China Faces Challenge of Combat Interpretation of Latest US Military Information Warfare

中國面臨美軍最新信息戰作戰解讀挑戰

中國網絡戰能力

Soure: X

Reaching aspects during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit, the two countries to combat cybercrime and promote the development of codes of conduct in cyberspace consensus, developed a number of cooperation initiatives to maintain network security, the formation of some dispute settlement mechanism, it is intended to address global network security issues. However, the US military in cyber warfare, information warfare is a fight, and actively adjust operational concepts, organizational system, forms of organization, operational processes and information culture, accelerate the development of the field of information warfare capabilities to ensure the Navy to get in a confrontation with major combat rival China’s dominance.

First, information warfare establishment of institution-building

In 2013, the US Navy Intelligence and Communication Networks merged unit information superiority by a Deputy Minister of Naval Operations is responsible for matters related to information superiority, with seven officers and some senior civilian fleet, as well as many professionals engaged in information warfare work in the field of change exist between intelligence gathering and fleet operations during the Cold war barriers, the US Navy to ensure safe use of the network environment to support access to information among the various operations. US Navy Fleet at Fort Dmitry set up Cyber ​​Command, the merger of the former Naval Network Warfare Command in Norfolk, Virginia naval base, he served as deputy commander of the Chief of Naval Operations is responsible for the integration of capabilities and resources, is responsible for the network attack and defense, management, operation and defense of the Navy’s network, as well as other activities related to cyber war, as both the US Cyber ​​Command, the Navy branch, to provide information to the US military combat support.

In the army building, the US Navy established the first 10 Fleet responsible for information warfare, information superiority as the US Navy forces, the development and delivery of information superiority capability to support operational requirements of the US Navy and allies, has formed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, full operational capacity of the network, command and control, communications, intelligence, electronic warfare, aerospace and other aspects of the transition to the information operations after the US Navy intelligence and cyber warfare important step.

From US Navy surface ships, submarines and aviation sector includes allocated funds to ensure the daily operation of the Ministry of information superiority, training, equipment and procurement, taking into account the construction and development of unmanned aerial systems and electronic warfare systems. Although electronic warfare department, said the electronic attack items (such as the next generation of jammers) transferred from the Air Operations Department to the Ministry of information superiority will weaken budgetary support for electronic attack system, but the Navy said it had recognized that strengthening the field of electronic warfare offensive the importance of strengthening investment in the field of electronic warfare.

Second, the “joint information environment” guarantee the right to information system at sea

According to the US Department of Defense in September 2013 issued a “joint information environment implementation strategies”, “joint information environment” (JIE) is by far one of the largest joint military information technology operations, with the goal of network integration within the DoD overall IT footprint and infrastructure costs of the construction of the Ministry of Defence, the “chimney” of information systems development for the flat network of dynamic information system, providing interoperability of cloud-based enterprise network infrastructure and services, reduce to ensure that the US military battlefield obtain control of information, enhance the capacity of the Ministry of Defence to deal with cyber threats in the field.

“Joint Information Environment” construction focus is to strengthen information sharing and cooperation, the establishment of enterprise-class shared security protocol for configuration standardization, optimizing the routing of data, at the time and place needed to deliver confidential voice, data and information, including almost all joint information DoD information technology work. “Joint information environment” universal, global, based on cloud properties, including network operations center, data center and cloud-based applications and services, identity management systems, based data storage and sharing capabilities cloud structure and review computer technical support, allows the use of any device to achieve the edge of the network operator, to accelerate the integration of command and control network nodes, can guarantee the daily operations and administration while reducing the cost of network operation and management.

Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is responsible for technical management of a joint information environment, the development of the overall architecture of the safety standards, access issues and identity management. July 2013, the US European Command in Stuttgart established its first enterprise-class Operations Center (EOC), responsible for managing the access management information environment within the Joint Command of the US system in Europe and Africa, dozens of command and control nodes under the jurisdiction of merger . In 2014, the US Pacific Command, and enterprise-class operations center in the United States have also launched joint information environment “Delta 1” have reached initial operational capability.

US Department of Defense Joint Information Environment has given a total of $ 239 million to ensure funding for the purchase of core routers, optical network equipment, fiber optic, network devices, storage devices, security tools and other infrastructure, management and maintenance of the Defense Information Systems Network. In the context of budget cuts, the US military had more dependent on commercial space field, planned in 2016 by the local company responsible for global broadband communications satellite (WGS) in daily operations. In the civil-military cooperation in space operations, DISA need to focus on the potential threat so bring, make up the vulnerability of the physical transmission layer.

