Research Summaries

Back Network Optional Warfare (NOW): Optical Signaling and Data Compression for Improved Stealth, with Design of Experiments for Evaluating Operational Concepts

Fiscal Year 2015
Division Research & Sponsored Programs
Department Consortium for Robotics & Unmanned Systems Education & Research
Investigator(s) Buettner, Jr., Raymond R.
Brutzman, Donald P.
Sponsor Office of Naval Research (Navy)
Summary Naval forces do not have to be engaged in constant centralized communication. Deployed Navy vessels have demonstrated independence of action within coordinated operations for hundreds of years. Littoral operations, unmanned systems, and single-purpose ships pose a growing set of naval challenges and opportunities. Network-optional warfare (NOW) can be achieved through deliberate communications, signaling stealth, and precise tactical messaging.
Key Concepts:
- Vulnerabilities arise for naval forces conducting constant communications due to lack of stealth and dependence on continuous data exchange.
- "Radio Silence" emissions control (EMCON) and judicious use of low-probability of intercept (LPI) communications can restore naval covertness and tactical surprise.
- Data compression and a coherently defined signal book can enable fluid operations across NCW and NOW, aiding command autonomy and freedom of action.
Keywords
Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal