Network Centric Warfare

Network-centric warfare, now commonly called network-centric operations, is a new military doctrine or theory of war pioneered by the United States Department of Defense.



It seeks to translate an information advantage, enabled in part by information technology, into a competitive warfighting advantage through the robust networking of well informed geographically dispersed forces. This networking, combined with changes in technology, organization, processes, and people - may allow new forms of organizational behavior.



Specifically, the theory contains the following four tenets in its hypotheses:



* A robustly networked force improves information sharing;

* Information sharing enhances the quality of information and shared situational awareness;

* Shared situational awareness enables collaboration and self-synchronization, and enhances sustainability and speed of command; and

* These, in turn, dramatically increase mission effectiveness.

© Network-centric warfare - Wikipedia

The generations of warfare described by these authors are:



* 1st Generation: tactics of line and column; which developed in the age of the smoothbore musket.

* 2nd Generation: tactics of linear fire and movement, with reliance on indirect fire.

* 3rd Generation: tactics of infiltration to bypass and collapse the enemy's combat forces rather than seeking to close with and destroy them; and defence in depth.



The use of fourth generation warfare can be traced to the Cold War period, as superpowers and major powers attempted to retain their grip on colonies and captured territories. Unable to withstand direct combat against bombers, tanks, and machine guns, non-state entities used tactics of secrecy, terror, and confusion to overcome the technological gap.

© Fourth generation warfare - Wikipedia

И вот еще пара ссылок на работы - ежели кому интересно поглядеть. Кстати - даже peer-to-peer протокол Chord был разработан на гранты DARPA. Сила Сети - это серьезно...

D.S. Alberts, J.J. Garstka, F.P. Stein Network Centric Warfare - Developing and Leveraging Information Superiority [pdf] (200+ страниц)

E.A. Smith Effect-Based Operations - Applying Network Centric Warfare in Peace, Crisis, and War [pdf] (20 с чем-то страниц)