CJADC2 is the future of joint warfare

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The future of joint warfare—missions in which two or more military branches team together—rests on a new operational imperative called Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2), an ambitious plan to synchronize digital technology together across branches.

Why you should know: While joint operations are common, there's often limited connectivity between U.S. military branches when it comes to their sensing and shooting technology.

A peer adversary with greater interoperability across its forces would have an advantage in a war against the U.S.

CJADC2 will link sensors and shooters across service branches and domains through a shared network, which military leaders believe will improve awareness, decision making and response times on the battlefield.

• For example, if a Navy airplane senses an enemy threat, CJADC2 framework will enable the pilot to respond using Army artillery and Air Force cyber weapons simultaneously.

The challenge: Over time, military branches have typically linked their digital assets together via isolated networks. Integrating them will be an enormous job for years to come, as it will require connecting both current and emerging weapons systems.

From the sources:

• “CJADC2 is not a single platform, but a warfighting concept of digitally connecting the joint force across air, land, sea, cyber and space domains,” said Chad Haferbier, a Leidos Vice President leading the company's CJADC2 efforts. “The Department of Defense recognizes that data is the new high ground, making the ability to securely share data across the force key.”
• “CJADC2 aims to close the decision loop and accelerate the military’s ability to rapidly address a threat,” said Leidos expert and retired Brigadier General J.B. Burton. “Simply put, CJADC2 will make our joint warfighters more effective by equipping them with the best information as quickly as possible to conduct operations around the globe.”
• “The military Internet of things has arrived,” says Leidos expert Erik King. “Fifteen years ago, we could conceive of it, and the technology was there, but now the maturity of that technology has made advanced sensors and the accumulation of data far more prevalent. Industry partners like Leidos are well-positioned to support the military on CJADC2 given our military systems integration expertise."

Earlier this year, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin signed a CJADC2 strategy. A classified implementation plan is imminent, according to reports.

Go deeper: A panel of Leidos experts recently sat down with GovExec to discuss five key drivers of CJADC2.

Please contact the Leidos media relations team for more information.