The escalating complexity of the combat environment has seen the “Digital Battlefield” not only emerge as the primary mechanism for real-time situational awareness, but also embody technologies that can make other resources more effective – a “force multiplier”. Conventional forces including tanks, fighting vehicles, aircraft, rotorcrafts, artillery, combat vessels and convoy/support vehicles, all benefit from their interconnection within the digital battlefield. 

But security considerations are vitally important if the undoubted benefits of this approach are to be realized.