Third, the face of major combat operations rivals Applications

Navy Information Warfare future construction operations targeting China and other major rivals, based on the field of cyberspace under serious threat in the Western Pacific battlefield environment construction and operation of information and operational deployment to focus on the formation of forward-deployed real deterrent. US military flexibility and emphasizes the use of reliable satellite communications, to support joint information environment physical transport layer, especially for mobile and forward-deployed forces, command and control and ISR equipment to deal with the growing threat of space.

The initial stage of “joint information environment” design applications, the US Navy had stressed in its response cyber threats using a single security architecture (SSA) to reduce the Navy’s networks “cyber attack surface,” the US military response in the face of network damage, theft data and other forms of cyber attacks, to ensure that the US military’s combat information through various channels to secure smooth transmission. If the intruder’s goal is simply to prevent or delay transmission of information, there is no need to pursue a unified security architecture and security code.

Optical Fiber Communication Security System Operation Command Decision Support System is another focus of attention Navy. Currently, 99% of international data traffic through submarine cable transmission, optical fiber communication is the US military’s “joint information environment” an important transport route for the United States to protect allies and overseas military bases of communication and contact. Naval activities is the greatest threat to the submarine cable, submarine cable on the other side of the attack is difficult to prevent, once destroyed will take a long time to repair. Therefore, the Defense Information Systems Agency “Network infrastructure requirements” (NIPR) requires operators to repair the damaged cable within three days, the US Navy underwater submarine cable project team is also responsible for the maintenance and repair tasks to ensure safe and smooth optical fiber communication .

Fourth, call our army building appropriate information warfare capabilities

Faced with aggressive information warfare against the US military posture, Chinese military information warfare must face the challenge to build offensive and defensive information warfare system. Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping has said it will vigorously promote the revolution in military affairs, the development of “information warfare” new strategies, innovative new military doctrine to fulfill the mission requirements of the system and setup, system equipment, strategy and tactics, management mode. Specific to the field of information warfare is to aim at the US military weaknesses, focusing on the development of anti-satellite missiles, land-based electronic jamming of satellite monitoring and control, high-energy laser to attack satellites and space-based weapons killer weapons, improve the ability of information systems most vulnerable to attack opponents nodes, enhanced network integrated Defense level clouds and terminal element transport layer, dependent on the US military “joint information environment” to implement the most damaging effect, in order to gain the initiative in the local military confrontation or war.

Origianl Mandarin Chinese:

中国国家主席习近平访美期间，中美两国就打击网络犯罪、推动制定网络空间行为准则等方面达成共识，制定了维护网络安全的若干合作举措，形成了某些争端解决机制，意图共同解决全球网络安全问题。然而，美军在网络战、信息战方面正在大动干戈，积极调整作战概念、编制体制、组织形式、作战流程和信息文化，加快发展信息领域作战能力，确保海军能够在与主要作战对手中国的对抗中取得优势地位。

一、信息战编制体制建设

2013年，美国海军将情报部和通信网络部合并成立信息优势部，由一名海军作战部副部长负责信息优势相关事务，配备7名舰队军官和一些高级文职，以及众多的专业人员从事信息战领域的工作，改变了冷战时期情报搜集和舰队作战之间存在的壁垒，保证美国海军利用安全的网络环境获取信息支持各种作战行动之中。美国海军在梅德堡组建了舰队赛博司令部，合并了弗吉尼亚州诺福克海军基地的原海军网络战司令部，由负责能力和资源整合的海军作战部副部长任司令，主要负责网络进攻和防御，管理、运作和保卫海军的网络，以及与赛博作战相关的其它活动，同时作为美军赛博司令部的海军分支，向美军提供信息作战支持。

在部队建设方面，美国海军成立了第10舰队专门负责信息战，作为美国海军的信息优势部队，发展和投送优势信息能力，支援美海和盟军的作战需求，目前已经形成情报监视与侦察、网络、指挥控制、通信情报、电子战、航天等方面的完全作战能力，向信息作战转型之后成为美国海军情报和网络战的重要步骤。

美国海军从水面舰艇、潜艇和航空兵部门划拔经费，保障信息优势部的日常运行、训练、装备和采购，兼顾无人航空系统和电子战系统的建设发展。尽管电子战部门表示将电子攻击项目(如下一代干扰器)从空中作战部门转移到信息优势部将削弱对电子攻击系统的预算支持，但是美国海军表示已经认识到在电子战领域加强攻击性的重要性，加强电子战领域的投入。

