Integrated sensor-derived data drives battlefield success

Editor’s Note: The evolution of C4ISR initiatives was affected by a variety of decisions this year. At the same time, efforts to improve upon the technologies that support the warfighter, including command, control, communications and computers and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems, gained new urgency.

Defense Systems asked a number of senior military officers and Pentagon personnel to answer the question: What was the most important C4ISR development of the past year and why as part of a broader year-end assessment on C4ISR developments. Following is the response from Brig. Gen. Thomas Cole, program executive officer of the Army's Program Executive Officer for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors.

“The task at hand is how to immediately and completely understand the environment across the full spectrum of operations."

“Getting sensor information down to coalition forces at the lowest level is the operational imperative that is driving architecture development and is one of the most important C4ISR development efforts during the past year. Specifically, this is the ongoing effort to define and implement the sensor and communications architecture necessary to effectively use sensor information and achieve the objective of persistent surveillance."

“Meaningful ISR/reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition is a function of sensor information, data architecture, communications, training — to include senior leader training — and system supportability that enables execution through battle command and intelligence-driven operations. Getting the most value of the extensive sensor information available and making that information available to coalition forces can be used for situational awareness, force protection, targeting, and intelligence. The effective use of this sensor-derived data is an enabler for significant return on investment and greatly improved effectiveness on the battlefield.”