Network enabled capability as a challenge for design

Abstract

In 2002 the UK Ministry of Defence introduced Network Enabled Capability (NEC) as its response to US designs for Network Centric Warfare. NEC as a paradigm poses a number of requirements on systems in the battlefield and defence companies are expected to deliver systems that meet these requirements. Requirements such as agility or interoperability can be achieved by improved change planning. At the same time, the effects of change can be unpredictable. Scoping the effects of change before a change is made can be crucial for delivering products or services in time and in budget. This paper investigates how operational requirements of NEC impact industry tasked with designing network enabled products from a change perspective.