The challenges faced by the communication and IT troops, among others, in terms of fresh solutions, difficulties in obtaining a decently educated staff and the technological revolution that the Polish Army passed in terms of communication and command after our country entered NATO structures, are discussed by Colonel Piotr Chodowiec, Head of the Management Board of Management and Command – P6 of the General Staff of the Polish Army.
Colonel, why don't we start at the end, 'cause I wish. On October 18th, there is simply a celebration of communication troops and computer science. What would you like to want soldiers of this kind?
Colonel Peter Chodowiec: First of all, satisfaction with your duties. Communication and IT troops are aware of their vital function in the armed forces. They remember that communication is simply a key ability, without which, among another things, neither fire, nor recognition, nor logistics will function properly. We're on the ground hard. Let me be very clear that our work and our efforts are essential to ensuring continuity in the management and command of armed forces.
Today, in an age of artificial intelligence, cyberspace, the Internet, communications is something archaic?
According to the definition, all the areas you mention are communications elements. This is simply a very broad concept, subject to change, but inactive valid. Communication is the transmission of distance information via mail, telecommunications network, radio and television, and now mainly via the Internet. It is 1 of the most modern and dynamic areas of the economy, essential in its current operation. Military communications are unique.
Special? What do you mean?
In order to carry out the most crucial task they face, namely to supply command capabilities for the armed forces, the communication and IT forces must constantly follow the latest information and telecommunications technologies. We must so follow their improvement and implement the best solutions for the armed forces. We constantly improve in their use. Furthermore, we must not forget that we are inactive exposed to the action of the enemy. So cybersecurity is an component of communication. You can see this perfectly on the way of improvement of military communication – from a pedestrian link, phase coaching, post pigeons, through analogue wired and radio communications to modern satellite communications, digital radio communications, VoIP telephony, the Internet. Note besides the fast improvement of mobile telephony technology.
Colonel Piotr Chodowiec, Head of the Management Board of Management and Command – P6 of the General Staff of the Polish Army. photograph by Krzysztof Wilewski
For the current form of Polish communication and IT troops, the decisive turning point was 1999, i.e. Our country's accession to NATO. This forced the construction of a command and communication strategy compatible with another Alliance armies. What another date would you point out as another milestone in the improvement of our WILA?
No uncertainty 2008. At the NATO summit in Bucharest, a commitment was made to strengthen the Alliance's information systems against cyber attacks. It was then that another phase of building the ability to operate in cyberspace began in the Polish Army. Even in 2008, then the head of the Management Board of Systems Planning Command and Communications – P6 (ZPSDiŁ-P6) Colonel Andrzej Brzoza began planning and conceptual work on the creation of a military unit with this competence. The concept process was completed with the preparation by the next head of ZPSDiŁ-P6 of Brig. Gen. Andrzej Kaczyński of organizational and cadre documents, and then on 1 July the first unit was formed in the Polish Army for conducting operations in cyberspace – Centre for Cybersecurity of Armed Forces, subordinate to the head of ZPSDiŁ-P6 SG WP. On 1 June 2013, the National Centre of Krypton was formed in Legionowo, and in 2019 a merger of the Information Technology Inspectorate with the National Centre of Krypton was created. National Cyberspace safety Centre.
What are the biggest challenges facing the communications and IT troops today?
The most crucial challenge for the North Atlantic Alliance, and so besides for the Polish Army, is the launch of the digital transformation, which will enable, among another things, the implementation of the NATO concept of multi-domain operations. The second major challenge is to equip our armed forces with equipment suitable for their needs and threats. And the third, equally crucial – changing the approach to training, to training our human resources, both professional soldiers, reservists and civilian personnel.
What do you mean by digital transformation?
This will be a very difficult, continuous, multi-faceted process of transforming reasoning and acting by exploiting the possible that modern technologies offer and associated modes of action, while building the required capacities in fresh areas.
What technologies are we talking about?
There are quite a few them, but they can be described as solutions that will let for the fast acquisition, collection and processing of information from multiple sensors, while creating conditions for fast improvement and decision-making on the effective usage of countermeasures or effectors to accomplish the desired results at the right place and time.
Artificial intelligence?
Definitely, yes, but not only. Quantum computers and next generation networks are the next items on the list. Truly, the technologies that we request to consider could be exchanged for a very long time.
I will admit that the second challenge you mentioned, i.e. equipping the Polish Army with equipment suitable for our needs and threats, sounds very mysterious.
Why? It is no secret that 1 of our biggest challenges is to get military equipment as shortly as possible, which will keep up with fast technological developments in communications and computer science. It must be remembered that the life cycle of communication equipment is much shorter than, for example, armored equipment or air force, so it should be exchanged all fewer years, otherwise it is simply outdated and gives advantage to our opponent.
In a word, no shopping. What are the most crucial needs of our communication and IT troops?
For the military, but for the full state, the key and precedence acquisition request of our kind is the telecommunications satellite. The second item on the list is command wagons for various types of military equipment, both late acquired and the 1 that has long been in service. In 3rd place is the acquisition of equipment for Combat cloud, a military data cloud that will guarantee that we proceed to operate even in the most critical situations that may affect communication systems.
