issue
weapons release decisions. Again, it is important to note in this model that all the BF and
RF platforms are static. However, the BF and RF munitions have a designated velocity.
Munition travel times and delays are based on time, distance, and proximity. This is
addressed in a BF platform capability combination that is delineated in Table 7. The
simulation will first perform baseline engagement scenarios using the timing in Table 7,
column two, plus the addition of either the current JCEC C2 estimated timing shown in
column three or the addition of improved JCEC C2 timing shown in column four.

68
 Sharif H. Calfee and Neil C. Rowe, while researching at The Institute for
Modeling, Virtual Environments, and Simulation (MOVES), modeled the cognitive
responses of the team members of the Combat Information Center performing air defense
operations for a U.S. Navy battle group (Calfee and Rowe 2004). This study surveyed
many operators and averaged their inputs (Calfee and Rowe 2004). The study found that
the decision process could take up to 30 seconds per individual making decisions when
the situation is not of high alert, 20 seconds when the situation is balanced, and 10 seconds
when the situation is highly stressful (Calfee and Rowe 2004).

I.C. Moon, K.M. Carley, and T.G. Kim studied fleet success in air and missile
defense and the impacts of human decision makers in stressful environments (Moon,
Carley, and Kim 2013). Their research indicated that typical C2 decision making delays
range from 40 to 60 seconds (Moon, Carley, and Kim 2013). This was incorporated into
the JF simulation by using these decision times as a normal distribution with a sample
mean Xbar = 50 seconds and a sample standard deviation σ = 3.25 seconds, as shown
below in Table 7’s column two, with the additions of columns three or four as appropriate.

To represent the traditional C2 fires coordination cycles among various echelons

of the joint force, an estimate for the delays caused by this coordination was set at Xbar =
400 seconds and a sample standard deviation σ = 100 seconds as shown in Table 7, column
three. In contrast, given basic calculations for radio signal transmission at the speed of
light within the scenario space and negligible processing times for computer and
networking systems within the system of interest, the JF team used a much smaller
coordination delay time for corresponding joint CEC exchanges of information
implementing Table 1 improvements. After the decision maker has authorized weapons
release, there are no more humans in the loop, and slave mode munitions can be actuated
remotely. This delay time is estimated at Xbar = .04 seconds with a sample standard
deviation of σ = 0.01 seconds as shown in Table 7, column four.

69
 Table 7. Simulation Input Timing

Platform Capabilities Baseline/SQ Status Quo Proposed

Human Decision- Estimated JCEC C2 Improved JCEC
Making Time Cycle Times C2 Cycle Times
Sensor /Shooter/DM Norm.dist(50,3.25) Add Add
secs Norm.dist(400,100) Norm.dist(0.04,0.01
secs ) secs
Sensor/DM N/A Add Add
Norm.dist(400,100) Norm.dist(0.04,0.01
secs ) secs
Shooter / DM Norm.dist(50,3.25) Add Add
secs Norm.dist(400,100) Norm.dist(0.04,0.01
secs ) secs
Sensor/Shooter/Unm N/A Add Add
anned Norm.dist(400,100) Norm.dist(0.04,0.01
secs ) secs
Sensor/Unmanned N/A Add Add
Norm.dist(400,100) Norm.dist(0.04,0.01
secs ) secs

70
 VI. EFFECTIVENESS AND PERFORMANCE

A. MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS AND PERFORMANCE

The SOI is shown in Figure 14 (Chapter IV, Section A) and focuses on the JF kill
chain’s increased effectiveness via the proposed improvements from Table 1 (Chapter IV,
Section B), for improving current C2 responsiveness during the kill chain execution. Of
utmost importance are the effects that shortening the C2 cycle could have on the kill chain
and the outcome of a battle. The kill chain benefits should include faster, less jammable
communication between the lethal triad; more responsive, reliable decision making in a
highly contested environment; and, improved matching of weapon systems to threats
which should culminate in a more appropriate and effective ad hoc, self-forming BF AFP.
These improvements are modeled in the simulation via the timing in Table 7 (Chapter V,
Section B) by adding columns two and four together. The measures of effectiveness
(MOEs) and measures of performance (MOPs) for the BF defensive and offensive warfare
scenarios, as described in Chapter III’s Operational Concept, are shown in Table 8.

