By Kris Osborn, ASA (AL&T)

The U.S. Army is vigorously immersed in an ambitious, farreaching Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) at White Sands Missile Range, NM, designed to simultaneously test programs of record and assess a host of emerging network technologies, the services’ senior leaders said.

The NIE, which includes five programs of record going though formal Limited User Tests (LUT) and a host of emerging or developmental technologies undergoing various evaluations, is a key part of the Army’s overarching Network Strategy; the NIE, which began the first week of June, is structured to assess the scope and readiness of emerging technologies and, in cases where appropriate, integrate new capability before sending it down range to Soldiers in combat.

Full Spectrum

At the heart of the exercise in an overarching effort to develop a single battlefield network able to push key information to the Soldier, linking him or her to command posts, vehicles on-the-move and higher headquarters; the idea is to use the best available technologies so as to move information, voice, video, data and images faster, further and more efficiently across the force.

“The network will literally redefine how we fight,” said Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. “Ultimately the network will connect leaders and soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines at all levels, at every echelon of command, in any information, in any formation, and across the entire team, with the right information quickly and seamlessly – and in doing so - I am confident it will make our various formations more lethal, faster, and more survivable in today’s battlefield.”

Central to the NIE is the continued evaluation of nonproprietary, high bandwidth waveforms such as Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW) and Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW) – which use a larger portion of the available bandwidth spectrum than legacy waveforms to move voice, video, images and data in real-time across multiple nodes in the force.

The waveforms, and indeed many of the technologies, are designed with standards aimed at meeting the needs of all the services in order to accommodate the potential for “Joint-Service” involvement in the network.

“We’re working very close with partners up at OSD [Office of the Secretary of Defense] in laying this out. I’ve invited them all[other Services] out to see what we’re doing. I see this evolving very, very quickly into a test-bed that can be used not just by the United State Army but by all services,” Chiarelli explained.

Multi-media Application

Overall, the technologies being evaluated include a wide range of capability such as software programmable radio, satellites, sensors and smart phones. The programs undergoing formal LUTs are:

• Joint Tactical Radio Systems (JTRS) Handheld Manpack Small Form Fit, or HMS – A multi-channel, Soldiermounted software-programmable radio able to transmit voice, video, data and images using high band-width waveforms such as SRW.
• Joint Capabilities Release, or JCR – a next-generation software for Force Battle Command Brigade and Below, or FBCB2 display screens, featuring Army-Marine Corps interoperability and advanced mapping tool kits.
• Mounted Soldier System, or MSS – a combat-vehicle Soldier ensemble which integrates advanced gear such as a helmet-mounted display and body cooling devices.
• Network Integration Kit (NIK) – a vehicle-mounted communications and computing hub
• SPIDER – a remote munition delivery system

Tactical Network First

The NIE is the first in a series of semi-annual evaluations designed to integrate and mature the Army’s tactical network. In addition to the five systems undergoing formal LUTs, the NIE is also experimenting with 29 emerging technologies – such as smart phones,PDA’s and complex vehicle-based company command posts – in order to zero in on the best emerging technologies able to deliver networked capabilities to Soldiers on the move in combat.

“The reality is these NIEs are as much about learning as they are about testing. After all, the only way to fix problems is to accurately identify them. Likewise, the most effective means for developing new, relevant doctrine and tactics is to conduct integrated network-enabled training exercises,” said Chiarelli.

The rationale for the NIE is to evaluate all of these technologies in relation to one another by placing them in various scenarios in a combat-like environment like White Sands Missile Range, N.M., complete with vast mountains and desert-like terrain.

“We can evaluate new capabilities across the potential spectrum of conflict. We can evaluate them in terrain that our units are really having to deal with today in line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight challenges,” said Maj. Gen. Keith Walker, Commander, Brigade Modernization Command. “If there is a capability that has merit, we can evaluate it and get feedback, not just on the material, the technical material piece, but what are the implications of this equipment on our doctrine, on how we organize, how we train and how we develop leaders.”

