Network Centric Warfare and Coalition Operations

<p>This book argues that Network Centric Warfare (NCW) influences how developed militaries operate in the same fashion that an operating system influences the development of computer software. </p><p>It examines three inter-related issues: the overwhelming military power of the United States; the growing influence of NCW on military thinking; and the centrality of coalition operations in modern military endeavours. Irrespective of terrorist threats and local insurgencies the present international structure is remarkably stable - none of the major powers seeks to alter the system from its present liberal character as demonstrated by the lack of a military response to US military primacy. This primacy privileges the American military doctrine and thus the importance of NCW which promises a future of rapid precise and highly efficient operations but also a future predicated on the ‘digitization’ of the battle space. Participation in future American-led military endeavours will require coalition partners to be networked: ‘interoperability’ will therefore be a key consideration of a partner’s strategic worth. </p><p><em>Network Centric Warfare and Coalition Operations</em> will be of great interest to students of strategic studies international security US foreign policy and international relations in general.</p>