Updated November 16 2020 Joint All-Domain Command and Control JADC2 What Is JADC2 Joint All-Domain Command and Control JADC2 is the Department of Defense’s DOD’s concept to connect sensors from all of the military services—Air Force Army Marine Corps Navy and Space Force—into a single network Traditionally each of the military services developed its own tactical network that was incompatible with those of other services i e Army networks were unable to interface with Navy or Air Force networks DOD officials have argued that future conflicts may require decisions to be made within hours minutes or potentially seconds compared with the current multiday process to analyze the operating environment and issue commands They have also stated that the Department’s existing command and control architecture is insufficient to meet the demands of the National Defense Strategy NDS Congress may be interested in the concept because it is being used to develop many high-profile procurement programs for all of the military services DOD uses ride-sharing service Uber as an analogy to describe its desired end state for JADC2 Uber combines two different apps—one for riders and a second for drivers Using the respective users’ position the Uber algorithm determines the optimal match based on distance travel time and passengers among other variables The application then seamlessly provides directions for the driver to follow delivering the passenger to their destination Uber relies on cellular and Wi-Fi networks to transmit data to match riders and provide driving instructions sensors processing the data using artificial intelligence algorithms to identify targets then recommending the optimal weapon—both kinetic and nonkinetic e g cyber or electronic weapons —to engage the target Some analysts take a more skeptical approach to JADC2 They raise questions about its technical maturity and affordability and whether it is even possible to field a network that can securely and reliably connect sensors to shooters and support command and control in a lethal electronic warfare-rich environment Analysts also ask who would have decisionmaking authority across domains given that traditionally command authorities are delegated in each domain rather than from an overall campaign perspective Some also question how much a human will be needed for JADC2 to make decisions in real time and whether it is appropriate to reduce the amount of human involvement in military-related decisions Why Change Current C2 Structures The future operating environment articulated by the NDS the NDS Commission and other sources describes how potential adversaries have developed sophisticated antiaccess area denial A2 AD capabilities see Figure 2 These capabilities include electronic warfare cyber weapons long-range missiles and advanced air defenses U S competitors have pursued A2 AD capabilities as a means of countering traditional U S military advantages— such as the ability to project power—and improving their ability to win quick decisive engagements Figure 2 A2 AD Environment Figure 1 Visualization of JADC2 Vision Source https www monch com mpg news ew-c4i-channel 7334saic-and-usaf-partner-for-jadc2 html JADC2 envisions providing a cloud-like environment for the Joint force to share intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance data transmitting across many communications networks to enable faster decisionmaking see Figure 1 JADC2 intends to enable commanders to make better decisions by collecting data from numerous Source https www japcc org electronic-warfare-the-forgottendiscipline Senior DOD leaders have stated that access to information will be critical in the future operating environment In addition these leaders have stated that to challenge potential peer adversaries a multidomain approach is https crsreports congress gov Joint All-Domain Command and Control JADC2 required where U S forces would use ground air naval space and cyber forces to challenge an adversary’s targeting calculus The Joint All-Domain Operations concept thus provides commanders access to information to allow for simultaneous and sequential operations using surprise and the rapid and continuous integration of capabilities across all domains—to try to gain physical and psychological advantages and influence and control over the operational environment DOD argues that current C2 programs like the Air and Space Operation Centers E-8C Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System and E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System are not optimized for the speed complexity and lethality of future conflict that the decades-old platforms cannot adequately leverage new technology and that the supporting structures to enable future C2 either do not exist or require maturation Air Force officials have argued that a JADC2 architecture would enable commanders to 1 rapidly understand the battlespace 2 direct forces faster than the enemy and 3 deliver synchronized combat effects across all domains DOD Lines of Effort DOD DOD is leading a Joint Cross-Functional Team to explore JADC2 as the concept evolves The team includes representatives from the offices of the DOD Chief Information Officer CIO the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment The DOD CIO has stated it plans to use 5G technologies to enable JADC2 Joint Staff The Joint Staff is leading efforts to move JADC2 from a concept to policies doctrine and requirements and has designated the Air Force as the executive agent for JADC2 technology development According to press reports JADC2 is a component of the upcoming released Joint Warfighting Concept Air Force To implement JADC2 the Air Force is developing the Advanced Battle Management System ABMS ABMS is a network intended to provide data to pass information across all domains Air Force leaders stated that ABMS has been used to help facilitate DOD support during the COVID-19 pandemic Throughout FY2020 the Air Force has held at least three ABMS demonstrations connecting Army and Navy systems Army The Army’s modernization strategy identified network modernization to enable multidomain operations Army Futures Command is the service representative developing the JADC2 concept As part of an exercise called Project Convergence it has conducted a series of experiments demonstrating the service’s ability to provide access to joint and coalition networks The Army tested several concepts transmitting targeting information using nontraditional methods in September 2020 in Project Convergence’s first demonstration Navy On October 1 2020 the Navy announced it would start Project Overmatch which it plans to integrate into the overall JADC2 concept The Navy states that Project Overmatch is intended to develop a new fleet architecture using artificial intelligence and manned unmanned teaming to enable Distributed Maritime Operations The Navy has stated one of its primary focus to support the JADC2 effort is to remove proprietary network standards thus enabling interoperability with the other services According to recent press coverage the Navy has focused on its own networks but plans to integrate with the Army and Air Force JADC2 Experimentation DOD has held at least two major JADC2 exercises The first held in Florida in December 2019 focused on a simulated cruise missile threat The exercise represented the first demonstration of ABMS Air Force and Navy aircraft including F-22 and F-35 fighter jets a Navy destroyer an Army Sentinel radar system a mobile artillery system plus commercial space and ground sensors demonstrated being able to collect analyze and share data in real-time to provide a fuller picture of the operating environment DOD performed a second test of JADC2 in July 2020 During this test Air Force aircraft connected with naval vessels positioned in the Black Sea along with special operations forces and eight other NATO nations in a simulated environment to counter a potential Russian threat JADC2 FY2021Request and Authorization Funding Levels The Administration’s FY2021 budget request combined the Multidomain Command and Control and the ABMS into a single program DOD requested $302 3 million for ABMS in FY2021 The Senate S 4049 would authorize $302 3 million for the program The House H R 6395 would reduce the requested amount to $216 3 million an $85 million decrease due to unjustified growth The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense H R 7617 recommended reducing the ABMS program by $50 million the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense recommended reducing ABMS by $93 million Potential Questions for Congress  What is the relative priority for JADC2 compared with      other major DOD programs Have all of the military services embraced the JADC2 concept or is there some resistance within DOD What personnel equipment facilities and training resources would be required to achieve JADC2 What is the estimated cost for force-wide implementation and lifecycle upkeep of JADC2 When could the network become operational What role would AI have in JADC2 development How much human-in-the-loop is necessary if sensors are linked to shooters in real-time CRS Products CRS Report R46564 Overview of Department of Defense Use of the Electromagnetic Spectrum by John R Hoehn Jill C Gallagher and Kelley M Sayler CRS In Focus IF11654 The Army’s Project Convergence by Andrew Feickert This report was originally written by Nishawn S Smagh during his military fellowship with CRS John R Hoehn Analyst in Military Capabilities and Programs https crsreports congress gov Joint All-Domain Command and Control JADC2 IF11493 Disclaimer This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service CRS CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role CRS Reports as a work of the United States Government are not subject to copyright protection in the United States Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS However as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or material from a third party you may need to obtain the permissio n of the copyright holder if you wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material https crsreports congress gov IF11493 · VERSION 11 · UPDATED