System-of-Systems

NIE provides Army testers and program managers the advantage of assessing how new and emerging technologies work in relation to one another from a system-of-systems perspective. The NIE is aimed at refining the acquisition of new technologies and blending programs of record with Commercial-Off-the-Shelf solutions as part of an agile process designed to keep pace with rapid technological change, Army leaders explained.

Recently, the Army issued notification that it is seeking interested industry sources with mature networked technology solutions to potentially participate in one of two upcoming Network Integration Evaluation events to be held in the Fall of 2011 and the Spring of 2012. In what is termed a Sources Sought notification, the Army, through Program Executive Office Integration, is seeking interested industry partners who would like to demonstrate mature networked technologies to enhance tactical network capability. The purpose of the Sources Sought notice is to identify emerging capabilities to be evaluated against a set of entrance criteria and to provide an opportunity for selected mature capabilities to participate in future Network Integration Evaluations.

In the notice, the Army is seeking solutions that address specific network capabilities that are at the representative model or prototype system stage and that have been tested in a relevant environment. According to Colonel Dan Hughes, Director of Systems Integration, Program Executive Office Integration, “To ensure that the Army only delivers the best integrated network capabilities to our Soldiers, we are only seeking mature capabilities for possible entrance into this evaluation cycle. This represents a major step up in the capabilities’ demonstrated readiness, including prototypes that have been tested in a high-fidelity laboratory environment or in simulated operational environment.”

Ahead

The NIE – and subsequent semi-annual exercises planned through 2012 – are geared toward speeding up and improving the way new networking technologies are delivered to Soldiers, in part by ensuring that the integration of new capability is properly solidified before items are sent into combat. “The Army will buy what it needs, when it need it, for those that need it. This allows us to buy less, more often, and incrementally improve network capability over time. Simply stated, I see these NIEs not as evolutionary events but as representing a revolutionary new approach that will potentially change how we provide new capabilities in the future,” said Chiarelli.

Soldiers from the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), Baumholder, Germany, and joint and coalition partners from eight nations completed a unique exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) that focused on enhancing joint and combined fires, as well as improving the integration of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets to better prepare the unit for the irregular warfare environment they will face in Afghanistan.

This capstone training event for the 170th IBCT included vital support from the U.S. Air Force Europe (USAFE) Warrior Preparation Center, known as the Bullseye Team, and U.S. Joint Forces Command’s (USJFCOM) Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team (JFIIT) in Hohenfels, Germany.

“The work done by JFIIT, USJFCOM and USAFE provided us additional capabilities and allowed us to do things like (provide) continuous virtual unmanned aircraft systems and close air support (CAS), even if we didn’t have those assets flying live here,” said Army Col. John Spiszer, commander, JMRC. “That’s a significant advantage for the units training here, and when you integrate the multinational forces into the mix, it’s a real good situation and separates us from the other training centers.”

More than 4,000 participants from all four U.S. military services and eight coalition partners including Albania, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia participated in this three-week long exercise.

“The JMRC, USAFE, and USJFCOM team are great examples of how we can integrate our coalition partners into a firstclass training environment that benefits the entire team,” said Marine Corps Maj. Kevin Moody, JFIIT’s JMRC lead. “This training will help the entire fires team shorten their learning curve and will improve the integration of coalition assets so the ground commander can more efficiently leverage all available capabilities in Afghanistan.”

The exercise integrated a variety of joint enablers to replicate the resources that the BCT commander will have to support the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

“The stated mission of the Taliban is to defeat NATO and kick NATO out of Afghanistan,” said Army Brig. Gen. Steven Salazar, commander, Joint Multinational Training Command, Grafenwoehr, Germany. “What we’re doing is NATO training by preparing our units, as well as our coalition partners, for NATO operations in Afghanistan. No other combat training center (CTC) is doing that. Helping us accomplish that are our joint enablers, like JFIIT. I can’t think of a single joint enabler that we have not been able to employ; they’re all absolutely essential.”

