Advanced Materials Research Online: 2014-02-06 ISSN: 1662-8985, Vols. 889-890, pp 1222-1226 doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.889-890.1222 2014 Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland Research on the command mode of ship formation cooperative engagement under the network condition Wenkai Xiao 1*, Hangyu Wang 2, Zhangsong Shi 1 1 College of Electronic Engineering,Naval Univ.of Engineering, Wuhan, Hubei 430033, China 2 Adminstrative Office of Training,Naval Univ.of Engineering, Wuhan, Hubei 430033, China abcxwk2006@163.com Keywords: ship formation;cooperative engagement;networked;command mode Abstract. Traditional platform-centric command mode has been unable to meet the needs of modern war. In this paper, a new command mode for ship formation cooperative engagement based on networked condition has been discussed. First, the characteristics of ship formation cooperative engagement are elaborated. Then, the command relationships of ship formation are researched. On the basis, a self-adaptive command mode is proposed to adapt ship formation cooperative engagement under the network condition. Command authority distribution and self-synchronization of this command mode are described, which is important to enhance the adaptability and timeliness of combat command of ship formation cooperative engagement. Introduction Extensive use of high-tech technology makes it possible to achieve interconnection, interoperability, interoperability, thus provides the required network-centric environment for grabbing information superiority. Through the information network the various arms and each combat platform are integrated, so that a matrix command system is formed by the different combat command units in different levels [1]. However, the hierarchical command mode based on traditional command is difficult to adapt this change, which exposed many defects, such as more command chain, poor timeliness, fixed command body, etc. So it is necessary to establish suitable command mode of ship formation cooperative engagement under the network condition which is of great significance to improve the command effectiveness and enhance cooperative engagement capability. A self-adaptive command mode is proposed to adapt ship formation cooperative engagement based on reticular command structure. The research on the new combat command mode is conducive to provide new ideas and solutions for ship formation cooperative engagement under the network condition. Ship formation cooperative engagement Cooperative engagement [2, 3] generally refers to different strength in different fields fight together for a common goal. Ship formation cooperative engagement emphasize on close coordination and full cooperation between each platforms for overall effectiveness of the formation. This cooperation refers to concerted action between different platforms for completing the combat mission under the unified command, and exerts their initiative under the guidance of the overall objectives, which make each platform more dispersion, stronger viability, and adaptively coordinate troops and weapons. Ship formation cooperative engagement under the network condition support continuous and completed situational awareness of battlefield, which reduce tactical decision time and improve the army's command speed. In addition, the network of communication, detection devices and weapons systems greatly enhance the combat potential of ship formation which can compensate the unfavorable situation on number, technology or location within a certain range. Through the information network connecting the whole combat elements and platforms from the sensor to the shooter, interconnection and interflow of the heterogeneous network, data transmission of multiple sensor information fusion, the seamless connection of combat platform, and interoperability of All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of Trans Tech Publications, www.ttp.net. (#69851839, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA-19/09/16,16:59:00)
Advanced Materials Research Vols. 889-890 1223 command information systems are realized, so as to achieve battlefield perception sharing and the transit from information superiority to decision-making and action superiority. Various weapons of formation can be used as shared resources to uniformly distribute and control based on combat missions, in time and space to achieve organic coordination to reach best operational effectiveness. Command relationship of ship formation cooperative engagement Tree command structure. The command relationship [3] is the relation of command and under command between commanders or command units and army, which is organization condition of the command activities implementation. Its essence is the working relationship among various command levels, various types of command structures and various commanders. The command relationship in this article mainly refers to the relationship between various operational nodes of ship formation. The traditional command relationship of ship formation is a tree structure, as shown in Figure 1. The formation command center is located in the upper layer, single warship command centers are located in the middle layer, and weapons are located on the ground floor namely the implementation layer. Exchanges of information mainly exist between the superior and inferior, with the lack of information exchange in the same level. This relationship is a fixed, limited and static relationship. Figure 1 Tree command structure As shown in figure 1, each battle platform of ship formation is independent and self-contained. The information is difficult to share between nodes that leads to difficuclt to achieve directly on the