The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the C4I systems capabilities of the U.S. and R.O.K. Armed Forces and suggest the directions of the C4I systems development for the R.O.K. Armed Forces.
The importance of the C4I systems has been increased with the advent of the Network-Centric Warfare theory. Recently, the transfer of the wartime operational control of the ROK Armed Forces from the U.S. to the ROK has been decided to be postponed between two countries due to the insufficiency of the C4I systems capabilities of the R.O.K. Armed Forces.
In this context, this paper reviews the concepts of the NCW and C4I, the origin, development, and application of NCW theory, the benefits of NCW, and the advancement process and future of the C4I capabilities of the U.S. Armed Forces. Next, it reviews the discussions of NCW theory in the R.O.K., its application and practices, and the advancement process and future of the C4I systems capabilities of the R.O.K. Armed Forces. Then, it suggests the directions of the advancement of the C4I systems capabilities for the R.O.K. Armed Forces, the revitalization of requirements proposals on the C4I systems capabilities, and the obtainment of financial resources for the C4I systems.