71
 Table 8. 2030 JF MOE & MOPs

Scenario Objective AFP Function MOE MOPs

Conduct Blue Force
(BF) DMO via an
AFP to effectively
control a strategic
strait access by
controlling the Red
Force Platforms
Employ effective
joint fires during BF Survivability and
dynamic RF Survivability
interplay of
defensive and
offensive warfare
The number of RF
threats destroyed
The number of BF
platforms destroyed
The number of RF
munitions
neutralized
The number of BF
AMD munitions
spent
The number of BF
strike munitions
spent
The number of RF
platforms that escape
The number of RF
hits but not kills on
BF
The number of RF
munitions remaining

72
B. DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS

The data analysis was conducted using MS Excel and JMP. The JMP analysis of
the simulation output data is shown in Figures 31–37 and represents analysis of variance
(ANOVA) of the mean for a significant statistical difference. The data was collected using
the ExtendSim10 write-to-database or information blocks. The simulation was run one
thousand times for the baseline or Status Quo (SQ) configuration using inputs from Table
7, column two added to column three and then again for the improved JCEC configuration
using inputs from Table 7, column two added to column four. The simulation was
configured such that the BF is slightly more capable than the RF. This is an important
assumption the JF team made which directly relates to the belief that the U.S. JF has and
will have better capabilities than any near peer adversary in the 2030 timeframe.

The input parameters for the simulation were as follows: 1) the JCEC C2 cycle
timing from Table 7 depending on the configuration; 2) the number of BF platforms that
are created along with the weapons load for each platform; and, 3) the number of RF
platforms that are created. The simulation output parameters which relate to the MOPs in
Table 8 are shown in Table 9.

73
 Table 9. Simulation Output Parameters that Relate to JF MOPs

MOP Note
1) the number of BF This MOP directly relates to the overall survivability of the BF
platforms killed platforms that represented the AFP in each configuration.
2) the number of RF This MOP directly relates to the overall survivability of the RF
platforms killed platforms.
3) the number of RF
munitions neutralized
4) the number of BF This MOP may be significant as each platform forward deployed
AMD munitions can only carry a limited amount of munitions.
spent
5) the number of BF This MOP allowed the JF team to simulate CEC with ground or
strike munitions air platforms from the joint forces.
spent
6) the number of RF
platforms that escape
7) the number of RF This MOP was captured to represent possible significance of
hits on BF but not some of the BF platforms, although being targeted and hit, still
kills are able to defend themselves and continue with the mission.
8) the number of RF
munitions remaining

The following are the detailed findings from the simulation.

a. Finding A: Bf Mean % Survivability

The increase in the overall BF Platforms survivability is the result of improving

the kill chain, via the implementation of the JCEC improvements from Table 1, using the
C2 cycle timing from Table 7. The JF team expected to see that as the kill chain was
accelerated by reducing the JCEC C2 cycle times, the overall BF platform’s survivability
would increase. Figure 31 represents the BF Platforms Killed versus the SQ (0) run and

74
the improved JCEC (1) run which incorporate no further decision-making improvements
as explained in Table 12. Figure 32 represents the BF Mean % Survivability versus the
SQ (0) run and the improved JCEC (1) run. The mean results from the figures are
transcribed to Table 10.

7
6.5
6
5.5
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 1

SQ(0) JCEC(1)

Figure 31. BF Platforms Killed

100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
0 1

SQ(0) JCEC(1)

Figure 32. BF Mean % Survivability

75
 The overall BF Mean % Survivability in Table 10 is calculated using Equation 1
below:
Equation 1. BF Mean % Survivability = [(Mean BF initial platforms –
Mean BF Killed) / Mean BF initial platforms] x 100

The JF team calculated a decrease in BF loses of 12.6 % and an overall 5.9%

improvement in BF Mean % Survivability, as indicated in the Table 10. These results
represent a significant savings in lives and costly platforms. Increased effectiveness of the
BF kill chain thus represents a more survivable BF.

