{"id":37680,"date":"2020-03-23T16:40:51","date_gmt":"2020-03-23T16:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/03\/23\/the-new-imperative-connecting-the-joint-force-with-a-digital-advantage\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:29:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:29:53","slug":"the-new-imperative-connecting-the-joint-force-with-a-digital-advantage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2020\/03\/23\/the-new-imperative-connecting-the-joint-force-with-a-digital-advantage\/","title":{"rendered":"The new imperative: Connecting the joint force with a digital advantage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The U.S. military has a digital connection deficit. While it operates sophisticated weapons systems, our military is not networked in a way that reflects the digital connectivity we all depend on in our everyday lives. We expect, for example, that all devices in our homes (smartphones\/TVs, smartwatches, tablets and automation devices like Alexa) can connect to a single network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine trying to reach your friends from carrier X phone and not being able to connect simply because they are serviced by carrier Y or Z using a different network. Unthinkable in 2020, right? Now imagine what the consequences would be if soldiers in the field could not connect with naval vessels or aircraft on a common network. Or what if our nation\u2019s most advanced front-line jet fighters could not share information with our allies and partners on the battlefield, let alone pass information to each other? We can and will do better!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, this is not just another \u201cwhat if\u201d scenario \u2014 it is the current military reality. Our forces simply do not have the capability to easily communicate<\/a> in the same way we do on a daily basis, enjoying the digital connectivity that defines the pace of modern life. Our commanders are challenged to make and deliver decisions at the speed and tempo to gain the decision advantage required to deter or win a conflict against peer rivals, like Russia and China, whose forces have kept up with our modern digital evolution. We must address the U.S. military\u2019s digital connection deficit today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decision advantage \u2014 or what I would call the collection, interpretation and use of information required to win in tomorrow\u2019s conflicts \u2014 will default to the side that is most connected across all domains \u2014 air, land, sea, space and cyberspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Establishing an advanced battle network that fully connects our war fighters will provide them the tools required to win given today\u2019s digital realities: translating and using data and intelligence via predictive analysis, data fusion, machine learning and artificial intelligence. This \u201cwar fighter internet of things,\u201d or Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS)<\/a>, will equip our commanders for success in the digital information age.<\/p>\n\n\n\t