U.S. Army Brigade Combat Team Exercise Demonstrates Value of On-the-Move Networking

U.S. Army Brigade Combat Team Exercise Demonstrates Value of On-the-Move Networking
July 21, 2010

Joint Tactical Radio System technologies and the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) seamlessly connect individual soldiers, ground sensors, aerial relays and vehicles to the company, battalion, brigade and higher echelons while on the move

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M., -During a recent U.S. Army Brigade Combat Team Integration exercise, General Dynamics C4 Systems-led programs successfully demonstrated critical networking and communications capabilities that connected command posts, on-the-move forces and dismounted soldiers. General Dynamics C4 Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

During the exercise, widely dispersed Army units exchanged command-and-control messages, location information, voice, electronic chat and imagery while on the move. Using the Joint Tactical Radio System'sSoldier Radio Waveform and involving sensors, aerial platforms, vehicles and command posts, the seamless, ad-hoc networking extended connectivity to dismounted soldiers for the first time.

The four-day exercise featured seven realistic mission scenarios that demonstrated how the Army's Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) and Joint Tactical Radio Systems (JTRS) can work with key battle command applications to increase force effectiveness across a variety of missions and terrain.

Chris Marzilli, president of General Dynamics C4 Systems, said, "This exercise was a great opportunity to show the value of tight integration across command, control, communications and computing domains. WIN-T, JTRS HMS, Land Warrior, Command Post of the Future (CPOF) and the Tactical Ground Reporting System (TIGR) integrate very effectively and demonstrate the importance of the network to bringing critical mission data to the warfighter."

The exercise, staged at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, was designed to show the increased effectiveness of brigades equipped with high-throughput wireless networking to the tactical edge. Range was extended through Manpack radios and through the integration of an aerial tier using other JTRS HMS radios, demonstrating the usability and functionality of key equipment in rugged desert and mountain environments. The network reach was also complemented by the upper tier, over-the-horizon capability of WIN-T.

General Dynamics C4 Systems-led programs enabling the Brigade Combat Team Integration exercise include:

- Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) demonstrating the ability to extend the network by connecting an aerial layer to enhance warfighter situational awareness on the ground.

- Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Fit (HMS) Rifleman Radios (AN/PRC-154) connecting squad leaders with their teams using Land Warrior Systems; as well as JTRS HMS Manpack radios (AN/PRC-155) integrated into command posts, vehicular Network Integration Kits (NIKs) and Manpackable Network Integration Kits (MNIKs) across geographically dispersed platoons.

- HMS Small Form Fit (SFF) radios were also integrated into Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS), the Shadow Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Persistent Ground Surveillance Systems (PGSS) Aerostat, as well as the UH-60 and Apache helicopters to instantly extend the reach of the network.

- Command Post of the Future (CPOF) and Tactical Ground Reporting (TIGR) to equip command posts with command and control capabilities traditionally reserved for higher echelons.

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