Page 15 - ADT MARCH 2021 Online Magazine

has become a critical element of advantage. “If partners have U.S. equipment and U.S. training and are following
As the world moves into a more challenging U.S. doctrine, our interoperability is greater with them,” he opines.
and complex future operating environment, mil- “That can lead, if you’re sharing joint doctrine, to joint exercises and
itary powers are looking at interoperability and other types of military-to-military cooperation and … to decades-
how it can assist the sustainment of large-scale long relationships -- core relationships -- with partners around [ REPORT ]
combat operations (LSCO). the world,” Gilman adds. It’s an added advantage that most of the
equipment in the Middle East region are influenced by the U.S., UK
Major General Rodney D. Fogg, Deputy Chief or France. Therefore, the Gulf armies more or less operate in simi-
of Staff for Logistics and Operations United lar processes which might increase interoperability between their
States Army Materiel Command, notes that, military cultures. "Connectivity and interoperability between active
“In order to achieve optimal effects for sustain- defence weapon systems is a necessity. In the future battlefield,
ment of LSCO in a Multi-Domain Operations the active defence weapon systems will not fight independently.
(MDO) environment, the coalition must place In one way or another, interoperability and information sharing is
greater emphasis on interoperability when set- required in the active defence battlefield," Gil M. Dolov, Head of
ting the theatre. Setting the theatre includes International Cooperation Department of Israel Defence Forces
logistics (materiel management, maintenance, notes in a research report. "In one way or another, interoperability
and transportation), financial management, and information sharing is required in the active defence battle-
personnel services, health service support to field," he mentions.
military engagements, and security cooperation
as well as sustainment preparations.

“THESE SUSTAINMENT ACTIONS
ARE THE FOUNDATIONS FOR
ENSURING COALITIONS. A
COALITION THAT HAS AGREED
ON STANDARDISATION WILL BE
ABLE TO RAPIDLY SET THE THEATRE
AND EFFECTIVELY MOVE INTO
SUBSEQUENT PHASES," Maj. Gen. Fogg
says in a recent article in Army Sustainment.

The strategic advantage that interoperability
offers is measured by how it increases mili- The effectiveness of multi layered architecture will be effective
taries' capability to plan, mobilise, and retain only if the active defence weapon systems will share data and have
valuable information from different domains joint interception management. "Without interoperability between
and nations. the defence weapon systems, each weapon system will oper-
ate independently and very quickly will become saturated. Each
weapon system will interrupt the other weapon systems intercep-
Force Multiplier tions and the interception resources will be used non-effectively.
By strengthening relationships with the Interoperability between weapon systems in the architecture is
defence and security industry and by using not just a necessity but also brings new challenges," Dolov says.
open standards to the maximum extent possi-
ble, countries are pursuing interoperability as
a force multiplier and a streamliner of national Aircraft Need to Talk to One Another
efforts. But interoperability does not necessar- In a digitally connected world, with a mix of different aircraft on
ily require common military equipment. What is the same force, there's a need for each to be able to 'talk' to one
important is that equipment can share common another and other ground systems - as part of a 'system of sys-
facilities and is able to interact, connect and tems’. Today, the Boeing F- 15 Eagle, Lockheed Martin F-16 Falcon,
communicate, exchange data and services Boeing F/A-18 Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab
with other equipment. “Interoperability can Gripen and Panavia Tornado are all Link 16 compatible. (The current
be leveraged through international acquisition NATO standard for fourth-generation fighter aircraft is the Joint
and cross-servicing agreements for sharing Tactical Information Distribution System/Tactical Information Data
such things as ammunition and spare parts,” Link, commonly referred to as Link 16.) In addition, air- and space-
says Derek Gilman, former General Counsel based relay platforms enable Link 16 to connect these assets to
& Principal Director at the Defence Security a variety of airborne controllers and surveillance platforms, and to
Cooperation Agency. ground-based Command and Control (C2), Information Systems

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