AUSCANNZUKUS

Last updated

AUSCANNZUKUS is an abbreviation for the naval Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) interoperability organization involving the Anglosphere nations of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It is also used as security caveat in the UKUSA Community, where it is also known as " Five Eyes ." [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Objectives, strategies and guiding principles

The organization's vision and mission, [4] objectives, strategies and guiding principles, [5] and Structure [6] are presented on the AUSCANNZUKUS Information Portal.

Objectives

  1. To achieve internal sharing and understanding of Maritime C4 knowledge.
  2. To produce products and processes to achieve Maritime C4 interoperability.
  3. To increase external sharing and understanding of AUSCANNZUKUS. [5]

Strategies

  1. Establish C4 policy and standards.
  2. Identify C4 interoperability requirements and risks.
  3. Identify, develop and utilize new technologies.
  4. Exchange information on national C4 capabilities, plans, and projects.
  5. To improve national awareness of AUSCANNZUKUS.
  6. Leverage exercises, experiments and demonstrations to deliver capability.
  7. Inform and influence multi national defence fora. [5]

Guiding principles

  1. The focus of all activities is to be on the requirements of the naval warfighter.
  2. All knowledge-sharing initiatives are to aim at providing innovative options, which are affordable to all AUSCANNZUKUS navies.
  3. All relevant information is to be shared with appropriate joint and combined organizations. [5]
AUSCANZUKUS structure. AUSCANZUKUSstructure.png
AUSCANZUKUS structure.

Structure

The current AUSCANNZUKUS organization consists of the supervisory board, C4 Committee, and various other subordinate groups. [6]

History

Early in World War II communications interoperability between Allied forces was poor. During March 1941 the first high-level proposals to formally structure combined operations between the United States and the United Kingdom were considered; these discussions were the genesis of the current Combined Communications Electronics Board (CCEB). [7]

The origins of the AUSCANNZUKUS organization arose from dialogue between Admiral Arleigh Burke, USN, and Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, RN, in 1960. Their intention was to align naval communications policies and prevent, or at least limit, any barriers to interoperability, with the imminent introduction of sophisticated new communications equipment. AUSCANNZUKUS matured to the current five-nation organization in 1980 when New Zealand became a full member. [7]

The organization's remit has expanded over the years, and its mission now includes fostering knowledge sharing and C4 interoperability between the navies of the five nations in order to increase operational effectiveness. [4]

AUSCANNZUKUS liaises closely with Washington-based management groups of the Combined Communications Electronics Board (CCEB), Multinational Interoperability Council (MIC), [8] American, British, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand Armies' Interoperability Program (ABCANZ Armies), Air and Space Interoperability Council (ASIC (Air Force)) [9] [10] and The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP). [11] [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ECHELON</span> Signals intelligence collection and analysis network

ECHELON, originally a secret government code name, is a surveillance program operated by the five signatory states to the UKUSA Security Agreement: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, also known as the Five Eyes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Signals Directorate</span> Australian signals intelligence agency

The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), formerly the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD), is the federal statutory agency in the Australian Government responsible for foreign signals intelligence, support to military operations, cyber warfare, and information security. ASD is part of the Australian Intelligence Community. ASD's role within UKUSA Agreement is to monitor signals intelligence ("SIGINT") in South and East Asia. The ASD also houses the Australian Cyber Security Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interoperability</span> Ability of systems to work with each other

Interoperability is a characteristic of a product or system to work with other products or systems. While the term was initially defined for information technology or systems engineering services to allow for information exchange, a broader definition takes into account social, political, and organizational factors that impact system-to-system performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Defense Information Systems Agency</span> US Department of Defense combat support agency

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), known as the Defense Communications Agency (DCA) until 1991, is a United States Department of Defense (DoD) combat support agency composed of military, federal civilians, and contractors. DISA provides information technology (IT) and communications support to the President, Vice President, Secretary of Defense, the military services, the combatant commands, and any individual or system contributing to the defense of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anglosphere</span> Grouping of English-speaking nations

The Anglosphere is the Anglo-American sphere of influence, with a core group of nations that today maintain close political, diplomatic and military co-operation. While the nations included in different sources vary, the Anglosphere is usually not considered to include all countries where English is an official language, so it is not synonymous with the sphere of anglophones, though commonly included nations are those that were formerly part of the British Empire and retained the English language and English Common Law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UKUSA Agreement</span> Multilateral signals intelligence treaty signed in 1946

The United Kingdom – United States of America Agreement is a multilateral agreement for cooperation in signals intelligence between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The alliance of intelligence operations is also known as the Five Eyes. In classification markings this is abbreviated as FVEY, with the individual countries being abbreviated as AUS, CAN, NZL, GBR, and USA, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selex ES</span> 2013–2015 subsidiary of Finmeccanica S.p.A.

Selex ES was a subsidiary of Finmeccanica, active in the electronics and information technology business, based in Italy and the UK, and formed in January 2013, following Finmeccanica's decision to combine its existing SELEX Elsag and SELEX Sistemi Integrati businesses into SELEX Galileo, the immediate predecessor of Selex ES. From 1 January 2016, the activities of Selex ES merged into Leonardo-Finmeccanica's Electronics, Defence and Security Systems Sector becoming Leonardo S.p.A.

