Why Network Control, Not Just Connectivity, Will Shape the Next Fight

This article explains how future military advantage depends more on controlling network traffic than simply maintaining connectivity. As defense networks expand across satellite, terrestrial, and wireless systems, organizations must manage, prioritize, and secure data flows in real time to support mission-critical operations in contested environments.

It highlights the need for policy-driven orchestration, application-aware traffic management, and automated adaptation to ensure resilience even during congestion, disruption, or cyberattack.

What this resource covers:

• Shift from connectivity to network traffic control
• Challenges of operating in complex, contested environments
• Prioritizing and securing mission-critical data in real time
• Supporting operations like JADC2 under degraded conditions
• Role of policy-driven network orchestration
• Benefits of application-aware traffic management
• Using automation to adapt to disruptions