The US Navy has revealed an innovative strategy, highlighting the critical role of "non-kinetic effects" in future warfare. In this inaugural cyber strategy, the Navy anticipates the use of unseen disruptive actions as decisive in determining battlefield outcomes.
The 14-page document outlines potential non-kinetic effects such as jammed electronics, compromised networks, and manipulated information, impacting military and civilian domains.
The strategy aims to offer a comprehensive vision of the battle environment, fostering internal accountability and external persuasion.
US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, leveraging insights from global cyber operations, emphasizes the need for the Navy and Marine Corps to boost its online strategy.
"Alongside the physical domains, the Navy and Marine Corps must compete in cyberspace, defending American interests, enabling maritime dominance, and supporting integrated deterrence," Del Toro stated, as quoted by C4ISRNet.
Growing Threats
As emerging threats from Russia and China evolve, the Department of Defense repositions itself, moving away from decades of focus on the Greater Middle East. Moscow and Beijing possess formidable online arsenals, prompting close monitoring of cyber capabilities, particularly as Russia engages in conflict with Ukraine and China poses threats to Taiwan.
Navy Secretary Del Toro, along with former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday, had previously hinted at this strategic shift.
Del Toro, in April, committed to enhancing cyber force readiness and expanding the integration of non-kinetic effects. Gilday envisions maritime waters populated with uncrewed vessels capable of spoofing, spying, and assisting in combat.
The Navy Cyber Strategy aligns with and references the Cyberspace Superiority Vision, endorsing the ability to "fight hurt" alongside the principles of "secure, survive, strike."
The strategy underscores the importance of resiliency, as reflected in the Navy's fiscal 2024 budget request, which allocates significant funds for cyber, network, and information warfare development.
Chris Cleary, the Navy's former principal cyber adviser, emphasizes the Department of Defense's commitment to engaging adversaries in cyberspace.
Cleary underscores the significance of non-kinetic capabilities, aiming to make adversaries uneasy about cyber threats, paralleling traditional kinetic capabilities.
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US Navy Investing in Smart Weaponry
In a parallel development, Raytheon, an RTX business, recently introduced its StormBreaker smart weapon to the US Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in November.
Originally deployed on the F-15E and undergoing integration testing on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the technology showcases the efficacy of digital solutions in bolstering air dominance.
The streamlined integration process used by Raytheon, which takes into account F-15E deployment insights, reduces the number of flight tests necessary, saving time and resources. StormBreaker's capabilities, designed for striking targets in challenging scenarios, enhance operational effectiveness.
Naval Technology reported in November that Raytheon Technologies previously secured a $320 million contract for the production and delivery of 1,500 StormBreaker smart weapon systems for the US Air Force, highlighting the ongoing relevance of fourth-generation aircraft.
In another recent development, the US Navy has successfully fired "lethal munitions" from an unmanned vessel in international waters in the Middle East. The Navy's Task Force 59, which specializes in unmanned and artificial intelligence operations, conducted the exercise under the name Digital Talon.
According to CBS News, using "manned-unmanned teaming," the task force targeted simulated hostile forces on October 23, launching live munitions from an unmanned vessel to destroy a target boat. A human operator on shore oversaw the operation, which successfully demonstrated the ability to make engagement decisions remotely by landing direct hits each time.
The US Navy aims to strengthen maritime security and enhance deterrence against malign activities in the region through advancements in unmanned systems and artificial intelligence technologies.
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