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Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) has great promise for supporting bandwidth-intensive, delay-sensitive requirements that will be typical of future command, control and communications (C3) systems. There are many factors to be considered in implementing ATM in a C3 system, making this a complex decision process. Since information technology decisions by their nature are inherently complicated, the use of a framework helps to structure this decision problem. In the context of systems engineering, the author introduces a decision framework for applying ATM in C3 systems and choosing among alternatives. An overview of C3 and an introduction to ATM technology, including current implementation issues, provides the reader with basic concepts. A brief review of alternative and competing technologies is covered to provide a baseline for comparison with ATM. The decision framework is developed using trade-off, risk, performance and cost analyses. Scenarios and network architectures form the alternatives considered in the framework. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used in the framework to synthesize the results of the analyses and helps to select a preferred network architecture.