Table 10. BF Mean % Survivability

Improved % Difference
1000 runs each SQ(0) (mean)
JCEC(1) (mean) Using Eq 1.
Mean BF Platforms 0.44
created 10.4 10.4

Mean BF Platforms
Killed 3.2 2.8 12.6

BF Mean
% Survivability 68.8 72.8 5.9

The JF team decided to simulate two different excursions with C2 cycle time
improvements to measure the effects on the overall BF Mean % Survivability. The first
improvement is shown as Excursion 1 in Table 11 and is representative of what could be
achieved with extensive training of the human decision maker in order to reduce the C2
cycle times (Calfee and Smith 2016). The second improvement shown as Excursion 2 in
Table 11 represents what could be achieved if the JFs implemented automation using
artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to accelerate the C2 cycles. The
simulation’s input SQ decision-making timing from Table 7’s column 2, is changed per
Table 11 for Excursion 1 and then again for Excursion 2, for a total of six runs as shown

76
in Table 13 and Figure 33 and indicated by the nomenclature SQ (0), JCEC (1), SQ (2),
JCEC (3), SQ (4), and JCEC (5), as explained in Table 12.

Table 11. DM Options in Timing for Excursions from Table 7, Column 2.

Source: Moon, Carley, and Kim (2013).
Excursion 1- SQ Human Excursion 2-SQ Human
1000 runs each Decision-Making Time Decision-Making Time with
with Training Automation
Cycle Time Mean
20 seconds 0.04 seconds
Xbar

Cycle time Std. Dev

10 seconds 0.01 seconds
σ

As shown in Table 12, the baseline scenario uses SQ (0) and JCEC (1) which
represent Table 7, column 2 decision-making input timing without training or
automation. Excursion 1 uses SQ (2) and JCEC (3) which incorporate improvements in
decision-making timing with training of the decision maker. Excursion 2 uses SQ (4)
and JCEC (5) which incorporate improvements in decision-making timing with
automation implemented.

Table 12. Explanation of SQ0, JCEC1, SQ2, JCEC3, SQ4, JCEC5

Human Decision-Making Status Quo JCEC Improved JCEC

Configuration & Timing Configuration & Timing Configuration & Timing

Status Quo (SQ) DM, SQ (0) JCEC (1)

(See Table 7, Col 2)
Trained DM, (See Table SQ (2) JCEC (3)
11, Excursion 1)
Automated DM, (See SQ (4) JCEC (5)
Table 11, Excursion 2)

The differences in various mean results from Table 13 and Figure 33 offer three
important findings. First, a near instantaneous, improved JCEC (5) capability, with

77
automated decision making, results in a 6.4% increase in survivability over the SQ (0)
configuration with no JCEC or decision-making improvements. This represents the
maximum improvement that could be realized in any of the configurations. Second, the
near instantaneous, improved JCEC (5) configuration, with automated decision making,
results in a 2.4% increase in survivability compared to the baseline, improved JCEC (1)
configuration with no improvements in decision making. This represents the maximum
improvement that could be realized with improved JCEC capability and automation.
Finally, SQ (4) configuration with automated decision-making results in a 2.1% increase
in survivability compared to the baseline SQ (0) configuration. This suggests that there
is an approximately 2% improvement in survivability that can be realized via automation
of just the decision-making process, without the implementation of further JCEC
improvements.

