Today's Capabilities

DISA provides global classified and unclassified voice, data, video, and transport services today through a combination of terrestrial and satellite assets. These assets are dominantly commercial, though acquired and supplemented with military value-added features. They also include military satellite and a limited amount of military terrestrial infrastructure outside the continental United States. Military value-added features provide global reach and tactical extension, a defensive information operations capability, robust encryption, personnel and physical security, diversity of route and media, precedence, interoperability, and visible and controllable assets. These features are critical to insuring U.S. Forces are not denied access to information, geography, or space.

The vast majority of DoD's command and control traffic, voice conferencing, intelligence dissemination, and combat support traffic ride over the joint networks provided by DISA. The aggregate of these networks is referred to as the Defense Information System Network (DISN), which is the key wide-area communications component of the Global Information Grid. Specific subsystems include the Defense Red Switch Network for classified voice conferencing, the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNET), the Non-Secure Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNET), Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services (EMSS), the DISN Video Secure Global (DVSG), the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS), and the Defense Switched Network (DSN-voice traffic). Underpinning the DISN is a Global Network Operations and Security Control System to ensure sustained and responsive integrated network operations. In addition, DISA provides tailored Community of Interest Networks (COINs) for specific functional communities that accrue the economic advantage of shared transport and the operational advantages of enhanced security and interoperability with the larger enterprise. All of the above rely on DISA's Global and Regional Network Operations and Security Centers (G/RNOSCs) to perform essential GIG network operations (NETOPS) on a 24x7, 365-days-a-year basis.

Transformation Required

The key concepts of Network-Centric Warfare and the realization of the "Vision" developed by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence) (ASD (C3I)) both depend on major enhancements to today's joint communications.

VISION

People throughout the trusted, dependable, and ubiquitous network are empowered by their ability to access information and recognized for the inputs they provide.

An improved joint network is a prerequisite to unleashing the powerful set of warfighting concepts to create new synergies, take advantage of all available information, and bring available assets to bear in a rapid, precise, and flexible manner. This network is about reducing operational latency, surprising the enemy, and enabling innovation while still supporting bedrock military functions. Expanding the capacity and connectivity of the network will be critical to strengthening the forward-deterrent posture of the United States. Network-Centric Warfare requires that traditional communications seams among echelons, functions, and organizations be eliminated or minimized.