二、“联合信息环境”保证海上制信息权

根据美国国防部2013年9月发布的《联合信息环境实施战略》，“联合信息环境”(JIE)是美军迄今为止最大的联合信息技术行动之一，其目标是在国防部范围内进行网络一体化化建设，将“烟囱式”的信息体系发展为扁平网络化的动态信息体系，提供互联互通的基于云的网络基础架构和企业级服务，减少国防部整体的信息技术占用空间和基础设施成本，确保美军获得战场制信息权，提高国防部应对赛博领域威胁的能力。

“联合信息环境”的建设重点是加强信息共享和合作，建立企业级的共享安全协议，实现配置标准化，优化数据路由，在需要的时间和地点交付保密的语音、数据和情报，包括了几乎所有的国防部信息技术工作的联合信息。“联合信息环境”具有通用性、全球性、基于云的特性，包括网络作战中心、数据中心和基于云应用程序和服务的身份管理系统，提供基于云结构的数据存储和共享能力和可回顾的计算机技术支持，允许使用任何设备实现边缘网络操作，加速网络指挥与控制节点的融合，能够保障作战行动和日常行政管理，同时减少网络运行管理成本。

国防信息系统局(DISA)负责联合信息环境的技管理，制定整体架构中的安全标准、准入问题和身份管理等。2013年7月，美军欧洲司令部在斯图加特建立了首个企业级作战中心(EOC)，负责管理美国欧洲和非洲司令部内联合信息环境系统的访问管理，合并下辖的几十个指挥和控制节点。2014年，美军太平洋司令部和美国本土的企业级作战中心也相继展开，联合信息环境“增量1”陆续达到初始作战能力。

美国国防部对联合信息环境建设给予了总计2.39亿美元的经费保证，用于采购核心路由器、光网设备、光纤、网络设备、存储设备、安全工具等基础设施，管理维护国防信息系统网。在预算削减的背景下，美军不得不更加倚重商业空间领域，计划在2016年由地方公司负责宽带全球通信卫星(WGS)的日常运营。在军民合作的空间运营中，DISA需要关注因此带来的潜在威胁，弥补物理传输层的脆弱性。

三、面对主要作战对手展开作战应用

美国海军未来信息战建设瞄准中国等主要作战对手，立足赛博领域严重威胁下的西太平洋战场，进行信息环境建设运营和作战部署，以前沿部署为重点形成现实威慑。美军强调使用弹性和可靠的卫星通信，支持联合信息环境物理传输层，特别是对机动和前沿部署的部队、指挥控制和ISR装备，应对日益增加的空间威胁。

“联合信息环境”设计应用的最初阶段，美国海军就强调以其应对赛博威胁，利用单一安全架构(SSA)减少海军网络面临的“赛博攻击面”，应对美军面对的网络破坏、窃取数据等多种形式的赛博攻击，保证美军的作战信息通过各种渠道安全通畅地传输。如果入侵者的目标只是阻止或迟滞信息传输，就没有必要追求统一的安全架构和保密码。

作战指挥辅助决策系统的体系结构光纤通信安全是美国海军关注的另一个重点。目前，99%的国际数据通信通过海底光缆传输，美军的光纤通信是“联合信息环境”的重要传输途径，用来保障美国本土与盟国和海外军事基地的通信联络。舰艇活动对是海底光缆的最大威胁，对方的对海底光缆的攻击很难防范，一旦遭到破坏需要很长时候修复。因此，国防信息系统局的“网络基础设施需求”(NIPR)要求运营商在3天之内修复受损光缆，美国海军水下工程队也担负海底光缆的维护和抢修任务，保证光纤通信安全顺畅。

四、呼唤我军建设相应的信息战能力

面对美军咄咄逼人的信息战对抗姿态，中国军队的信息战也要直面挑战，建设攻防兼备的信息战体系。日前，习近平主席已经表示中国将大力推进军事变革，制定“信息化战争”新战略，创新履行使命要求的新的军事理论、体制编制、装备体系、战略战术、管理模式。具体到信息作战领域，就是要瞄准美军弱点，重点发展反卫星导弹、陆基电子干扰卫星测控、高能激光攻击和天基卫星武器等杀手锏武器，提高攻击对手信息系统最脆弱节点的能力，增强网络云和终端元件传输层的综合攻防水平，对美军依赖的“联合信息环境”实施最大效应的破坏，才能在军事对抗或局部战争中占据主动。