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Military Communication Systems

To function effectively, military command and control depends on a complex communication network of equipment, personnel, and communication protocols to relay information among forces. RAND has conducted comprehensive evaluations and research on how to integrate coalition force interactions effectively into a cohesive, flexible, and secure communication network, thereby ensuring a cooperative projection of force.

Multimedia

Roberta Wohlstetter Forum on National Security

In October 2018, RAND hosted a forum on national security that honored the legacy of Roberta Wohlstetter, a military analyst who worked at RAND from its creation in 1948 until 1965. Panelists discussed events, capabilities, technologies, and methodologies that demand new concepts for national security and defense.

Mar 19, 2019
Content

Paul Baran and the Origins of the Internet

RAND researcher Paul Baran developed a solution that has evolved into one of the major technological innovations of our time.

Mar 22, 2018
Commentary

Our Reliance on Space Tech Means We Should Prepare for the Worst

Space-enabled connectivity, technology, and services support a diverse array of political, military, and economic activities, many of which modern life on Earth relies upon and which the public often takes for granted. How prepared is global society to deal with the growing reliance on this technology and to mitigate associated risks?

Mar 12, 2018
Tool

Interfacing Force-on-Force and Communications Models: MANA and JNE

This report documents an interface between an agent-based force-on-force simulation and a network simulation for the U.S. Army's Cyber Center of Excellence, Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate (CDID), Cyber Battle Lab.

Nov 8, 2017
Report

Needs, Effectiveness, and Gap Assessment for Key A-10C Missions: An Overview of Findings

This report analyzes several missions assigned to the A-10C aircraft and the needs this mission set could generate over the next five years. It also assesses existing and planned forces' effectiveness and capability gaps in performing those missions.

Mar 2, 2017
Report

Designing Unmanned Systems with Greater Autonomy: Using a Federated, Partially Open Systems Architecture Approach

Many current unmanned systems (UxSs) employ different communication systems and have limited autonomy, which limit information sharing with warfighters and other UxSs. This report identifies ways to address these limitations.

Sep 17, 2014
Commentary

Calling for a Time-Out in the Army Intelligence Software Debate

The Army's Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) program has been getting much attention from Congress, and its future was the subject of a heated exchange between the Army's Chief of Staff General Raymond Odierno and Representative Duncan Hunter in May.

Aug 21, 2013
Report

Virtual Collaboration for a Distributed Enterprise

Addresses the challenges to team effectiveness caused by geographic diversity through an assessment of three modes of virtual collaboration.

Apr 22, 2013
Report

Redefining Information Warfare Boundaries for an Army in a Wireless World

The U.S. Army is studying ways to apply its cyber power and is reconsidering doctrinally defined areas related to cyberspace operations. Clarifying the overlap between network and information operations and other areas could inform Army doctrine.

Jan 16, 2013
Report

CANES Contracting Strategies for Full Deployment

Examines contracting alternatives for the full deployment phase of the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services system, intended to give the U.S. Navy a common set of key command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence networks.

May 24, 2012
Report

Army Networks Enable Shared Situational Awareness and Unity of Action

The ability of U.S. forces to gather, process, and disseminate battlespace information in a networked fashion has given them an advantage in major combat operations. The Army should extend the network to lower echelons; expand it to include host nation, coalition, and other U.S. government partners; and invest more time in developing informal networks.

Mar 13, 2012
Dissertation

Actualizing Flexible National Security Space Systems

Three essays that address some of the challenges associated with improving the flexibility of National Security Space capabilities.

Nov 15, 2011
Commentary

Can You Hear Libya Now?

The U.S. and its allies could help Libyans communicate with the outside world by deploying cellphone base stations on aircraft or tethered balloons, write Dan Gonzales and Sarah Harting.

Mar 5, 2011
Report

Le concept de communication stratégique de l'OTAN et sa pertinence pour la France

Study of NATO Strategic Communications and relevance for France. Looks at: definition, objectives, scope, terminology, command structure, resources. Concludes concept is relevant to France in crisis situations and offers ways to implement it.

Nov 12, 2010
Report

Is NATO's Policy on Strategic Communications Relevant to France?

NATO developed a policy on Strategic Communications in 2009, in part because of its difficulty in gaining the support of the Afghan population. The policy seeks to coordinate all information and communication capabilities in order to enhance the coherence of NATO's words and deeds. At the request of the Concepts, Doctrine and Experimentation Centre of the French Ministry of Defence, RAND Europe reviewed the policy and its relevance for France.

Nov 12, 2010
Report

Navy Network Dependability: Models, Metrics, and Tools

Develops a framework for measuring the dependability of naval networks and describes a software tool for modeling the impact that individual network components have on overall mission operational availability.

Aug 6, 2010
Report

Applications for Navy Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Evaluates the U.S. Navy's ongoing and proposed unmanned aircraft system (UAS) programs and describes the most promising applications of those UASs to the Navy's operational tasks.

Jun 8, 2010
Report

Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES): Manpower, Personnel, and Training Implications

Assesses the manpower, personnel, and training implications associated with the introduction of the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) -- a common computing environment -- to U.S. Navy ships.

Dec 1, 2009
Multimedia

Forerunner of the Internet: Early RAND Work in Distributed Networks and Packet Switching (1960–1965)

In this video, Paul Baran discusses his work on distributed networks and packet switching at a RAND Alumni Association event.

Oct 6, 2009
Report

Controlling the Cost of C4I Upgrades on Naval Ships

Looking across a set of completed C4I upgrades to U.S. Navy ships, the authors uncovered mixed evidence of cost improvement, a high level of variability in costs, and a trend toward overestimating the installation-labor costs of certain upgrades.

Sep 14, 2009

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RAND Topic:
Military Communication Systems

Topic Synonyms:
Military Communications

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