CLANDESTINE COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE 21ST-CENTURY INSURGENT
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Authors
Gunter, Mitchell J.
Subjects
clandestine communications
virtual environments
proliferated low earth orbit
pLEO
insurgent
insurgency
emergent technologies
communications
satellites
security
clandestine
covert
unconventional
steganography
Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations
EABO
Comprehensive Defense
NATO
NATO Special Forces Headquarters
virtual environments
proliferated low earth orbit
pLEO
insurgent
insurgency
emergent technologies
communications
satellites
security
clandestine
covert
unconventional
steganography
Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations
EABO
Comprehensive Defense
NATO
NATO Special Forces Headquarters
Advisors
McCormick, Gordon H.
Buettner, Raymond R., Jr.
Date of Issue
2023-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The resurgence of Great Power Competition and the approaching era of conventional military parity in the Pacific emphasizes the need for force multiplicative strategies inclusive of irregular warfare activities. Irregular forces may soon become a primary method of power projection and competition within regions contested by Great Power Competitors. One critical aspect of enabling and employing irregular forces is the provision of concealed or protected communications resources. The purpose of this thesis is to model the predicted impact of clandestine communications support to irregular forces, identify emergent commercial technologies that may be repurposed into clandestine mediums, and highlight the role of irregular forces and requisite clandestine communications within NATO’s Comprehensive Defense Strategy and the U.S. Marine Corps Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations. This thesis finds that aid to clandestine communications may drastically improve the operational capacity of proxy forces. Further, this thesis finds that clandestine communications may be securely transmitted via steganographic embedding in virtual environments and pLEO satellite downlinks. However, current naval and amphibious operations lack training, education, and modern employment mechanisms for irregular warfare activities. This thesis recommends that the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps immediately adopt and employ irregular warfare activities within their power projection and deterrence strategies.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Information Sciences (IS), Defense Analysis (DA)
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NPS Report Number
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Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.