Mission-oriented NETOPS: an operational framework for coordinated planning, analysis, activation, monitoring, and response for current and transformational networks

The nature of the Global War on Terror and the increasing role of Network Centric Warfare (NCW) in military concepts of operations signal a demand for major changes in mission-focused communications planning and management. Networks are becoming increasingly complex, and warfighters and commanders depend upon electronic information sources for successful mission execution. Requirements for transformational communications infrastructure programs, and updates to the Joint NETOPS CONORS articulate a clear need for a coordination of planning, activation, monitoring, and response across multiple functional areas. Additionally, there is a nearterm need to accelerate the delivery of such enhanced capabilities to the battlefield in support of current operations. An effective NETOPS solution demands the development of "mission context" around the information presented to and manipulated by commanders and their supporting staff. This paper describes an architectural design for a holistic NETOPS framework, as well as lessons learned during the development of a reference implementation known as "NetMAPS". Among the key challenges addressed are: alignment of maneuver and signal planning activities, visualization techniques and data models to integrate the presentation of data from disparate domains, policy-based automation approaches that retain positive warfighter control, tactically deployable embedded simulation/estimation tools, and coordination of network planning and operational monitoring in a consistent environment.