Network architecture for network centric warfare operations

Abstract

This report is a delivery from the NBF-Grid project at FFI (Forsvarets Forskningsinstitutt). The scope of this report is to roughly describe the mechanisms and functions required in a network architecture suited for the network centric warfare (NCW) concept. The focus is on the network services required to offer a robust, scalable and flexible network topology and architecture. The report does not describe applications, services and data definitions. However, it identifies the network components required to support both existing and future applications and services. Security architecture and services are not a part of the report and they will be analysed in a separate analysis. Currently, all the NCW requirements cannot be fully met with the available technology and substantial further research is required. We have tried to identify the maturity of the areas. In particular we try to highlight the areas where military requirements substantially diverge from commercial requirements and where COTS (Common Off The Shelf) products are not sufficient, but specialized military solutions must be developed.