Mobile agents in network-centric warfare

This paper describes agent technology and the various ways in which it can be applied to command, control, communications and intelligence in general, and to network-centric warfare in particular. The paper provides a brief overview of agents, their properties, and their advantages. It covers the concept of the current military trend, network-centric warfare. Problems associated with agents are described, including the conflict between security and autonomy in a distributed environment. The paper concludes with a discussion of research trends in mobile agents, particularly with regard to applications in the Department of Defense.