lateral coordination. When the nodes or links in the system are destroyed, the damaged portion and the following layers will interrupt the contact with other parts. Once the top node is destroyed, the system will be divided into several separate parts, the whole coordination will completely lost. The traditional command relationships are not able to reflect interoperability advantages between nodes under the network condition. This structure cannot meet needs of formation cooperative engagement. Reticular command structure. Under the network condition, sensors, command and control, and weapons in each combat platform of the formation as independent nodes arbitrarily distribute in information network system which respectively constitute sensor network, command and control network, and weapon network. Information exchange in operational process may occur between any nodes, which may be at the same level, the upper and lower level, or skip level. The exchange is dynamic and gusty, and its relationship manifest reticular structure shown in Figure 2. This structure makes the allocation of formation resources more flexible, and can adapt to complex environments. Figure 2 Reticular command structure In this structure, command and control network include multiple command and control nodes while only one node is responsible for command within the region in the same time, which served as a highest priority node called formation command center. The rest of command and control node is responsible for command within local areas, called single warship command center. Throughout the whole combat process the command relationship is a dynamic adjustment, and each command and control node can become formation command center as needed, which schedule constantly combat
1224 Engineering Solutions for Manufacturing Processes IV resources on the battlefield based on different combat missions. The rest of command and control nodes as a single warship command center are commanded by the formation command center. When formation command center invalidates, one of the rest nodes is selected as formation command center. Each command and control node has the possibility to command any weapon node, which in the best position of network implement command under the authorization. When facing the failure of nodes or damaged links, the system restructures the command relationship according to the changes. In the reticular command relationship, various nodes at all levels can exchange on the vertical and horizontal connections, reducing command levels, shortening the information flows, improving timeliness and survivability of command. The network structure haven t command center node with dynamic configuration of command authority, dynamic reconfiguration of command structure, and self-synchronization of operations. Under the support of ability to connectivity, interoperability each combat platform of formation is capable of implementing integrated coordination. Ship formation collaborative operation command mode Classification of command mode. Command mode [3, 6] is manner and form in the implementation of the operational command activities by commanders and command units, which reflect ways and means of assigned relationships of command responsibilities and command authority between commanders and command objects in essence. Based on the amount of command responsibility and command authority of command objects, formation operational command mode is mainly divided into centralized mode, decentralized mode and distributed mode, as shown in Figure 3. Figure 3 Information flow of formation combat command mode under the tree structure Under the centralized command mode, the formation command center is responsible for target identification, threat assessment and target designation on incoming targets. Each combat unit accepts target instruction and conducts interception. During this command cycle, the command process always started from the formation command center, down the single warship command center located in the middle layer and then to the execution of weapons. Under the decentralized command mode, each combat platform can only get target information their own detection equipment, and executes target identification, threat assessment and firepower distribution. There is no coordination mechanism between various combat platforms, and each combat platform fight independently according to their own estimation conclusion which form its own independent loops of command flow. Under the distributed command mode, each platform carries out part function of formation command center, namely each combat platform performs the threat estimation of all incoming targets, then reasons automatically based on decision rules, which chooses certain platforms for effective tactics coordination in formation, in order to determine decisions to be taken by the platform itself. Obviously, the centralized command mode facilitates the overall optimization of all operational resources in formation, but power highly concentrated in the formation command center, which will inevitably affect the timeliness of command and other single warship command center to play a role. The decentralized or distributed command mode is applicable to the condition of command link destroyed and the state fighting for their own, and the former in which each platform performs missions in isolation is difficult to form the overall advantages, however the latter need to combine with formation tactics, technical performance of weapons, as well as the operational environment in which collaboration is carried out between the platforms for specific combat missions and the commanders should take the initiative to collaborate based on collaboration rules.
