Naval Network-Centric Sensor Resource Management

The benefits of implementing a network-centric Navy lie in the new capabilities made possible by enhanced information sharing between Naval platforms. Foremost is the potential to enable, enhance, and automate dispersed decision-making to support real-time critical mission areas. This paper explores a network-centric paradigm-enabled application multi-platform sensor resource management. Sensors in platform centric Naval Battle Forces are generally utilized and managed to support a single weapon or combat system. The networking of combat systems and platforms creates an information architecture in which sensor management can shift to a Battle Force BF focus. In such a network-centric paradigm, individual sensors address the needs of the BF as a whole, overcoming the platform-centric architecture, which constrains sensor use to individual platforms needs. This paper explores design concepts for an automated sensor resource manager that tasks sensors to address BF needs. Network-centric sensor resource management relies on viewing the BF as a single integrated interoperable combat system of systems, rather than a collection of loosely connected surface, subsurface, and air platforms. Such BF level thinking shifts the focus from legacy stovepipe systems and platforms with little or no collaboration incentive, to optimized uses of resources that transcend platform boundaries and span multi-threat dimensions. This paper explores interoperability problems and root causes associated with legacy Naval BF sensor management and poses solutions and considerations for a network-centric sensor resource manager that functions as part of a BF system of systems.