“Our primary mission is to assist the command in their efforts to achieve a joint environment for each rotational unit that comes here to train,” said Ervin Cade, lead contractor, USJFCOM’s Joint National Training Capability Support Element, Hohenfels, Germany. “The goal is to provide JMRC with joint enablers like JFIIT, Special Operations Forces elements, the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO), and others to create an accurate and realistic training environment that will foster greater integration and understanding between joint and multinational partners before they deploy. Ultimately, it makes us a better combined team and will save lives in the process.”

JFIIT helped integrate several joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (JISR) assets to facilitate the joint fires targeting process for the training unit during the exercise. “Without the support from JFIIT, we couldn’t do our mission of integrating CAS training for USAFE into the Army’s MRE at JMRC,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Scotty Briscoe, commander, Detachment 2, Warrior Preparation Center in Hohenfels. “As the tactical level arm of USAFE, our goal is to support the Air Support Operations Squadrons (ASOS) that train here so they can better integrate and support the ground scheme of maneuver just as they will when they’re deployed.”

“These joint assets help round us out and provide crucial resources that we couldn’t otherwise provide to the training audience,” said Army Maj. Sherman Watson, plans chief, JMRC. “Our goal is to replicate the operational environment from in-theater so the rotational training unit learns how to leverage those capabilities before they actually deploy. The joint fires training and JISR integration is an important part of what we’re providing to both U.S. and multinational units that come here to train.”

Providing a realistic and challenging multinational training environment is just one of the unique advantages to training at JMRC, according to participants at the exercise. “The training here has been spot on,” said Army Chief Warrant Officer Philip White, Apache attack helicopter pilot from 3-159 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, Ansbach, Germany.

“The opportunity to train at a world-class facility with so many joint and coalition partners has been incredible. I think we’re all learning a lot of valuable lessons from each other and that will make us a better team when we deploy.” I’ve been impressed with many of our multinational partners that are here training with us, especially the German joint fires observers (JFOs), said White. “They’re as good as I’ve seen and I think we mesh our skills together quite well.”

“Our ability to integrate JISR assets into our targeting process has been superb,” said Army Capt. Jamen Miller, intelligence officer, 2-18 Infantry Battalion, 170th IBCT, Baumholder, Germany. “This is the first time that many of us have had the opportunity to work with many of these enablers that we’ll see once we’re deployed. This training will absolutely benefit the entire unit.”

“The training at JMRC has been very useful,” said Polish Special Forces Warrant Officer C. Charles, joint terminal attack controller (JTAC). “The familiarization training that we receive by working with many of our key partners is valuable and will be important to the speed in which we can successfully integrate together once we’re in Afghanistan.” Enhancing air-ground integration and CAS skills of both U.S. and multinational participants were some of the benefits of the exercise.

“The training here is about combined fires not just joint fires,” added Moody. “The unique nature of this training center is that it provides exceptional air-to-ground training for the entire joint and multinational team that accurately replicates what is occurring in theater.”

“JMRC is the quintessential mission readiness training exercise that provides both U.S. and coalition units, JTACs, JFOs, and aircrews with the skills they need to effectively work together to achieve both lethal and nonlethal effects on the battlefield,” said David Williams, JFIIT lead analyst in Germany. “This training will ultimately ensure the IBCT staff principles have a greater understanding and appreciation of joint and multinational enablers, and how to tactically employ them to their advantage.”

According to senior leaders, the ability to forge important relationships with both joint and multinational partners is a strength that the command will build on to enhance training at JMRC for the foreseeable future.

“We work with virtually all the partner contributing nations in Europe and stretching into Central Asia, Georgia, and a lot of the Eastern European countries, like Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia,” Spiszer added. “We’ve got a great joint and multinational team that encompasses so many important enablers. Together, we create a more realistic training environment which translates into greater success downrange where it matters most.”

