tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post1387833374126127497..comments2024-03-29T12:15:13.832+01:00Comments on Defence and Freedom: On defensive firepower and much else...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-85704510512083210252009-09-18T16:00:16.528+02:002009-09-18T16:00:16.528+02:00Enjoyable analysis.
Stephen Biddle in his book Mil...Enjoyable analysis.<br />Stephen Biddle in his book Military Power criticizes the RMA trend, using the fog of war concept similarly to how you mention it. <br /><br />RMA was indeed shortsighted because of not incorporating the fog of war reality of conflict. RMA's successor, Network centric warfare tries to remedy this issue through creating near-real time ISR capabilities, giving the bomb the proverbial target. This too is shortsighted since ISR capabilities today are the operational equivalent of having a man in the sky with a missile, albeit at a significantly reduced cost. <br /><br />In order for NCW to penetrate the fog of war and thus become a more viable tool, it must incorporate true multi-layered sensor fusion. What does this actually mean and look like? It is the ability to see an aggregated perspective of any and all objects and events within the observable network, incorporating data fusion from multiple sensor sources to create the most coherent information product given available sensor data. But what does this look like? <br /><br />Consider for a moment the questionable effectiveness of London's CCTV network. Thousands of cameras recording nearly years worth of footage every hour nearly, with only a few token observers manning the stations. It is essentially a retroactive tool used only after a crime is permitted due to the practical realities of manpower and an inefficient communication chain. If this same network were fused so the data was incorporated into a single information stream and then assessed by algorithms, or even observer with now the ability to see a bird's eye view, we find the ability to identify and act upon transgression in real time become a more practical reality. <br /><br />Incorporating such as concept has several technical hurdles, many of which will be solved through commercial enterprise well before the defense industry can produce it. These hurdles include the tremendous computing power required to transcribe raw data (Visual, IR, Radar, audio) into usable information, algorithms to assess said information into discernible intelligence, and a variety of sensors that can penetrate a variety of environments, from foliage to urban settings. <br /><br />Such a concept is not achievable now, nor will it be in the next decade. Computing power, artificial intelligence, and sensors must make significant strides in power, accuracy, and cost before this idea could come into fruition.daskrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12297762803430583958noreply@blogger.com