{"id":25576,"date":"2020-11-30T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-30T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2020\/11\/30\/addressing-the-data-gap-in-amphibious-warfare-c2\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:20:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:20:16","slug":"addressing-the-data-gap-in-amphibious-warfare-c2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/opinion\/2020\/11\/30\/addressing-the-data-gap-in-amphibious-warfare-c2\/","title":{"rendered":"Addressing the \u2018data gap\u2019 in amphibious warfare C2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Amphibious operations are firmly in the back of the mind for NATO and its allies as they pivot away from protracted asymmetric conflicts and ready themselves for expeditionary warfare. Central to their success in a contested environment \u2014 and especially against a peer or near-peer adversary \u2014 is effective command and control, in particular during the initial stages of an operation when a \u201cdata gap\u201d can exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A data gap is often created in the period from the embarkation of the amphibious component and the formation of a command post ashore that has the necessary communications infrastructure to enable effective C2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amphibious forces travel light, and the communications capabilities that they deploy with offer limited bandwidth and range. Transferring all of the data compiled in the planning and transit stages of an operation is not possible, and typically tactical communications systems only have the capacity for a fraction of this. One existing approach to providing forward headquarters with the data they require is to physically transport a hard drive and download information into the infrastructure established in the command post. Obviously this can cause latency, a loss in situational awareness and a lack of awareness of any changes that have occurred since the operation commenced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To deliver an up-to-date picture to commanders throughout all phases of the operation, forces must embrace C2 systems that enable them to tailor and prioritize the information that they want to receive, and which also support operations in C2 denied or degraded environments \u2014 or C2D2E.<\/p>\n\n\n\t