Extending Net-Centricity to Coalition Operations

Abstract

have recognized the advantages of netcentricity (known as network-centric warfare in the US and network-enabled capability in the UK) and are applying it within single-nation forces. However, these concepts have yet to be fully realized for coalitions. Examples from previous operations 1 demonstrate the inefficiencies and hazards resulting from poor information sharing among coalitions. Such operations can only benefit from net-centricity if we extend it beyond a single nation to encompass multiple nations.We can categorize net-centricity challenges as technical or security based. Technical challenges include interconnectivity, discovery, syntax, and semantics. Security challenges primarily involve protecting restricted (such as classified) information, data sources, and the methods used to obtain the information. These security challenges further exacerbate the technical challenges. For example, the interconnectivity problem at tactical edge networks occurs because of differences in radio standards, frequencies, and cryptography. So, interconnectivity is often possible only at designated gateway nodes. However, security requirements impose the need for a network guard that restricts the types of communication possible, complicating information discovery and sharing.Here, we explore a services-based approach to information management (IM) to address the challenges inherent in extending net-centricity to coalition environments. In particular, we focus on the basic service-based IM architecture, services for federation, and services for policy-based control. Many of the security challenges associated with coalition IM are also present in cross-domain IM, and we describe advances made in this area. Combining all these capabilities is an effective approach to supporting net-centric operations that span coalitions.

Towards adaptive normative systems for communities of agents

“…The need of infrastructures and capabilities that can help in addressing the challenges of information sharing for coalition operations has been revealed quite clearly by using policies and some kind of ontologies [23]. We have presented here a mechanism that can achieve it, avoiding the usage of too heavy mechanisms like the description logics of context [9], for example.…”