The Combined Communications-Electronics Board (CCEB) is a five-nation joint military communications-electronics (C-E) organisation whose mission is the coordination of any military C-E matter that is referred to it by a member nation. The member nations of the CCEB are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The CCEB is the Sponsoring Authority for all Allied Communications Publications (ACPs). ACPs are raised and issued under common agreement between the member nations. The CCEB Board consists of a senior Command, Control, Communications and Computer (C4) representative from each of the member nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Five Eyes</span> Intelligence alliance

The Five Eyes (FVEY) is an Anglosphere intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These countries are parties to the multilateral UK-USA Agreement, a treaty for joint cooperation in signals intelligence. Informally, Five Eyes can refer to the group of intelligence agencies of these countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ABCANZ Armies</span> Multi-country military organization

ABCANZ Armies is a program aimed at optimizing interoperability and standardization of training and equipment between the armies of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, plus the United States Marine Corps and the Royal Marines. Established in 1947 as a means to capitalize on close cooperation between the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada during World War II, the program grew to include Australia and New Zealand.

Signals intelligence by alliances, nations and industries comprises signals intelligence (SIGINT) gathering activities by national and non-national entities; these entities are commonly responsible for communications security (COMSEC) as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Signals intelligence operational platforms by nation</span>

Signals intelligence operational platforms are employed by nations to collect signals intelligence, which is intelligence-gathering by interception of signals, whether between people or between machines, or mixtures of the two. As sensitive information is often encrypted, signals intelligence often involves the use of cryptanalysis. However, traffic analysis—the study of who is signalling whom and in what quantity—can often produce valuable information, even when the messages themselves cannot be decrypted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canada–New Zealand relations</span> Bilateral relations

Canada–New Zealand relations are the international relations between Canada and New Zealand. The two countries are former British Dominions and have a common head of state in King Charles III. Both nations are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Cairns Group, Commonwealth of Nations, Five Eyes, OECD and the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estonian Defence Forces</span> Armed forces of Estonia

The Estonian Defence Forces is the unified military force of the Republic of Estonia. The Estonian Defence Forces consists of the Estonian Land Forces, the Estonian Navy, the Estonian Air Force, and the paramilitary Estonian Defence League. The national defence policy aims to guarantee the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the state, the integrity of its land area, territorial waters, airspace and its constitutional order. Its main goals remain the development and maintenance of a credible capability to defend the nation's vital interests and development of the defence forces in a way that ensures their interoperability with the armed forces of NATO and European Union member states to participate in the full range of missions for these military alliances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Hight</span>

Elizabeth Ann Hight is a retired United States Navy rear admiral who served as the vice director of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). She assumed this post in December 2007. In 2008, she was nominated for appointment to the grade of vice admiral and assignment as director, Defense Information Systems Agency; commander, Joint Task Force – Global Network Operations; and deputy commander, U.S. Strategic Command Global Network Operations and Defense, Arlington, Virginia. Her nomination was rejected by the Senate due to a perceived conflict of interest with her husband, retired Air Force Brigadier General Gary Salisbury, who is vice president of business development and sales for Northrop Grumman Corp.'s mission systems sector, defense mission systems division. She retired from the Navy in 2010.

The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP) is a long-standing international organisation concerned with cooperation on defence science and technology matters, including national security and civil defence. Its membership comprises Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US).

The Five Eyes Air Force Interoperability Council(AFIC) is a formal military organisation, consisting of the "Five Eyes" countries, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and United States. The organisation is responsible for enhancing Air Force interoperability amongst member nations' Air Forces. The use of the term "Five Eyes" stems from the informal name for the intelligence sharing network consisting of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States.

All Partners Access Network (APAN), formerly called Asia-Pacific Area Network, is a United States Department of Defense (USDOD) social networking website used for information sharing and collaboration. APAN is the premier collaboration enterprise for the USDOD. The APAN network of communities fosters multinational interaction and multilateral cooperation by allowing users to post multimedia and other content in blogs, wikis, forums, document libraries and media galleries. APAN is used for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, exercise planning, conferences and work groups. APAN provides non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and U.S. partner nations who do not have access to traditional, closed USDOD networks with an unclassified tool to communicate.

Allied Communications Publications are documents developed by the Combined Communications-Electronics Board and NATO, which define the procedures for communicating in computer messaging, radiotelephony, radiotelegraph, radioteletype (RATT), air-to-ground signalling, and other forms of communications used by the armed forces of the five CCEB member countries and/or NATO.

References

  1. ↑ McGregor, Richard. "Global Insight: US spying risks clouding 'five eyes' vision". Financial Times . Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  2. ↑ Lee, Michael. "Snowden leak reaffirms Australia's four spy installations". ZDNet . Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  3. ↑ Gurney, Matt. "Canada Navy Spy Case". National Post. Archived from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  4. 1 2 "AUSCANNZUKUS Information Portal". Auscannzukus.net. 2008-10-05. Archived from the original on 2010-12-29. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "AUSCANNZUKUS Overview". Auscannzukus.net. 2010-03-01. Retrieved 2011-11-04.[ dead link ]
  6. 1 2 "AUSCANNZUKUS Structure". Auscannzukus.net. 2010-03-01. Retrieved 2011-11-04.[ dead link ]
  7. 1 2 "AUSCANNZUKUS History". Auscannzukus.net. 2010-03-01. Retrieved 2011-11-04.[ dead link ]
  8. ↑ "Multinational Interoperability Council". Archived from the original on 2014-11-12.
  9. ↑ "Air and Space Interoperability Council". Dtic.mil. Archived from the original on January 4, 2008. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  10. ↑ "Air and Space Interoperability Council". airstandards.org. Archived from the original on 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  11. ↑ "Welcome To The Technical Cooperation Program". osd.mil. Archived from the original on 2012-07-01. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  12. ↑ "Auscannzukus Links". Auscannzukus.net. 2010-03-01. Retrieved 2011-11-04.[ dead link ]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.