Executive Summary
This paper reviews the historical development and modern applications of Command and Control Information Systems (C2IS) for military use. It highlights the evolution from manual systems to AI-driven, networked battle management, focusing on systems from the USA (NATO), Russia, China, India, UK, France, and Israel. The integration of AI, multi-domain operations, and cybersecurity are central to contemporary C2IS development.
Why It Matters
This document is crucial for defense analysts as it provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution and current state of military Command and Control Information Systems (C2IS) across major global powers, highlighting the increasing integration of AI and multi-domain operations.
Key Takeaways
- Military C2IS have evolved significantly from manual systems in the 1940s to AI-driven, networked battle management systems today.
Source evidence · PDF page 2
Over the past 80 years, C2IS have evolved from the manually operated systems of the 1940s to the modern systems that are driven by artificial intelligence (AI) today. The era of modern C2IS begаn in the 1990s. Since then, the focus has been on decentralization and autonomous decision making, efficient data management, and cybersecurity. In recent years, the central focus has been on the integration of AI into C2IS.
- The US JADC2 initiative aims to integrate sensors and systems across all military domains, leveraging AI for enhanced situational awareness and decision-making.
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The new USA military intiative Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) information system aims to enhance this capability of real-time data exchange by integrating sensors and systems from all military types, branches and services. AI enables new and unimagined possibilities for the C2IS. An analytic framework for identifying and developing AI command and control applications for modern warfare is presented in (Lingel et al, 2020).
- Major global powers like Russia, China, India, the UK, France, and Israel are actively developing and deploying advanced C2IS, often incorporating AI, big data, and cyber capabilities.
Source evidence · PDF page 11
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been actively developing and integrating advanced C2 information systems to enhance its military capabilities (Scobell and Kamphausen, 2007). The PLA has undergone many changes since Xi Jinping became general secretary of the Communist Party of China in 2013. Efforts at modernising the PLA have been conducted in earnest for the past 10 years through the overhaul of the organisation and the introduction of latest technologies to make it battle-ready. These systems integrate advanced AI, big data, satellite networks, and cyber capabilities (Bommakanti and Amjad, 2023; Alsaied, 2023).
Strategic Relevance
Command and Control Information Systems (C2IS) are fundamental to modern military operations, enabling effective decision-making, coordination, and situational awareness across all domains. Their evolution, particularly with AI integration, directly impacts strategic advantage, interoperability among allies, and the effectiveness of military forces in complex, multi-domain environments.