C4ISR in the 21st Century—the C4I Support Plan as a Bridge

Abstract

This paper discusses the C4I Support Plan (C4ISP) recently drafted for the CVNX program as a part of its Milestone I documentation requirements. The C4ISP provides insights into the requirements on the DoD command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) infrastructure needed for the operational success of the aircraft carrier battle group (CVBG) in future Joint and coalition warfare. The paper discusses the C4ISPs contents, the work that must be done in future versions, and the potential impacts on naval and Joint C4ISR organizations and their activities. The case is made that the CVNX C4ISP, and similar plans for other platforms of the battle group, should form a foundation for Navy leadership to proactively manage the process of building cross‐Navy and Joint end‐to‐end capabilities that exploit information and networking in warfare.