A framework for evaluating evolutionary upgrade paths of command, control, and communications systems

Abstract

The author presents a new framework for evaluating the evolutionary upgrade paths of command, control and communications systems. C3 system procurements today can be viewed as upgrades to existing C3 systems. Most operational C3 functions are performed today by commanders and their staff with various levels of automated support. The upgrade procurements are intended to increase or improve this automated support. The author examines the shrinking budget, technology initiatives, Evolutionary Acquisition, Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS), Non-Developmental-Items (NDI), and emerging open architecture standards. Current evaluation frameworks, the Mission-Oriented Approach (MOA), the Modular Command and Control Evaluation Structure (MCES) and a Cost and Operational Effectiveness Analysis (COEA), are examined. An illustration of the framework uses the United States Marine Corps' Tactical Combat Operations (TCO) System. Conclusions stress that C3 systems can be viewed as evolutionary upgrade paths that change over time, that effective evaluation of evolutionary C3 system must consider the temporal component, and that a framework, such as the one presented in this thesis, is needed for comparing alternative upgrade paths rather than alternative static C3 systems.