Enhanced C2 Functionality in Urban and other Complex Terrain

Abstract

The army's network centric warfare concept is focused on enhancing the army's capabilities in information dominance. Network centric warfare is realized through command and control (C2) systems such as the army battle command systems (ABCS) supported by developing tenet technologies, such as networking, communications and positioning. Fundamental to successful C2 systems is the ability to maintain current situation awareness (SA) information through the tenet technologies. Maintaining current SA information, for enhanced C2 functionality, requires continuous and timely position information from all relevant platforms on the battlefield. The accuracy and availability of position information directly affects operational effectiveness. The traditional role of positioning was for "own ship " pilotage. That is, "can I get from point A to point B? " It is important to note that utilization of position information, as a shared resource is an evolving role from the traditional role of positioning systems, which increases the utility and importance on position information quality and availability derived. The predominate source of that position data is the NA VSTAR global positioning system (GPS). GPS provides a common consistent coordinate reference. GPS accuracy does not degrade with time or distance traveled as self-contained navigation units e.g. inertial navigation units (INU) or Doppler radar navigation sets. In addition, GPS receivers are significantly less expensive to integrate, operate and maintain than INU's or Doppler's. However, GPS has vulnerabilities to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and satellite signal blockage in urban and complex terrain. Technology initiatives are being concentrated to investigate sophisticated integration techniques of combining externally aided and self-contained navigation systems. This paper addresses urban navigation requirements, urban navigation challenges and recent/new technology initiatives to improve the robustness of position information for the dismounted warfighter