SecDef OKs JADC2 Strategy: Now OSD Has ‘Teeth’

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has signed the strategy guiding the massive effort to knit troopers on the front lines to F-35s, submarines, satellites, ships and commanders across the globe, known as Joint All Domain Command and Control.

The approval by Austin “brings order to our efforts in the command and control arena” Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Dennis Crall, the head of J6, told reporters at the Pentagon’s briefing room today. His appearance marked the first time a top-level briefing has been held on the topic of All Domain Operations, showing clearly how integral what has been dismissed by some has become a central aspect of American warfighting.

One of the greatest challenges to JADC2, recognized from the beginning, was how to ensure the services, who have acquisition authority over new programs and tend to be wedded to the systems they have in pocket, would design systems that could share data reliably with every weapon and every service no matter what domain they might be fighting in.

“Now,” Crall said, “I can take the strategy and vet it and see what is in compliance and what is not,” in effect giving him a whip hand to force the services and industry to do what’s needed.