The U.S. Navy’s Fleet Cyber Command/10th Fleet has issued a strategic plan for the next five years, recognizing the need for the service to have “more resilient and hardened” networks against adversaries during a crisis.
“I am certain the opening rounds of a 21st century great power conflict, particularly one impacting the maritime domain, will be launched in the electromagnetic, space, or cyber domains,” Vice Adm. Timothy "T.J." White, the command’s chief, said in a foreword to the strategic plan. “If the Navy is to fight and win, Navy networks must be able to survive those hits and ‘fight hurt.’ Our people must be trained and exercised to fight through those hits.”
White added that the service must ensure that its networks “remain a key advantage for the Fleet during times of lethal combat.” The latest plan’s vision consists of three primary elements: ensuring first mover advantage in full-spectrum information warfare; fighting and winning in a fully contested battlespace, as well as promoting modernization and innovation.
The command made some minor changes to the 2015-2020 strategic plan’s five goals to reflect the maturation of information warfare and shift to great power competition. These goals are operating the network as a warfighting platform, performing fleet cryptologic warfare, delivering warfighting capabilities and effects, accelerating the Navy’s cyber forces and establishing and maturing Navy Space Command.
