News From USJFCOM: Command to share joint urban operations challenges with industry

Command to share joint urban operations challenges with industry

U.S. Joint Forces Command invites industry, academia, and other interested organizations to a focused forum on joint urban operations.

By Jennifer Colaizzi
USJFCOM Public Affairs

(NORFOLK, Va. - June 13, 2005) -- U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) will host a joint urban operations information-sharing event at the Chesapeake Conference Center, Chesapeake, Va., on July 13, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

According to organizers, the event, known as a focused forum, enables the command to disseminate information on identified joint warfighting technology needs, and following the forum, permits industry and other interested communities to provide possible solutions.

Urban centers increasingly are the sites of conflict throughout the world. The major challenge associated with conducting joint urban operations is accomplishing the mission in densely populated areas with minimum collateral damage and loss of life said command officials.

"We want to improve our capability to operate effectively in an urban environment," said Richard Carter, USJFCOM's joint urban operations science and technology advisor. "We've identified a list of technology needs which could help us effectively conduct joint urban operations."

We need to "go out to industry and academia and ask them what they have, that we can adapt or modify to help us meet our mission," said Carter.

According to Carter, during the July forum, USJFCOM officials will outline joint urban operations challenges in several areas, to include: command and control, weapons, training, models and simulations and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

"For example, we need sensors to detect and track the location of blue forces, enemy forces, and neutrals; we need persistent monitoring in the 24/7 urban environment," said Carter.

Effective joint urban operations require sensors that can provide information to the entire joint force. According to Carter, sensors can be on buildings, on the ground, on robots, and in the air.

In the complex urban environment, robust and diverse sensing and information processing capabilities, such as remote networked sensors, are essential elements of gaining the operational and tactical level situational awareness, said command officials.

According to Carter, the command is also looking for ideas to improve the realism of urban environment training. This could include virtual environment ideas that would help with attaining urban operations skills and improving operational efficiency.

There is also a requirement for training facility construction and training program improvements.

Carter stressed that USJFCOM's Joint Urban Operations Future Capabilities focused forum will facilitate a dialogue between the command and industry, academia, and other organizations that may be able to provide innovative technology concepts.

To attend the July 13, Joint Urban Operations Future Capabilities focused forum, interested individuals can start their process by clicking here to send an email requesting more information.