A military command center closely monitoring radar data and intelligence feeds to track and analyze enemy troop movements across a vast desert battlefield.
Operating in one of the most contested and unpredictable theaters, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) is at the forefront of developing next-generation, interoperable command-and-control capability. Central to this effort is the INDOPACOM Mission Network (IMN), which has demonstrated its capacity to support joint, multi-domain operations. IMN is now progressing toward full operational capability, a milestone expected to be achieved during the Pacific Sentry exercise this summer.
As the first and largest data-centric, Zero Trust system authorized for operational use, IMN enables real-time, secure collaboration, helping U.S. forces and mission partners advance integrated deterrence. To leverage the asymmetric advantage gained through multinational alliances and partnerships, an edge IMN facilitates, every corner of the U.S. military will inevitably require a similar solution.
A mission enabler
IMN is a ground-up reinvention of rigid and unwieldy legacy infrastructure defined by multiple networks and isolated enclaves, each with separate security protocols, classification levels, and access controls. Such fragmented systems stifle information exchange and collaboration, the backbone of effective military operations and strategic decision-making. IMN will provide INDOPACOM with the platform and ability to collapse its legacy network-centric enclaves and over 28,000 accounts on disparate computing environments into a single, secure information domain in the future. It will ultimately eliminate the need to maintain separate networks, providing a shared operational view, reducing costs and inefficiencies, and removing coalition friction points.
Secure by design
Recognizing the inherent constraints of legacy systems, INDOPACOM adopted a greenfield strategy in the development of IMN. The clean-slate approach enabled the command to move beyond static, perimeter-based defenses to implement a modern, data-centric security model designed to safeguard information itself. Individual data elements are tagged with appropriate classification labels that keep security embedded with the data throughout the entire lifecycle. Consequently, users can access only the precise information they need and are authorized to see, rather than gaining broader access to a network, which significantly reduces the threat surface. IMN integrates an extensive suite of fine-grained Zero Trust security controls across all seven pillars outlined in the Department of Defense (DoD) Zero Trust strategy, a level of implementation rarely seen. It provides AI-enabled assured access, data tagging, and policy enforcement from the edge to the enterprise. Its forward-looking design addresses current threats and future-proofs the network to ensure it remains resilient and adapts to the evolving challenges of data-centric warfare.
Operational advantage
As Adm. Samuel Paparo, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, emphasized during his keynote address at the 2025 Land Forces Pacific Symposium, “The first battle in any conflict will take place in space and cyber… the very first battle is a battle for information superiority.” To achieve this crucial advantage and augment its decisive edge, INDOPACOM can expand IMN’s capabilities by embedding open source information and AI-powered analytics into its secure environment. With the future fight in mind, IMN’s flexible design was specifically engineered to support rapid deployment of new, advanced tools and solutions.
Adaptable solution for shared challenges
Referencing the critical ability to synchronize military operations, Maj. Gen. Peter Andrysiak recently said, “If U.S. European Command — where I am the chief of staff — had to fight today, we would risk failing to support our commander in making decisions at the speed and quality necessary to succeed in modern conflict.” This sobering assessment highlights the strategic risk of continuing to operate on legacy systems.
Mirroring the challenges faced by INDOPACOM in a complex theater, U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and its Service Component Commands confront their own set of pressing imperatives. Playing a central role in strengthening NATO’s collective defense posture and deterring further aggression from powerful actors, it is especially critical for EUCOM to build a Zero Trust, cloud-native, data-centric operating domain that unlocks modern capabilities.
However, EUCOM operates in a vastly different landscape, requiring solutions that address its unique mission demands. Achieving network interoperability between U.S. forces and NATO’s 32 partner nations requires aligning diverse accreditation protocols and classification standards. It demands robust physical infrastructure to put data as close to the end users as possible, ensuring seamless connectivity while maintaining strict access controls. Additionally, Europe’s complex data protection laws impose rigorous requirements, mandating servers hosting sensitive data to be physically located within Europe.
Using IMN as a baseline standard and tailoring it to align with mission-specific needs, combatant commands across all areas of responsibility can chart a course toward a flexible, secure IT infrastructure.
Scaling the success
IMN’s design was mapped against 250 requirements from INDOPACOM and its subordinate units, which demonstrates the complexity of this initiative. The network was built and is maintained by a core team of fewer than 200 staff members, who operate and sustain a network supporting 29,000 users—a scale that underscores the team’s extraordinary capability and efficiency. Having successfully deployed the Palantir Mission Data Platform, the team set the stage for the Maven Smart System (MSS), DoD’s AI-enabled data processing system, to be deployed to IMN in the future.
IMN is a purpose-built, readily deployable solution that provides a robust starting point for other commands looking to replicate INDOPACOM’s success in an undertaking of this magnitude. It is aligned to the Pacific theater’s unique demands, but the architecture and implementation strategy can be tailored based on specific mission objectives, essential capabilities, stakeholders involved, and resources available. Depending on those needs, the system can start with foundational capabilities, such as email, Active Directory, and web browsing, and scale to support more advanced functionality, such as voice-over IP, video teleconferencing, or real-time command and control.
The ongoing eight-month multinational force exercise Operation Highmast will provide a critical proving ground for IMN’s ability to enable and enhance complex, multi-stakeholder operations. Defense leaders should watch closely, as its success offers a powerful template for innovation. The lead systems integrator for IMN successfully applied its battle-tested methodology to architect a hyper-converged infrastructure, using Zero Trust principles and cloud-native techniques. DoD can leverage the expertise that underpins IMN’s success to enable dynamic command and control of coalition forces at scale.
About the Author
Steve Robles, Vice President for Coalition Solutions at SOS International (SOSi), a private defense and government services firm. He leads SOSi’s Mission Partner Environment line of business, including the team responsible for the design, implementation, security, and management of the INDOPACOM Mission Network.