Advanced Materials Research Vols. 889-890 1225 Self-adaptive command mode. Allocation of command authority. The complexity of battlefield environment, the relativity of command system ability, the limitation of commander dealing with complex issues, etc, require the dynamic adaptability to environmental change for the command mode. Self-daptive command mode [7] refers to initiatively make appropriate command decisions to the battlefield situation by certain combat rules without the superior intervention or before intervention based on the overall combat intention grasped by the headquarters at all levels and real-time battlefield perception through the information network, which includes synchronization of commander decisions with changes of battlefield, synchronization of decisions, as well as the active coordination decisions of commanders of the different platforms, as shown in Figure 4. Self-adaptive command mode is the embodiment of matrix command, and command authority can be dynamically optimized combination and allocation between commanders and command objects with change of battlefield. Figure 4 Information flow of formation battle command mode under the reticular structure Self-daptive command mode is able to match the reticular structure, which is the integrated use of the centralized and decentralized command under the network condition. It draws the overall global in the centralized command for unified control and coordination to the forces in the complex battlefield, and maintains the integrity of the combat by the specification of various operations, which can form the join combat force. It also draws command authorities transferred to a lower level according to the decentralized and distributed command, reduces command levels, improves the lateral control capability, and shortens the command cycle, greatly improves the stability, timeliness and concealment of the military command, increase the integral effectiveness of command, which can cope with the collapse of the command system, reorganize the combat command, minimize the losses caused by command network interruption, at the same time can improve the efficiency of command. Self-synchronization of command. Cooperation between the nodes in formation needs a mechanism to implement operation, and self-synchronization can solve initiation, organization, exiting and other issues of cooperation to achieve the overall behavior of the self-organizing and self-adaption of the combat system under the network condition, as is shown in Figure 5. Figure 5 The self-synchronization under the self-adaptive command mode Self-synchronization [8] of ship formation refers to multi-node spontaneous coordination based on information networks, as a bottom-up command institution, with external effect of command and control system or before system intervention can interact and coordinate to external circumstances to make autonomic response to rapidly changing battlefield situation. Self-synchronization involves vertical and horizontal coordination. The vertical coordination ensures consistency of each layer goals,
1226 Engineering Solutions for Manufacturing Processes IV and the horizontal coordination synchronizes different organizations, functions and actions to contribute to make a unified action of operational platforms in cognition and decision-making. In order to achieve self-synchronization function and sufficient stability of system, the conventional method is to use a set of rules for dynamic authority allocation. Through rules set dynamically clarify command authority and affiliation relations of each node, which can be usually determined as prewar predetermined plans.. A few classes of possible rule set are shown below: (1) Region principle. The operational platforms automatically obtain the command authority of neighboring nodes when targets access to the mission area. (2) Function principle. Certain platforms has the command authority on certain combat missions. (3) Value principle. Command authority is transferred to the combat unit for high-value missions. (4) Time principle. Command authority is transferred to the combat unit for critical time task. Conclusions Focusing on the future integrated joint operations at sea, the command of ship formation cooperative engagement under the network condition is studied, relying on the reticular command structure in interwoven matrix, a self-adaptive command mode is explored to realize timely alternation of command authority, collaborative decision-making of command and collaborative control of weapons for achieving synchronization of operations, and maximizing the overall advantages of operations system, which can enhance the ability of real-time command and mutual cooperation for commanders to improve the stability and adaptability of the command and strain capacity of forces. It has important practical significance to improve system combat capability of ship formation. Acknowledgements This work was financially supported by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation funded project (2012M521891). References [1] UNCLASSIFIED Capstone Requirements Document (CAD), Global Information Grid (GIG), 22 August 2001. [2] Xianjin BU: Modeling and Analysis of Military Orgnization Cooperation (National Defense Industry Press, Beijing 2009) (In Chinese) [3] The management committee of Army military terminology: The Military Language of the PLA (Military Science Press, Beijing 2011) (In Chinese) [4] David S.Alberts, John J.Garstka, and Frederick P.Stein. Network centric warfare (2nd Edition), Washington, DC: CCRP, February 2000 [5] Xiangmin Li, Jinjin Dai, Zifen Li Networked Antimissile Operation System of Surface Ship Formation. Modern Defence Technology, Vol.39 (2011) p.63-70 (In Chinese) [6] ALBERTS D S, HAYES R N: Understanding Command and Control. (DoD CCRP, Washington DC 2006) [7] Xuhao Wang, Wenfa Wang, Wenjun Yang. Discussing of Operational Command Mode Based on Internet of Thing. Ordnance Industry Automation, Vol.30 (2011) p.55-57 (In Chinese) [8] Ming Li. Self-synchronization Command and Control Theoretical Analysis. Ship Electronic Engineering, No.3 (2008) p.5-7 (In Chinese)