Creation of a common information space for the Air Force.

The effectiveness of the employment of weapon systems in modern armed conflicts is to a very large extent contingent on the quality of information support of command and control elements, based on modern information technology (IT).

At the same time, analysis points to a number of shortfalls in the existing organization of the reconnaissance and information support for combat actions by the Air Force. These include, in particular, the insufficient accuracy, promptness of reception, and transfer of information (intelligence) in the interest of effective employment of combat forces and assets as well as the lack of integrated inter-branch-of-service information processing and transfer assets as well as of unified digital maps and terrain imagery for command and control elements. In this connection, the development of modern automated command and control and communications systems in the Air Force should be designed above all to create a common information space for the Air Force,* ensuring a timely reception of information from various physical and jurisdictional sources, formation and maintenance of a unified data base, and a timely transmission of relevant information to command and control elements and effective engagement forces and assets, on the need to know basis.

Creation of a common information space calls for the formation of an aggregate of information fields ("contours"), including the field of information on own troops, the intelligence information field, the hydrological and meteorological and geo-spatial information field, the field of information on the situation in the air, and others (see Fig.). This approach is applied by creating and maintaining a unified data base and making relevant information available to corresponding users, on the need to know basis. The basic elements of the unified data base are as follows: combined arms information gathering assets, Air Force integrated automated command and control (automation, communication and data sharing) assets, and the integrated combined arms information support system of the RF Armed Forces.

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Furthermore, creation of the Air Force common information space requires that the following conditions be met: centralized provision of command and control assets with unified official enforceable legal documents regulating their operation in the relevant areas; systematic reception, processing, and provision of information contained in standard T/O documents issued pursuant to official enforceable legal documents; summarization of data received via communication channels set up between command and control centers and facilities; and processing and presentation of information coming in an automated mode, subject to automation of command and control facilities.

A special role in creating a common information space for the Air Force is assigned to information support for automation assets. Integration of information assets within the framework of the common information space should be achieved by applying the following principles of providing information support for the interacting subsystems of the Air Force integrated automated command and control system: a comprehensive coverage of a given subject field and the reliability of information used to address operational and tactical tasks; repeated, multi-functional use of data after a single-time input; the flexibility of information support; the interoperability of information support subsystems of the Air Force integrated automated command and control system, on the one hand, and information support components of interacting systems, on the other; protection of information support components against unauthorized access; and the viability of IT and computer technology used in the integration process.

Information interaction between the various subsystems of the automated command and control system is only possible contingent on their information compatibility. The principal method of achieving this is by standardizing information support components. This envisions the use of a unified system of classification and encoding of operational and tactical information; the use of basic standard terminology in document exchange, built on basic dictionaries and classification systems; the use of existing data sharing formats, and the introduction of new data sharing formats only after a thorough analysis of the existing ones.

At present, proposals have already been developed concerning the composition, characteristics, forms of transfer, and the periodicity of updating information for Air Force command and control elements in creating a common information space on the operational and tactical command and control level; the basic operational and technical requirements for information gathering, processing and transmission assets; unification and standardization of data exchange; and the makeup of the Air Force intelligence and information support system. Furthermore, prototype software for a common information space has been developed, which can be used by command and control components in different configurations and on different levels.

Translation of these concepts and conceptual developments into reality will, in our view, help substantially to enhance the efficiency of Air Force command and control in modern armed conflicts.

Col. A.Yu. SAMARIN

Candidate of Technical Sciences

Col. G.E. KNAUER

Candidate of Technical Sciences

* A common information space of the Air Force constitutes an aggregate of information about the enemy, own troops, and operational conditions on the battlefield that is received by command and control elements and is unified by content, volume, and time of delivery.