By Kris Osborn, PEO C3T Public Affairs

The U.S. Army is in the midst a host of high-tech upgrades to it force tracking system – Force XXI Battle Command Brigade-and- Below (FBCB2) – to include new, next-generation software and a new, faster satellite network, service officials said.

As part of this overall effort, the Army is preparing to deploy the high-tech, high-speed Blue Force Tracking (BFT) 2 — a force tracking satellite communications network. Although difficult to compare, it is roughly 10-times faster than the existing BFT system, said Lt. Col. Bryan Stephens, BFT product manager.

Dual Capability

The current BFT uses half duplex capability, a term which means that it has only one-way transmission and cannot receive and transmit at the same time; BFT 2 data rates are exponentially faster than the current BFT.

“BFT 2 is full duplex which means you can transmit and receive at the same time. It is an entirely different architecture,” said Stephens.

In addition, BFT 2 shortens the distance information has to travel; transceivers send information up to a satellite and then immediately down to a ground station – which then quickly sends the information back to deployed units. Current BFT architecture requires that information reach a Network Operations Center located in the U.S., Stephens said.

“Today, if you transmit your position location information in theater operations, it goes to a satellite and then to ground station – then it is transmitted to a Network Operations Center (NOC) in the states. The NOC sorts it all out and re-broadcasts. When you deal with satellites you are dealing with latency – as information travels up and down a couple of different times,” said Stephens.

“With the BFT 2 system we changed that architecture. Instead of going all the way to the NOC, information is going up and down to a ground station. That is much different than going through multiple satellite hops to get processed at the NOCs.” With BFT 2 – situational information can be beamed across the network in seconds, sending images to a ground station – then back up through commercial satellites to forward deployed units on the move.

Updates on the Fly

The new system vastly improves refresh time as well. Based on a few factors current BFT can take minutes to load new data and update position location information, whereas with BFT 2 refresh time is reduced to a matter of seconds, Stephens said. The new BFT 2 tracking system, which is slated to begin fielding by the end of 2011, is engineered to synch with new BFT software called Joint Battle Command-Platform (JBC-P) designed to run on existing JV-5 computers or hardware, said Maj. Shane M. Robb, JBC-P assistant product manager.

“With JBC-P what we are doing is we are leveraging the successes of FBCB2 and the investment in that system,” Robb said.

The Army has about 95,000 BFT systems, the bulk of which are on JV-5 computers already in service, he added.

“The JV-5 computer is in most of the vehicles that are in theater, such as MRAPs and HMMWVs. Rotary wing assets have different hardware variants. We don’t want to replace all that hardware at once – we are going to use the same hardware with our new software and our new capabilities. The hardware now is running prototype JBC-P software. As we refresh the hardware, which we need to do after a few years anyway, then we will upgrade it with more capable tablet style computers that more fully meet our requirements for JBC-P,” Robb said.

JBC-P also comes with improved requirements for accuracy; an icon representing a vehicle on a JBC-P screen has to be within 200 meters of its actual location.

“If you are driving down the road and you see a vehicle or a person, you can look at your screen and associate an icon with what you see on the ground. It helps to mitigate fratricide,” Robb said.

Functional Redesign

The original Force Battle Command Brigade-and-Below (FBCB2) screen, which was designed in the 90’s, has an old drop down graphics interface, Robb said.

“JBC-P has a completely redesigned interface, designed to be more intuitive, faster, and more collaborative. It has “free draw” graphics — whereas in the past you had to go through a whole graphics menu. This is powerful for a platoon leader on the ground. In the past to do a change of mission on the fly, you had to go through a cumbersome graphics drawing process and send it – or you had to talk someone through everything on the radio,” said Robb. “Now, you can draw an arrow or a circle and say ‘I want you to go along this route I want a support by fire here.’ You can send things easily and it is easier to collaborate on the move with chat and messaging.”

