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10TH INTERNATIONAL COMMAND AND CONTROL RESEARCH AND
TECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM
THE FUTURE OF C2
Comparing OODA & other models as Operational View C2 Architecture
Topic: C4ISR/C2 Architecture
Tim Grant * and Bas Kooter **
Point of contact: Tim Grant

• Royal Netherlands Military Academy

P.O. Box 90.002, 4800 PA Breda, The Netherlands
Tel: +31 76 527 3261 / Fax: +31 76 527 3259
TJ.Grant@mindef.nl
** MultiNeeds b.v.
Mokkabruin 12, 2718 NE Zoetermeer, The Netherlands
Tel: +31 79 361 9099 / Fax: +31 79 361 8873
MultiNeeds@planet.nl
Abstract
Boyd’s Observe-Orient-Decide-Act (OODA) loop is a model of decision-making created
from observing jet fighter pilots in combat. Over the course of time, OODA has been adopted
by other military services, has influenced the development of grand concepts such as
manoeuvre warfare, “shock and awe”, and network-centric warfare (NCW), and is widely
taught in officer training. In essence, OODA has become an accepted business process model
for military Command & Control (C2). This makes it a leading candidate for the operational
view of C2 systems architecture.
Boyd was interested in strategy, not C2 systems architecture. Before OODA can be adopted
as a guiding paradigm for C2 systems architecture, it is prudent to critically review its
suitability. The purpose of this paper is to compare OODA with other candidate C2 business
process models and with the needs of NCW, identifying how OODA should be re-engineered.