‘Military Commanders’ Equipped with Artificial Intelligence Coming Soon

Korea Institute for Defense Analyses Advances Intelligent Command, Control, and Communication Development Strategy

[Agency for Defense Development]The U.S. military identifies mobility and a battlefield without regional limitations, combined manned and unmanned operations, as the most significant characteristics of warfare after 2035. To achieve victory in the new future battlefield environment, the modernization of U.S. command and control communications focuses on integrated communication networks across land, air, and space, a common operational environment, and rapid command and control support.

The Agency for Defense Development is promoting a future hyper-connected intelligent command and control communication development strategy optimized for the Korean Peninsula battlefield environment to secure superiority in future battlefields. It is focusing on research and development of hyper-connected multi-layer integrated communication networks, manned-unmanned integrated operations, maximization of frequency resource utilization, integration and intelligence of tactical data links, and intelligent command and control processes.

▲ Hyper-connected multi-layer integrated communication network to overcome future mobility and regional limitations= In future battlefields, battlefield elements are expected to maneuver and disperse to conduct operations across multiple regions. The key to victory or defeat lies in the rapid and accurate dissemination of situational information among battlefield elements and making correct command decisions based on that information. What is needed is the establishment of a future hyper-connected multi-layer integrated communication network. This network will enable our military to integrate and operate space, air, and ground communication networks. It ensures smooth communication in any situation within the mountainous terrain of the Korean Peninsula, regardless of the presence or absence of fixed communication facilities.

The Agency for Defense Development analyzes the information operation characteristics among future battlefield elements and the current development status of individual communication networks at each layer of space, air, and ground in the military to research and develop the structure of a hyper-connected multi-layer integrated communication network suitable for future battlefields, QoS adaptive composite wireless transmission/multi-layer interworking technologies, and other necessary technologies. Additionally, to enhance survivability against intentional enemy radio interference or jamming and improve tactical operability, core electronic warfare technologies are being concurrently researched and developed.

▲ Core swarm drone command and control communication technology for manned-unmanned integrated operations= The most realistic alternative to future troop reductions is expected to be the utilization of unmanned systems in various battlefield environments. Among unmanned systems, drones have already demonstrated effective combat capabilities in the Middle East, and especially swarm drones can maximize capabilities to a higher level by overwhelming performance through quantity and making it difficult for the enemy to find appropriate countermeasures.

The detailed control and mission execution of multiple swarm drones are entrusted to AI-based autonomous technologies, while a small number of operators plan operational missions, deliver commands to drones, and monitor execution results. Currently, the Agency for Defense Development is conducting research and development on low-latency direct communication for autonomous collaboration among drones and AI-based operations, that is, swarm network technology.

Combat power enhancement entrusted to AI-based autonomous technology of multiple swarm drones
Developing same-frequency utilization technology to solve frequency depletion issues
Mobility, networking, and intelligence are the three key elements that will dominate future combat power

▲ Maximizing utilization of scarce frequency resources= The issue of frequency resource depletion has become serious recently. This is due to increased civilian frequency demand and a surge in wireless communication requirements for building network-centric warfare communication networks. Solving the frequency resource shortage is an essential condition for the advancement of future command and control communication systems. The Agency for Defense Development is researching and developing various technologies to maximize the utilization of limited frequency resources.

The Agency for Defense Development is researching and developing full-duplex communication technology capable of simultaneous transmission and reception in the same frequency band, as well as wireless transceiver technology to apply high-frequency bands such as Q-band (30?50 GHz) and W-band (75?110 GHz) to military long-distance, large-capacity communications.

To build a future mosaic warfare battlefield where weapon systems can be operated freely like assembling Lego blocks, survivability, mobility, and flexibility of communication networks are essential. To this end, the Agency for Defense Development is conducting research on Cognitive Radio (CR) technology. This technology allows communication terminals to intelligently and autonomously understand and judge the tactical environment, allocate frequencies, and determine optimal communication operation methods, thereby maximizing power operation.

▲ Tactical Data Link (TDL) integration and intelligence= To respond to the evolving distributed and adaptive mosaic warfare battlefield and support integrated military operations, the Agency for Defense Development is carrying out the Korean Joint Tactical Data Link System (completed version) project. This system will enable tactical information exchange and battlefield situation sharing among forces participating in joint operations by integrating command and control systems operated by each military branch.

Currently, surveillance reconnaissance, command and control, and precision strike systems operate different TDLs depending on operational environments and missions. The Agency for Defense Development plans to implement cooperative engagement, missile defense, and NEW (Network Enable Weapon)-based complex precision strike (C4ISR+PGM) capabilities by hyper-connecting these through TDL Grid based on multi-TDL protocol integrated processing technology.

▲ Securing real-time intelligent command and control capabilities= Our military is pursuing the acquisition of real-time intelligent command and control capabilities. This capability visualizes the battlefield in real-time for decision-makers and combatants, rapidly shares battlefield situations, and analyzes and judges information from various sources using big data and AI intelligence technologies to support decision-making.

To this end, the Agency for Defense Development plans to develop AI-based plan formulation and search automation technologies. It is also promoting the development of intelligent sign analysis technology, intelligent information fusion and situation analysis, enemy plan analysis, and intelligent decision support technology for integrated air defense operations.

▲ Our hyper-connected intelligent command and control communication development= Our military is undergoing rapid changes in the command and control communication environment of future battlefields due to the reorganization of field operational units under Defense Reform 2.0, reduction in military manpower, and shortened service periods, and is striving to equip the three key elements of ‘Army Tiger 4.0’: mobility, networking, and intelligence.

The Agency for Defense Development will devote efforts to developing technologies necessary for a hyper-connected multi-layer integrated command and control communication system with mobility to successfully prepare for changes in future battlefield command and control communication environments and the military’s long-term force modernization projects. It will develop core technologies for integrated, autonomous, and intelligent tactical data links. Furthermore, it will continuously plan and research various technologies to realize our military’s real-time intelligent command and control.