Table 13. BF Mean % Survivability for Excursions

Level Number Mean Std Error Lower 95% Upper 95%

SQ (0) 1000 68.9 0.35 68.1 69.5
JCEC (1) 1000 72.8 0.35 72.1 73.5
SQ (2) 1000 70.9 0.35 70.2 71.6
JCEC (3) 1000 75.0 0.35 74.3 75.7
SQ (4) 1000 71.0 0.35 70.4 71.8
JCEC (5) 1000 75.3 0.35 74.6 75.9

78
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
0 1 2 3 4 5

SQ(0) JCEC(1), SQ1(2) JCEC1(3), SQ2(4) JCEC2(5)

Figure 33. BF Mean % Survivability for Excursions

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 b. Finding B: Additional Bf amd Munitions Available

Faster C2 cycles should allow the BF to be able to fire more AMD Munitions to
defend its platforms. The difference in the mean shown in Figure 34 and transcribed to
Table 14 indicates that faster C2 cycle times allow the BF in the improved JCEC (1)
configuration to fire a mean of 50.7 missiles, which is approximately 6 additional missiles
available and fired than the SQ (0) configuration, without improvements. JCEC C2
improvements which accelerate the kill chain, would allow for additional BF munitions
to be available for fire, thus acting as a form of BF multiplier.

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10
0 1

SQ(0) JCEC(1)

Figure 34. Additional BF AMD Munitions Available and Spent

Table 14. Additional BF AMD Munitions Available and Spent

Level Number Mean Std Error Lower 95% Upper 95%

SQ (0) 1000 44.5 0.42 43.7 45.3
JCEC (1) 1000 50.7 0.42 49.9 51.5

80
 Figure 35 and Table 15 indicate the results for the number of additional BF AMD
munitions available and spent during the simulated C2 cycle time improvements while
implementing Excursions 1 and 2 using the mean and standard deviations shown in Table
11. The difference in mean results, indicates that the improved JCEC (5) with automated
decision- making, represents approximately 6 additional BF AMD munitions available
and fired when compared to an improved JCEC (1) with no decision-maker automation
or training. This suggests that if the JF implemented artificial intelligence and machine
learning algorithms by the year 2030, it would be able to fire on average 56.4 AMD
munitions.
The difference in mean results also indicates that the improved JCEC (5) with
automated decision-making represents approximately 12 additional BF AMD munitions
available and fired when compared to the current SQ (0) configuration with no
improvements. JCEC C2 improvements which accelerate the kill chain, would allow for
additional BF munitions to be available for fire, thus acting as a form of BF multiplier.

105
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0 1 2 3 4 5

SQ(0) JCEC(1), SQ1(2) JCEC1(3), SQ2(4) JCEC2(5)

Figure 35. Additional BF AMD Munitions Available and Spent for

Excursions

81
 Table 15. Additional BF AMD Munitions Available and Spent for
Excursions

Level Number Mean Std Error Lower 95% Upper 95%

SQ (0) 1000 44.5 0.4 43.6 45.4
JCEC (1) 1000 50.7 0.4 49.8 51.5
SQ (2) 1000 47.6 0.4 46.7 48.4
JCEC (3) 1000 56.3 0.4 55.4 57.1
SQ (4) 1000 47.8 0.4 46.9 48.6
JCEC (5) 1000 56.4 0.4 55.5 57.2

c. Finding C: Additional Number of Rf Munitions Neutralized

Faster C2 cycles improve the kill chain and allow the BF to be able to neutralize
more RF munitions. More enemy RF munitions destroyed, results in a more favorable
outcome for the BF in terms of less casualties and less damage to costly platforms. The
differences in the mean values of Figure 36 and Table 16 below indicate the improved
JCEC (1) configuration, with no improvements in decision making, results in
approximately 4.6 more RF munitions destroyed than the SQ (0) configuration with no
improvements. Faster C2 cycles shorten the kill chain and allow the BF to defend its
platforms more promptly.

