Light Reconnaissance Vehicle (LRV) enhancing command, control, communications, and computers and information systems (C4I) to tactically employed forces via a mobile platform

Abstract

The theories supporting Network Centric Warfare (NCW) continue to mold the tactical use of U.S. forces throughout the global warfare environment. This thesis research will correlate the four tenets of NCW to the tactical employment of the Naval Postgraduate School's LRV. The four tenets of NCW are: 1. A robustly networked force improves information sharing. 2. Information sharing and collaboration enhance the quality of information and shared situational awareness. 3. Shared situational awareness enables self-synchronization. 4. These, in turn, dramatically increase mission effectiveness. The faculty and students at NPS are dedicated to researching methods to leverage science and technology in order to maximize the combat effectiveness of U.S. and allied forces. In teaming with our primary sponsor, U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), NPS has developed the Tactical Network Topology (TNT) series of experiments aimed at providing the warfighter information solutions for the battle space. The NPS LRV was derived from an operational requirement to have a mobile C4I/ISR platform that provides enhanced real-time information sharing to tactically employed units. Total force combat effectiveness is growing more reliant on agile means of information sharing. Wireless communications and collaborative technologies are essential to ensuring dynamic, forward-deployed forces have the ability to transmit and receive critical information when and where it is needed. Through past TNT experimentation, the LRV has not demonstrated itself as a stable platform providing a high-bandwidth information sharing capability. This research advanced the LRV concept by bridging the multiple wireless technologies and providing a reliable high-bandwidth communications link.