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The Marine Corps wants to test using light as a power source for its networks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Li-Fi, as it\u2019s known, uses light as an alternative to wireless connection technology. As part of a pilot program, the service\u2019s Rapid Capabilities Office is experimenting with the technology after receiving a requirement from headquarters Marines Command, Control, Communications, Computers, an official told C4ISRNET, Sept. 17 at Modern Day Marine.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s command operations centers are strewn with equipment and cables. By using the florescent lights in the centers, this could not only make the centers more expeditionary, but also reduce the center\u2019s radio-frequency footprint. This is important because adversaries such as Russia have demonstrated they can use that footprint to geolocate and target with missiles or mortars.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cCombat operation centers, they\u2019re too big, they\u2019re too heavy, they\u2019re too slow. They won\u2019t operate in the weapons engagement zone. So we\u2019re looking at next generation [command operations centers],\u201d said Col. Scott Stebbins, director of the command element information warfare integration division within the capabilities development directorate under the deputy commandant for combat development and integration. Stebbins spoke during a panel at Modern Day Marine. \u201cIt\u2019s got to be lighter, faster, better. It\u2019s got to be common hosting environment, virtualization, it\u2019s all about the apps these days.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Li-Fi pilot, which should kick off in the next three months, would both reduce the set up and tear down time of command operation centers because there would be less cables, but it would also make the centers more secure from a signature emanation standpoint.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s back to the basics. Sun Tzu, the art of war, military deception, the only thing that\u2019s changed is technology. How do we leverage technology and get back to the basics with military deception and decoys? So we\u2019re working on that as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Stebbins added that the Marines have to be able to manage their signature; technical signature, administrative signature and physical signature.<\/p>\n
The Marine Corps official told C4ISRNET that this type of technology could also have more broad implications if Li-Fi technology could be used at traditional, static buildings as well.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n