The JBC-P interface, which will begin fielding in 2013 and 2014, is engineered to integrate Tactical Ground Reporting (TIGR) of Area, Structures, Capabilities, Organizations, People, and Events (ASCOPE) data.

“TIGR is designed for the lower echelon units – patrol leaders. In the past — a patrol leader would take notes or logs regarding their area in his green book or binder — but the data gathered was not very easy to search and reuse. With TIGR, which is currently in the company level TOCs [tactical operations center] after a patrol, the patrol leader can type out their report into the TIGR system. They upload any photos or reports of interviews, or other events. The data is all geo-referenced and time stamped and it feeds into a larger database” said Robb.

As a result, the next time soldiers prepare to go out on a patrol, they can highlight their route and any events that have occurred along that route will show-up as icons, Robb explained. “They are then able to view the reports, photos and other data associated with each icon and modify their patrol plan as needed. While TIGR currently exists in the TOC, with JBC-P, TIGR will be integrated and on the vehicles,” Robb said.

Brook Reinhold, an applications engineer for Harris RF Communications, is a former communications chief for the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. Reinhold and two colleagues—Will Fletcher and Mike Gonzalez—recently spent several months working with an Army Brigade Combat Team in Afghanistan to deploy the first-ever battalion-level mobile wideband radio network for front-line personnel. This network consists primarily of Harris Falcon III® AN/PRC-117G tactical radios and meshes with larger networks at brigade and above. This is Reinhold’s personal account of bringing this vital new capability to currently deployed forces.

FROM SATCOM BEGINNINGS

A lifetime ago, I was trained to carry telephone wire to provide communications for commanders on the battlefield. No joke. We would strap a mile of wire in cloth reels to boards on our backs and move with the commander—like radio operators today, only with a telephone. When the commander wanted to talk, we cranked the phone and the switchboard would answer, patching him to the distant station. We would compete to be the first person on the team to carry for the commander because once the wire was unwound, our load was much lighter for the rest of the movement.

I also remember the day the Army delivered our first SATCOM radio. Our battalion combat signal team sat on the front stoop of the barracks in Fairbanks, Alaska, and trained with the radio. We set up the antenna and conducted a “splash” test to make sure we were aimed at the proper satellite. Anticipating failure, we attempted a radio check to another communicator in Anchorage. When he answered, we stood there with stupid grins on our faces, amazed that we could talk so far so easily—in excess of 200 miles on a radio we could carry on our backs.

The voice quality was delayed and horrible compared to today’s radios. But in that one robotic sounding voice check, our concept of tactical communications had changed forever. Those moments came back to me again last November, in one of the most notorious places in Afghanistan, when I had the opportunity to work with a battalion of paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division in moving military communications into another new era.

WIDEBAND TO THE RESCUE

I was leading a Harris team assisting the battalion communicators in standing up the first wideband tactical communications radio network for their soldiers, using the first NSA-certified and JTRS SCA-certified Type-1 wideband radio in the world—the Harris AN/PRC-117G. Their vision was to deploy these radios to extend the SIPRNet to remote commanders and platoon leaders at fixed sites and on the move across the battalion’s maneuver area.

The day the wideband network went live, the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC)—using a traditional Communication Exercise (COMMEX) checklist to track progress—directed his soldiers to turn their AN/PRC-117G radios to cipher text (CT). He watched carefully as the radios in a matter of seconds powered up and the Adaptive Networking Wideband Waveform (ANW2) network formed. Each radio listened for other radios and in a minute they were all accounted for and located on one network.

The NCOIC picked up the handset and made a voice call using the dedicated voice-hopping circuit in the radio. Each radio responded and was checked off the list. The soldiers were directed to begin testing the data capability of the radio. The COMMEX FRAGO called for checks to be completed using voice, mIRC chat, Web-based applications, position reporting, and file transfer. Each station logged into a mIRC chat server and into the Battalion Operations chat room—in each case, successfully passing chat traffic.

