AUSCANNZUKUS
Encyclopedia
AUSCANNZUKUS is a naval C4 (Command, Control, Communications and Computers) interoperability organization involving the nations of Australia
, Canada
, New Zealand
, the United Kingdom
, and the United States
. The acronym is also used as security caveat in the UKUSA Community
, where it is also known as "Five Eyes".
Objectives
Strategies
Guiding Principles
communications interoperability between Allied forces was poor. During March 1941 the first high-level proposals to formally structure combined operations between the United States and the United Kingdom were considered; these discussions were the genesis of the current Combined Communications Electronics Board
(CCEB).
The origins of the AUSCANNZUKUS organization arose from dialogue between Admiral Arleigh Burke
, USN, and Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten
, RN, in 1960. Their intention was to align naval communications policies and prevent, or at least limit any barriers to interoperability with the imminent introduction of sophisticated new communications equipment. AUSCANNZUKUS matured to the current five-nation organization in 1980 when New Zealand became a full member.
The organization's remit has expanded over the years, and its mission now includes fostering knowledge sharing and C4 interoperability between the navies of the five nations in order to increase operational effectiveness.
(CCEB), Multi-National Interoperability Council
(MIC), American, British, Canadian & Australian Armies (ABCA Armies
), Air Standardization Coordinating Committee (ASCC (Air Force)) and The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP).
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The acronym is also used as security caveat in the UKUSA Community
UKUSA Community
The United Kingdom – United States of America Agreement is a multilateral agreement for cooperation in signals intelligence among the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It was first signed in March 1946 by the United Kingdom and the United States and later...
, where it is also known as "Five Eyes".
Objectives, Strategies and Guiding Principles
The organization's Vision and Mission, Objectives, Strategies and Guiding Principles, and Structure are presented on the AUSCANNZUKUS Information Portal.Objectives
- To achieve internal sharing and understanding of Maritime C4 knowledge.
- To produce products & processes to achieve Maritime C4 interoperability.
- To increase external sharing and understanding of AUSCANNZUKUS.
Strategies
- Establish C4 policy and standards.
- Identify C4 interoperability requirements and risks.
- Identify, develop and utilize new technologies.
- Exchange information on national C4 capabilities, plans, and projects.
- To improve national awareness of AUSCANNZUKUS.
- Leverage exercises, experiments and demonstrations to deliver capability.
- Inform and influence multi national defence fora.
Guiding Principles
- The focus of all activities is to be on the requirements of the naval warfighter.
- All knowledge-sharing initiatives are to aim at providing innovative options, which are affordable to all AUSCANNZUKUS navies.
- All relevant information is to be shared with appropriate joint and combined organizations.
Structure
The current AUSCANNZUKUS organization consists of the Supervisory Board, C4 Committee, and various other subordinate groups.History
Early in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
communications interoperability between Allied forces was poor. During March 1941 the first high-level proposals to formally structure combined operations between the United States and the United Kingdom were considered; these discussions were the genesis of the current Combined Communications Electronics Board
Combined Communications Electronics Board
The Combined Communications Electronics Board is a military communications-electronics organisation established between five nations: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom & United States...
(CCEB).
The origins of the AUSCANNZUKUS organization arose from dialogue between Admiral Arleigh Burke
Arleigh Burke
Admiral Arleigh Albert '31-knot' Burke was an admiral of the United States Navy who distinguished himself during World War II and the Korean War, and who served as Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations.-Early life and naval career:Burke was born in Boulder,...
, USN, and Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
, RN, in 1960. Their intention was to align naval communications policies and prevent, or at least limit any barriers to interoperability with the imminent introduction of sophisticated new communications equipment. AUSCANNZUKUS matured to the current five-nation organization in 1980 when New Zealand became a full member.
The organization's remit has expanded over the years, and its mission now includes fostering knowledge sharing and C4 interoperability between the navies of the five nations in order to increase operational effectiveness.
Related organizations
AUSCANNZUKUS liaises closely with Washington based management groups of the Combined Communications Electronics BoardCombined Communications Electronics Board
The Combined Communications Electronics Board is a military communications-electronics organisation established between five nations: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom & United States...
(CCEB), Multi-National Interoperability Council
Multilateral Interoperability Programme
The Multilateral Interoperability Programme is an effort to deliver an assured capability for interoperability of information to support multinational, combined and joint operations. The MIP goal is to support all levels from corps to battalion. MIP's focus is on command and control systems...
(MIC), American, British, Canadian & Australian Armies (ABCA Armies
ABCA Armies
ABCA Armies is a program aimed at optimizing interoperability and standardization of training and equipment between the armies of the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, plus the United States Marine Corps and the Royal Marines...
), Air Standardization Coordinating Committee (ASCC (Air Force)) and The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP).