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For more on NCW, see CRS Report RL32411, Network Centric Warfare: Background and
Oversight Issues for Congress, by Clay Wilson. For more on defense transformation and naval
transformation, see CRS Report RL32238, Defense Transformation: Background and Oversight
Issues for Congress, by Ronald O’Rourke and CRS Report RS20851, Naval Transformation:
Background and Issues for Congress, by Ronald O’Rourke.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Order Code RS20557
Updated May 31, 2005
Navy Network-Centric Warfare Concept:
Key Programs and Issues for Congress
Ronald O’Rourke
Specialist in National Defense
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Summary
Network-centric warfare (NCW) is a key element of defense transformation. Key
programs for implementing NCW in the Navy include the Cooperative Engagement
Capability (CEC), the Joint Fires Network (JFN), the IT-21 program, and ForceNet.
A related program is the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI). Congress has closely
followed and expressed concern for some of these programs, particularly NMCI. This
report may be updated if developments warrant.
Network-Centric Warfare
The concept of network-centric warfare (NCW) is a key element of the Department
of Defense’s (DOD’s) transformation effort.
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NCW focuses on using computers, high-
speed data links, and networking software to link military personnel, platforms, and
formations into highly integrated local and wide-area networks. Within these networks,
personnel will share large amounts of critical information on a rapid and continuous basis.
DOD believes that NCW will dramatically improve combat capability and efficiency.
Key NCW Programs
CEC. The Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) system links Navy ships and
aircraft operating in a particular area into a single, integrated air-defense network in which
radar data collected by each platform is transmitted on a real-time (i.e., instantaneous)
basis to the other units in the network. Units in the network share a common, composite,
real-time air-defense picture. CEC will permit a ship to shoot air-defense missiles at
incoming anti-ship missiles that the ship itself cannot see, using radar targeting data
gathered by other units in the network. It will also permit air-defense missiles fired by
