Controlling the Cost of C4I Upgrades on Naval Ships

Abstract : Command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) systems are some of the most important components on naval ships. Through a variety of sensors, receivers, computers, networks, and software, diverse information is received, processed, and disseminated both throughout the ship and to other ships in the battlegroup. C4I systems provide continuous status information about the operational condition of the ship and support net-centric-warfare concepts by reporting on the environment in which the ship and other ships in the battlegroup are operating. C4I systems also support improved quality of life for the ship's company by providing sailors the ability to communicate with family and friends. The commercial world has fueled the growth and evolution in the computing and information technology that is the backbone of the U.S. Navy's C4I systems. To take advantage of both the economies offered by commercial products and the most-up-to-date technologies available, the Navy uses commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products for much of the C4I hardware and software on naval ships. Adopting commercial standards and practices has allowed the Navy to both improve existing C4I capabilities and add new computing capabilities to naval ships. However, rapid advances in information technology present challenges to Navy planners.