Logistics in Contested Environments Warfare Innovation Continuum (WIC) Workshop September 2019 After Action Report (original) (raw)

Shaping the Future of Naval Warfare With Unmanned Systems

2001

Abstract: This report presents the findings of a study conducted for the purpose of understanding how unmanned systems can enhance the readiness of US Naval forces. The document presents reasons why unmanned systems should be adopted by the Navy, and makes the case for coordinating the development of unmanned systems technology across all major warfare areas.

Impacts of the Robotics Age on Naval Force Design, Effectiveness, and Acquisition

Potential adversaries again challenge the United States Navy for control of the seas. Unfortunately, the Navy’s ability to react to emerging maritime powers’ rapid growth and technology advancement is constrained by its own planning, acquisition, and political processes. Introducing our own technology advances is also hindered. Our overly platform-focused naval force structure planning and acquisition system is burdened with so many inhibitors to change that we are ill prepared to capitalize on the missile and robotics age of warfare. Yet, by embracing the robotics age, recognizing its fundamental shift in how naval power is conveyed, and refocusing our efforts to emphasize the “right side” of our offensive kill chain--the side that delivers the packages producing kinetic and non-kinetic effects—acquisition challenges may be hurdled and cutting-edge technology brought to contemporary naval warfare. Incorporating robotics technology into the fleet as rapidly, effectively and efficiently as possible magnifies capacity, lethality and opportunity – all critical to strategic and tactical considerations. At the same time it recognizes the fiscal constraints our present force planning cannot sustain. After addressing traditional foundations for force structure planning and inhibitors to change we discuss how focusing on the packages delivered vice delivery platforms will allow us to better leverage new technologies in the 2030 timeframe. What will a naval force architecture look like if this acquisition strategy is employed? A force employment philosophy and warfighting strategy based on the tactical offensive will be presented in alignment with this acquisition approach. This paper does not present an alternative force structure with actual numbers of ships and platforms, but suggests a force acquisition strategy and force design concept that provides a foundational underpinning to develop a specific force architecture. Three strategic force measures—reactivity, robustness, and resilience—will be used to subjectively assess this fleet design over our traditional programmed forces.

Distributed Maritime Operations and Unmanned Systems Tactical Employment

2018

The concept of Distributed Maritime Operations intends to enable a force that is capable of winning a fleet-on-fleet engagement through the integration of manned and unmanned systems, execution of deceptive tactics, and emboldening of units to conduct offensive strikes. This report contributes to the concept of DMO in the 2030–2035 timeframe through the development of an operational simulation that examines the ability for various compositions of multi-domain fleet assets to perform tactical operations in a naval combat environment. This project studies the impact of the friendly force employment of deception and tactics against an enemy force, and the resulting impact on the adversary’s ability to progress through the various stages of a kill chain. Through the development and analysis of a discrete event simulation, this research investigates the ability for naval forces in the air, surface, and electromagnetic warfare domains to contribute to DMO through the performance of tactic...

The use of unmanned vehicles for military logistic purposes

Ekonomika i Organizacja Logistyki, 2021

Nowadays the innovations and inventions allow the development of new technologies that can be implemented in various fields, including logistics. Technologically advanced robots and unmanned vehicles can not only support activities, but also in many cases they replace human being activities, such as controlling, identifying and managing goods, warehouse and critical infrastructure, or transport routes. Smart devices can eliminate human presence in the most advanced activities like firefighting or contamination of storage or transhipment. The aim of the study overview is to diagnose the current state and trends in the development of military technologies of unmanned vehicles. For this purpose some of the solutions in the field of unmanned ground vehicles and possibilities of their use considering military missions requirements were presented. The status of global projects implementation was reviewed. Polish solutions and technologies related to autonomous vehicles were discussed. A c...

Logistics in Contested Environments

2020

This report examines the transport and delivery of logistics in contested environments within the context of great-power competition (GPC). Across the Department of Defense (DOD), it is believed that GPC will strain our current supply lines beyond their capacity to maintain required warfighting capability. Current DOD efforts are underway to determine an appropriate range of platforms, platform quantities, and delivery tactics to meet the projected logistics demand in future conflicts. This report explores the effectiveness of various platforms and delivery methods through analysis in developed survivability, circulation, and network optimization models. Among other factors, platforms are discriminated by their radar cross-section (RCS), noise level, speed, cargo capacity, and self-defense capability. To maximize supply delivered and minimize the cost of losses, the results of this analysis indicate preference for utilization of well-defended convoys on supply routes where bulk supp...

DESIGNING MARITIME CAMPAIGNS WITH UNMANNED SYSTEMS: OVERCOMING THE INNOVATION PARADOX

Center for International Maritime Security, 2023

Will unmanned forces transform naval campaigning? Given recent events follow- ing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, maritime transformation appears to be well underway. The Navy needs to consider how leverage unmanned systems in campaigns, and how these systems can open up unique options for enhancing naval campaigns in pursuit of deterrence.