Navy internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) transition strategy in support of network-centric operations and warfare

Network-centric warfare is the operational concept that provides information sharing amongst a large array of networked nodes, including mobile platforms, sensors, space systems, weapons, munitions and war fighters. This information sharing enhances battle space situation awareness, which allows war fighters to get the right information at the right time and place, and to make the right decisions ahead of adversaries. IPv6 is an enabling technology of network-centric operations and warfare for improving the scalability, robustness, agility, security, flexibility and manageability of military communication systems. The large address space, built-in stateless node discovery, Internet Protocol (IP) security (IPSec) and mobility functions offered in IPv6 will be an important enabler for information sharing and distribution amongst war fighters in a dynamic battle space environment. As described in a mid-2003 memo1, to achieve its vision of network-centric operations and warfare, the Department of Defense (DoD) established a goal to transition all military communications networks to IPv6 across the Global Information Grid (GIG), and for all systems that are part of the Defense Information System Network (DISN) that will interoperate with the GIG. The purpose of this paper is to present the Navy overall strategy of transitioning its critical network infrastructure to IPv6 to support network-centric warfare and fleet operations. The paper also highlights the U.S. Navy's recent accomplishments, namely the two Joint Staff IPv6 Operational Criteria - Criterion 4 (known as JCS 4) demonstrations of voice, data, and video integration. In addition, the paper discusses the way forward in light of the establishment and deployment of the multi-site Navy Technical Excellence Center with focus on current and future IPv6 test and evaluation - encompassing laboratory tests, field tests (i.e., experiments), demonstrations, and modeling and simulation - to address operational - - needs and requirements of the war fighters.