The information society has seen the introduction of rapid technological change that has conditioned how we now live, think, decide and act. From a national perspective, harnessing this change to our national advantage is important, as is protecting our interests from its exploitation by others.

Defence, as for other key national security and wellbeing issues, is particularly important. Defence has acknowledged and embraced the offerings of the new technologies, and is now moving down the path of a networked force that will deliver efficiencies across the whole C4ISREW spectrum. This is also the case in countries within our region, and in other areas where the ADF could be operationally deployed.

In war, our objective would be to win by destroying an enemy’s capability to fight as well as their will to fight. This objective entails political, strategic, military, economic, and societal elements and targets. The objectives are both psychological and physical.

A country’s NII, DII and GII linkages enable the information society, including its Defence capability. The ability to target and attack the information infrastructures of an enemy in war, or to exploit those of allies, friends or neutrals, must be part of a Defence capability and a national capability. The requirement may also exist to target these infrastructures in non-war circumstances. Developing the capability to target foreign information infrastructures is not only a necessity, but a national priority.