Naval C4I systems: naval command and control stays out of the limelight. The thousands of miles of wires and the hundreds of computer screens are rarely seen on news footage from the global war on terror, or during humanitarian intervention and stability operations. For the media, it lacks the 'sex appeal' of troops in combat, or helicopters lowering aid packages to stricken villagers.

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Naval C4I

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Naval C4I systems: naval command and control stays out of the limelight. The thousands of miles of wires and the hundreds of computer screens are rarely seen on news footage from the global war on terror, or during humanitarian intervention and stability operations. For the media, it lacks the 'sex appeal' of troops in combat, or helicopters lowering aid packages to stricken villagers.

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However, naval Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Intelligence (C4I) systems are the knitting that holds a ship's security and its capabilities together. A warship's C4I system is the central point at which information from the ship's sensors and communications systems arrives. It is the point from which the vessel's weapons are controlled and from where the ship's own data, tactical situation and intelligence can be shared with other vessels, or with other assets on land or in the air. As such, today's systems place a high emphasis on 'plug and play' designs, using open architecture via which new weapons systems, sensors and communications can be slotted into the C4I system with minimal fuss. At the same time, C4I system designers and integrators are increasingly looking ...

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