Kris Osborne
A 6,000-personnel strong joint-training exercise last year called Northern Edge, hosted by Alaskan Command above mountain ranges and the Gulf of Alaska, used networking technology to quickly send targeting coordinates from a fighter jet to land-based weapons.
Major participating units include U.S. Pacific Command, Alaskan Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pacific Air Forces, Marine Corps Forces Pacific, U.S. Army Pacific, Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, Air Force Materiel Command, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command and U.S. Naval Reserve.
When it comes to networking technology, one example involves the use of something called Joint Range Extension Applications Protocol, or "JREAP."
JREAP enables tactical data messages to be transmitted long distances, over the internet, effectively extending the range of the Link-16. Due to the internet, JREAP-C tracking data can then be passed, developers have explained. The JREAP-C “cloud” is necessary because Link-16 is already over-subscribed, senior Navy leaders and weapons developers have explained earlier this year.
An emerging Pentagon concept for warfighting is aimed at vigorously increasing “cross-domain” fires wherein air assets provide fires for ground attack weapons fire support in real time. This concept also includes Army rockets and artillery to destroy maritime targets such as ships off the coastline, just as sea and air force assets attack targets on land.
Pentagon leaders, including leading Army weapons developers speaking last month at the Association of the United States Army annual convention, regularly now refer to the fast-increasing emphasis upon using air, land and sea weapons and technology through faster, more lethal networking and coordination.