The next test was for Web applications. Each station systematically used Internet Explorer to access Webmail, AKO-S, the battalion TIGRnet server, and the Brigade Combat Team Web portal. All stations successfully confirmed access to these mission-critical information sites. As the COMMEX progressed, blue icons appeared on the FalconView maps. Each radio’s built-in GPS tracked onto the satellites and automatically reported the radio’s position through the network. The icons had a “G” as well as a numerical designator showing the identity of the unit and that the track was from a 117G.

The last check was photo and file transfer using Harris Corporation’s chat software, RF-6705 TACHAT IP. Each station was directed to send a photo and a Microsoft PowerPoint document to the NCOIC to show the ability to transfer file information between nodes and to higher headquarters using the IP network.

NEW COMMS CULTURE

I’ve worked with the soldiers of this unit for over a year, and others from across the Army on a regular basis. Watching the aggressive way they move through their tasks, and shrug off hardships day after day, I sometimes forget they are so young. As this new technology went live, I was quickly reminded that under the crust of their mature professionalism was a bunch of young guys. Pictures arriving from the 117G outstations showed unit soldiers displaying various universal gestures of camaraderie. The NCO checked off stations as the pictures arrived—adding the appropriate derogatory assessment of each.

And so it was, with all preliminary checks complete, that this battalion of soldiers—operating in the Arghandab Valley, one of the most dangerous places in the world—began communicating via a mobile, wireless IP network. Conversation hushed as the soldiers watched the network chat rooms fill with convoy reports, logistics requests, a MEDEVAC from a sister battalion near the Afghanistan/Turkmenistan border.

This was the tactical communication chatter of a Brigade Combat Team at war, the message traffic controlling the dayto- day actions of over 5,000 paratroopers fighting in an area half the size of Texas. The soldiers understood the seriousness of the traffic, and there was no doubt that they knew what they were accomplishing. You could sense this in their silence and the changes in their body language. Just as my experience with a SATCOM call 25 years ago changed the way five combat signal soldiers in Alaska viewed communications, these soldiers realized that they were entering a new era. More than that, they realized that they were there first. Their efforts had opened the door for mobile wideband networks on the battlefield.

Since the first wideband network was installed by the communicators of the 2nd Battalion of the 508th Infantry Regiment (2/508), at least 17 more ANW2 SIPR networks are operational in Afghanistan. Units from the 101st ABN Division, the Stryker Brigade from Ft. Lewis, and the 4th Infantry Division have followed this success by building networks to support combat operations across Afghanistan. At this writing, the Army is in the early stages of deploying wideband AN/PRC-117G radios to other Brigade Combat Teams in Afghanistan. The goal is to flatten the information architecture, allowing leaders closest to the fight access to the tactical Internet.

BEYOND TRADITIONAL REACH

Wideband networking requires a shift of thinking: namely, these radios operate beyond the normal limitations of terrestrial line-of-sight by relaying voice and data traffic from node to node, according to mission plans. So the traditional job descriptions of a communication MOS 25B and 25U have to expand, learning a little of the other’s job skill. Soldiers focused on IP networking had to learn something about radios—to understand how radios carry data—while radio operators have to learn something about IP networks to enable troubleshooting to the end user. The 82nd soldiers did all this in the middle of a very live fight in the harsh conditions of Afghanistan.

My personal communication experience started in the mid 1980s, where primary communication was achieved using field telephone wire. Now, I routinely work with soldiers who have the capability to monitor multiple active chat rooms from a small laptop in their M-ATV or send immediate reports or biometrics updates anywhere in the world from a small radio on their back. I just have to show them the capability and stand back and watch as the computer-savvy soldiers of this generation grasp the power of the tactical network and push the new capability into the future.

By Amy Walker, staff writer for Symbolic Systems, Inc. supporting Army PEO C3T

Project Manager Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (PM WIN-T) is bridging gaps in C4ISR created by rugged terrain and sparse infrastructure by deploying transportable Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) SIPR/NIPR Access Point (SNAP) satellite terminals that can deploy far quicker than their traditional counterparts.

