Driving Digital Transformation in the U.S. Department of Defence

In a background brief called Digitisation and the Modern Battlefield, the Association of the U.S. Army asserted that conversion to digital communications would be imperative if the Army is to maintain technological superiority on future battlefields. It went on to point out that the objective is a fully integrated operation where the commander has the information necessary to develop intelligence, synchronise the manoeuvre of forces and optimise the employment of weapons throughout the width and depth of the battle area. If anything, that objective is more pertinent than ever, as the DoD undergoes a long-term, comprehensive digital transformation affecting every aspect of its operations, not just those on the battlefield. In addition to person-to-person messaging, digitisation involves communication between unmanned devices, frequently involving artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud storage, and big data analysis in combat support roles. Digitisation is essential to intelligence gathering, monitoring troop movements, aircraft missions, autonomous weaponry, and more.