The U.S. Navy is engaged in a far-reaching transformation based on the exploitation of information technologies. At the heart of this transformation is the concept of networking the force. This involves, first, connecting all the platforms and major systems deployed by the U.S. Sea Services — ships, submarines, aircraft, unmanned vehicles and Marine Corps units —as well as joint forces so they can share information, establish maritime domain awareness and create a common operating picture (COP).

The establishment of a COP is critical to the operation of joint and combined forces. Once interconnected, commanders can exploit the power inherent in a large pool of distributed platforms and systems through innovative operational approaches.

One program that seeks to exploit the revolution in networking as well as new possibilities in the design of naval ships is the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). It is designed to address critical capability gaps resulting from the rise of asymmetric threats such as quiet diesel submarines, small boats and shallow water mines. It will be a low cost, highly flexible, fully networked ship.

The LCS reflects the ongoing revolutions in technology, systems integration, knowledge development, organizational structures and management. It is a system-ofsystems at multiple levels. Most simply, each of the planned mission modules will bring a self-contained, mission-specific capability to the LCS. These modules will be integrated with the basic LCS hull and its common systems. In order to achieve mission effectiveness, LCS platforms will be connected with one another, other fleet units and joint assets through a robust network.

The LCS program has made tremendous progress in a few short years. It has demonstrated innovation in the design and construction of two very different sea frames. It is completing the construction of the first three mission modules. When successfully completed, the LCS program will prove the value of standard interfaces, open architectures and an open business process. It is beginning already to change how the Navy mans its ships, trains its personnel and sustains its forces.

Representative Ander Crenshaw
Member, House Appropriations Committee

Download Modularity, The Littoral Combat Ship and the Future of the United States Navy

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"The concept of a transformed military, one based on the exploitation of advances in information technologies, has been a driving force behind U.S. force planning and weapons acquisition for nearly two decades. The power of information technologies to transform has been evident for some time now in the commercial and civil spheres. These same technologies are beginning to have a transformative impact on military affairs. Increases in computing power, provision of ever greater communications bandwidth, near ubiquitous access, miniaturization of electronics and advances in software engineering have radically altered the ways products are designed and produced, business is conducted, knowledge is acquired and exploited, and people communicate and collaborate. Increasingly, developments in information technologies will center on improving the ability to be networked. Entire sectors of the American and global economies have been completely altered under the impact of these new technologies. It is access to information and, perhaps even more importantly, to the network that is vital in the success of modern corporations."

The initial draft of this paper was written by Dr. Daniel Gouré of the Lexington Institute staff. Members of the working group had an opportunity to review and modify the final report.

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