“These terminals get network battle command to the tactical edge,” said Lt. Col. Gregory Coile, product manager, Satellite Communications (PM VSATCOM).

Certain locations in theater create unique satellite communication requirements which cause the need for the SNAP terminals to be fielded to augment current Program of Record (PoR) solutions. Secure Internet Protocol Router/Non-secure Internet Protocol Router (SIPR/NIPR) Access Point (SNAP) terminals are VSATs that take advantage of commercial equipment to expedite the fielding process. They provide access to the tactical and strategic networks for command and control, call for fire, Medevac and information exchange. SNAPs are a key communications component for units, providing secure beyond line of sight communications to battalions and below.

“One of the biggest gaps SNAPs fill is providing network capability down to the team, platoon and company level,” Coile said. “The terminals provide network capability to the smaller outpost environment and extend the coalition and network presence further out into the AOR.”

“SNAPs allow tactical comms to be where it needs to be–at the tip of the spear,” said John Lundy, SNAP logistics management specialist.

MOVEABLE IN A SNAP

Compared to other PM WIN-T satellite terminals, SNAP terminals have a smaller silhouette and are easily transportable either by vehicle or by helicopter. Newer technology has enabled engineers to design the terminals to weigh in at only 300-400 pounds and fit into three transit cases. Their modular design allows for varying dish and antenna sizes to appropriately satisfy mission requirements.

“SNAP is designed to provide beyond line of sight communications to a small unit at a forward operating base out in the middle of nowhere where they are unable to use any of their line of sight radios either due to terrain or distance,” Lundy said. “The SNAP’s transit case design allows a user to put it in the back of a Humvee, or into a helicopter.” Because they can be packed in transit cases and have low power requirements, SNAPs are easy to move around the battlefield, providing an expeditionary element to the force. As priorities change and more resources are needed in different locations, they can be quickly deployed and set up for quick network accessibility.

INTEGRATEABLE IN A SNAP

SNAP terminals, which were designed to have the maximum interoperability within the Army and with Joint Forces, can tie into the greater WIN-T network. Currently they are interoperable with WIN-T Increment 1, and going forward they will interoperate with Increment 2. SNAPs can link into the Regional Hub Nodes, the Unit Hub Nodes, and into Deployable Ku Earth Terminals (DKET), which provide much larger bandwidth capabilities and volume distribution.

“SNAP was designed to be a smaller footprint with similar capability to augment the WIN-T network, to link into the same hubs, and talk to STTs (Satellite Transportable Terminals) in that same mesh,” Coile said.

WIN-T Increment 1, the former Joint Network Node (JNN) program, is a communications network that enables the exchange of voice, video, and data throughout the tactical Army. Currently, it is fielded to 76 percent of the total force. While WIN-T Increment 1 provides satellite communications at the quick halt to the battalion level and above, Increment 2 will bring the initial on the move capability to those at the company level.

“SNAP is easy to transport, easy to set up, and it takes some of the stress off of the JNN network,” said Danny Hite, SNAP logistics management specialist.

In conjunction with larger terminals and to increase network capability for the warfighter, SNAPs have also been used on larger bases such as to support the infrastructure or for training.

COALITION COMMS-ABLE IN A SNAP

To support communications in a coalition environment SNAP terminals, along with SIPR/NIPR data packages, also support a third data package that can run the Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS) International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) network, or CX-I. The CX-I network is the US component of the Afghan Mission Network, which was developed to enable the 45-nation coalition in Operation Enduring Freedom to effectively communicate, establish situational awareness across the entire coalition, share information, and operate on a common security enclave.

“Because we purposely ensure that SNAP is interoperable with the rest of the kit inside of WIN-T, it can be configured to be another receive node for that (CX-I) capability,” Coile said.

“Currently, SNAP operates exclusively on Ku-band, however PdM SATCOM is in the process of certifying Ka and X-band capability to take advantage of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Wideband Global SATCOM satellites,” Coile said.

