Technology Begets Interoperability
The near certainty that future military operations will require coalitions of modern network-centric forces mandates interoperability among advanced technologies, said the head of NATO's transformation effort. Gen. Denis Mercier, FRAF, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, told the audience at NITEC 2017 in Ottawa, Canada, this is the alliance's key issue.
Always a concern, interoperability has risen to critical importance as military capacities have become focused on networks and information technologies. Countries and industry must work together to ensure effective communication among advanced technologies.
With military capacities focused on networks and information technologies, interoperability is critical.—Gen. Denis Mercier #NITEC2017
— Bob Ackerman (@rkackerman) April 24, 2017
Gen. Mercier continued that the complexity of today’s environment will make surprise inevitable and permanent. The alliance must focus more on cyber than on the platforms. Ensuring that cyber is part of a system at the very beginning of its development will require “[the] need to get outside our walls,” he said.
To get cyber in at the beginning, we need to get outside our walls.—Gen. Denis Mercier, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation #NITEC2017
— Bob Ackerman (@rkackerman) April 24, 2017
Yet even in a technocentric environment, human capital is essential—perhaps even more than it used to be, the general allowed.
Even in a techno-centric environment, human capital is essential, perhaps even more than it used to be.—Gen. Denis Mercier, #NITEC2017
— Bob Ackerman (@rkackerman) April 24, 2017
“Innovation is not discovering an idea; it is the execution of an idea,” Gen. Mercier declared.