75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0 1

SQ(0) JCEC(1)

Figure 36. Additional RF Munition Neutralized

82
 Table 16. Additional RF Munitions Neutralized

Level Number Mean Std Dev Std Err Mean Lower 95% Upper 95%
SQ (0) 1000 33.4 9.2 0.3 32.8 33.9
JCEC (1) 1000 38.0 10.7 0.3 37.4 38.7

Figure 37 and Table 17 indicate the results for the number of additional RF
munitions destroyed during the simulated C2 cycle time improvements while
implementing Excursions 1 and 2 using the mean and standard deviations shown in Table
11. The difference in mean results, indicates that the improved JCEC (5) with automated
decision-making, represents destruction of approximately four additional RF munitions
when compared to an improved JCEC (1) with no decision-maker automation or training.
The difference in mean results also indicates that the improved JCEC (5) with automated
decision-making, represents approximately 8.7 additional RF munitions destroyed when
compared to the current SQ (0) configuration with no improvements. JCEC C2
improvements which accelerate the kill chain, would allow for additional RF munitions
to be destroyed, thus acting as a form of BF multiplier.

83
 75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0 1 2 3 4 5

SQ(0) JCEC(1), SQ1(2) JCEC1(3), SQ2(4) JCEC2(5)

Figure 37. Additional RF Munition Neutralized with Excursions.

Table 17. Additional RF Munitions Neutralized with Excursions

Level Number Mean Std Dev Std Err Mean Lower 95% Upper 95%
SQ(0) 1000 33.4 9.2 0.3 32.8 33.9
JCEC(1) 1000 38.0 10.7 0.3 37.4 38.7
SQ(2) 1000 35.8 9.9 0.3 35.2 36.5
JCEC(3) 1000 42.3 11.9 0.4 41.6 43.1
SQ(4) 1000 35.8 10.3 0.3 35.2 36.4
JCEC (5) 1000 42.1 11.2 0.4 41.4 42.8

84
 VII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

A. CONCLUSIONS
The focal point of this research is evaluating the implementation of a shorter C2
cycle between the lethal triad to speed the kill chain. The Joint Fires team modeled the
Table 1 improvements for shortening the JF kill chain’s JCEC C2 responsiveness, via the
simulation input timing in Table 7 with additional improvements in human decision-
making timing further explored as excursions using training and automation as described
in Table 11. The simulation results and analysis conclude that the proposed improvements
to the JCEC C2 cycle, increase the BF kill chain effectiveness.

The simulation results and analysis for the BF Mean % Survivability are shown in
Table 18 with explanations of the SQ0, JCEC1, SQ2, JCEC3, SQ4 and JCEC5 in Table
12.

Table 18. BF Mean % Survivability Analysis Summary

Without Excursion Timing With Excursion Timing

5.9% increase in BF Survivability when 6.4% increase in BF survivability when
comparing SQ0 to JCEC 1 comparing SQ0 to JCEC5
12.6% decrease in BF loses when 2.4% increase in BF survivability when
comparing SQ0 to JCEC 1 comparing JCEC5 to JCEC1
2% increase in BF survivability when
comparing SQ4 to SQ0

The simulation results and analysis for the additional BF AMD munitions are
shown in Table 19 with explanations of the SQ0, JCEC1, SQ2, JCEC3, SQ4 and JCEC5
in Table 12.

85
 Table 19. Additional BF AMD Munitions Available and Spent Summary

Without Excursion Timing With Excursion Timing

6 additional BF munitions available when 6 additional BF munitions available when
comparing SQ0 to JCEC1 comparing JCEC 5 to JCEC 1
12 additional BF munitions available when
comparing JCEC 5 to SQ0.

The simulation results and analysis for the additional RF munitions neutralized are
shown in Table 20 with explanations of the SQ0, JCEC1, SQ2, JCEC3, SQ4 and JCEC5
in Table 12.

Table 20. Additional RF Munitions Neutralized Summary

Without Excursion Timing With Excursion Timing

4.6 additional RF munitions destroyed 4 additional RF munitions destroyed when
when comparing SQ0 to JCEC1 comparing JCEC 5 to JCEC 1
8.7 additional RF munitions destroyed
when comparing JCEC 5 to SQ0.

