Cyber Considerations
for Military Mobility
Henrik Beckvard
Philippe Zotz
Introduction
The importance of military mobility, the ability to
transport units, equipment and supplies
efficiently and rapidly, seems to be clear for both
NATO and the European Union (EU). This
importance is exemplified by initiatives such as
the Permanent Structured Cooperation
(PESCO) project on military mobility under
which 25 EU nations have committed to working
together.
Under Dutch coordination, Project
Military Mobility is a PESCO project
concentrating on the movement of military
personnel and goods within the EU with a focus
on administrative hurdles.
Likewise, the 2018
Joint Declaration on EU-NATO Cooperation
lists military mobility as one of four areas with a
particular aim for progress.
This paper highlights the effects in or through
cyberspace that may affect military mobility. It
will not give an in-depth or technical analysis,
but rather serve as food for thought for areas
where cyber considerations should be included
in the planning and execution of military mobility
operations. Not all issues raised in this paper
may be addressed by the military planner alone.
Cooperation with relevant partners in
cybersecurity, government and industry is often
needed. Another essential part of this paper is
raising awareness about cybersecurity
Council of the European Union. 2017. ‘Council Decision Establishing Permanent Structured Cooperation
(PESCO) and Determining the List of Participating Member States.’,
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/32000/st14866en17.pdf
Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). n.d. PESCO PROJECTS MILITARY MOBILITY (MM).
https://pesco.europa.eu/project/military-mobility/
The President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and the Secretary General
of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. 2018. ‘Joint Declaration on EU-NATO Cooperation.’ NATO.int.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_156626.htm
Defender Europe is a large NATO military mobility exercise, see:
https://www.nato.int/docu/review/articles/2020/06/16/exercise-defender-europe-20-enablement-and-resilience-in-
action/index.html
concerns in military mobility operations for high-
level policymakers.
In NATO, the Defender-Europe
exercises test
the ability of the Alliance to support the large-
scale movement of forces across the Atlantic
and mainland Europe and exercise Reception,
Staging and Onward Movement (RSOM).
Military mobility goes far beyond the
optimisation of route planning and the provision
of personnel and material.
Many factors must be considered when
planning for military movement, including
whether a ship will be able to use a given port
facility, whether the bridges along the
suggested route will support the weight of a
heavy tank transporter, or if the tunnels are wide
enough for a given type of vehicles to pass
through. Other factors such as weather and the
need for force protection must also be
considered. Adding to these are cyber
considerations that must be given due attention
during planning and execution.
An obvious challenge arises from reliance on
civilian infrastructures, given that peacetime
transport channels are used by the civilian
population. As critical infrastructure may be
Government Owned, Government Operated
(GOGO), Commercially Owned, Commercially
