Assessing communications systems for the Australian defense force

This research develops a decision analysis model for assessing various communication systems to support the command and control of the Australian Defense Forces (ADF). System effectiveness and cost were used to identify the most valued communication systems and the key system effectiveness and cost trade-offs. System effectiveness measures were developed from basic communication objectives, while cost measures were derived from project cost elements associated with buying a communication system. Existing ADF communication systems formed the baseline for the model. The model highlighted the superior performance of satellite communication systems over High Frequency (HF) communication systems, and also the significant cost differential in favor of HF systems. However, the final decision involves making a choice between commercial and military satellite communication systems. The choice depends on the decision-maker’s information security versus cost. The model can be adapted to the decision-maker’s requirements and can be used to assess any type of command and control communication system.