From the analysis it is evident that JCEC C2 improvements, which allow for the
acceleration of the kill chain, act as a form of BF multiplier because they allow for
additional BF munitions to be available for fire and cause additional RF munitions to be
destroyed. The simulated data collection suggests that training individual decision-makers
to achieve shorter C2 cycle times does improve JF kill chain responsiveness. However,
the data shows that human decision-makers introduce significant delays into the command
and control system that could hinder the ability of the JF to promptly react and defend
their platforms in future conflicts, particularly against the predicted speeds of hyper
velocity projectiles (HVP). Therefore, automating human decision making is
recommended and supported by the analysis in Tables 18–20.

86
B. RECOMMENDATIONS

The JF Team recommends pursuing the proposed improvements from Table 1 for
shortening the JF kill chain’s C2 responsiveness which include improving interoperability
among the lethal triad, adding automation to the human decision-making process,
incorporating MADL-like communication, and creating a distributed, ad-hoc mesh
network by integrating the improvements on all JF platforms by 2030. Of utmost
importance are the effects that shortening the C2 cycle should have on the kill chain and
the outcome of a battle. The kill chain benefits should include faster, less jammable
communication between the lethal triad; more responsive, reliable decision making in a
highly contested environment; and improved matching of weapon systems to threats
which should culminate in a more appropriate and effective ad hoc, self-forming AFP.

Human decision making is the bottleneck of the JCEC C2 and implementation of

artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms which can aide and expedite the
human decision-making process should be explored. The JF team further recommends
that the joint forces carefully consider using mission engineering principles to better plan
forward deployed force munitions loadouts for conflicts and engagements with a near peer
adversary which has access to a shortened supply chain.

C. FURTHER RESEARCH
The JF team believes that more research is needed for the development and
integration of JCEC. There is also further research needed in ad-hoc networks and
connectivity of the joint forces. There is an urgent need for more research in artificial
intelligence, machine learning algorithms and their integration into the command and
control systems. Research and development are needed to explore Adaptive Force
Package configurations that include joint forces capable of extending the tactical span of
control and effective mission range of the Carrier Strike Group.

Further classified research should be conducted for a comparison effort of the

MIDS JTRS, Link 16 versus MADL-like communications and the use of MADL for the
creation of a JF common situational awareness. MADL-like communication may require

87
the upgrade of outdated mission processors and displays to handle the increases in
information which MADL can provide. If cost is the prohibitive factor, then more
platforms should be considered for implementation as Battlefield Airborne Command
Nodes (BACN) (Burns, Kevin R. and Smith, Keith. 2016). There are opinions that
satellites can be used to create communication links, determine adversary locations, and
create a common situational awareness for JF, but what is the contingency plan if those
satellites are jammed or destroyed as was the case when the South Koreans complained
to the United Nations that North Korea was jamming its Global Positioning System (GPS)
satellites as early as 2016 (Nichols 2016). Furthermore, evidence exists of peer adversary
testing of a new anti-satellite weapon and of disruption of military and commercial
navigation (Coggins 2020). However, the U.S. Space Force is working on mitigation of
space satellite threats with the successful testing of the “Mitigation and Anti-Jam
Enhancement” (MAJE) program (Strout 2020). Also the work being done by the Space
Development Agency concerning the “Joint All-Domain Command and Control”
(JADC2) mesh network will further strengthen our confidence in space satellite use
(Strout 2020a). However, its incorporation of Link 16 versus MADL-like communications
is an area worthy of further research.
Research efforts concerning the speed of command, control, and communications
needed for weapons engagement against adversarial hyper velocity projectiles is also
another area of future concern. In a 2018 article written by Sydney Freedberg, the
Pentagon’s Strategic Capabilities Office was approaching the testing of a newly
developed, ballistic, HVP which could travel at 5600 miles per hour, or Mach 7.6
(Freedberg 2018). In a joint fires scenario, if a non MIDS, JTRS, version of Link 16
messaging is implemented with the slowest frame rates between messages, and if
command and control cycles are on the order of minutes, speed could become a limiting
factor in the effectiveness of defending against such weapons.

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