Ka, X and Ku-band are radio frequencies used for satellite communications. While Ka and X-band are used on military satellites, Ku-band is used on commercial satellites. Because the DoD has high efficiency requirements, using Ka and X is more efficient and effective than Ku-band, and there is a significant cost savings by not having to lease commercial satellite time.

“The only drawback to these frequencies is that the amount of bandwidth X and Ka-band provide is limited and has to be prioritized by the combatant commander, “ Coile said.

BCT-COMPATIBLE IN A SNAP

As Brigade Combat Teams (BCT) continue to be deployed, the need for improved communications capabilities steadily increases. In response the Army is augmenting the network with commercial SNAP terminals. Some BCTs deploying are now being enhanced with 20 SNAPs, catapulting the number of satellite terminals a BCT receives for the network from eight to 28, Lundy said.

With over 400 terminals in southwest Asia SNAP is the most fielded satellite terminal in theater. Since SNAP terminals are commercial-off-the-shelf equipment, they take advantage of the most current technology available. Changes in terminal capabilities such as encryption devices can be made as soon as new terminals are produced.

“Since they are not PoRs and each purchase is its own entity, the PM has greater flexibility to insert emerging technologies more rapidly into the SNAP baseline, Hite said. If the Army had to follow its acquisition cycle in every instance, it would never be able to meet the requirements of the field, said Sal Granata, project leader for SNAP. Until new systems can be fielded, systems such as SNAP bridge the gap between the ideal solution for the Soldier and what is actually coming down the pike.”

“The biggest challenge that Soldiers in the field face is that the requirement for information exceeds the ability of the system to respond within the acquisition cycle and therefore there will always be a need for interim solutions,” Granata said. “SNAP is the interim solution of choice for the Warfighter’s information needs.”

By Amy Walker, Staff Writer for Symbolic Systems, Inc. supporting Army Program Executive Office Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T)

By amplifying warfighter capability and battle rhythm tempo, the second increment of the Army’s tactical communications network will greatly enhance the combat effectiveness of armored and mechanized forces.

Once fielded with Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2, Heavy (H), Infantry (I), and Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCT) will be able to communicate on-the-move (OTM), increasing speed of maneuver on the battlefield and allowing soldiers and commanders to stay connected at all times, even during times of continuous offensive operations over extended distances.

“This will be the first opportunity where the BCTs can truly command and control their formation while on-the-move, so they don’t have to come to a halt,” said Lt. Col. Robert Collins, product manager WIN-T Increment 2/3. “As they perform a movement-to-contact or offense operation, they can continuously receive intelligence feeds and situational awareness information, while they also collaborate with their higher headquarters and subordinate formations.”

MORE SPEED, HIGHER CAPACITY

Similar to a home internet connection, WIN-T provides high-speed, high-capacity voice, data and video communications on the battlefield. Building on the success of WIN-T Increment 1, currently fielded to 80 percent of the total force, WIN-T Increment 2 will provide the initial OTM network communications from division down to the company level. This is the first time that high capacity satellite communications has been provided to the company echelon. WIN-T’s initial production deliveries are currently undergoing a series of pre-fielding tests and evaluations and are expected to reach the first unit in 2012.

“Not only can warfighters literally communicate while on-the-move, but as they drive down the road, their laptops or computers are populating data and receiving updates,” Collins said. “When they come to a halt, they are immediately ready with synchronized sets of information to do what they need to do on their missions.”

By taking advantage of integrated satellite and line-ofsight communications, units in austere environments such as mountainous regions can still connect and communicate through this self-forming, self-healing network. Should a component link of the network become inoperable, it will reform to heal itself and continue to provide seamless communications in support of dynamic battlefield operations.

“Overall, WIN-T Increment 2 will enhance the combat effectiveness of BCTs and allow them to operate in geographically dispersed areas,” Collins said. “It will also improve the speed of their decision making cycles and improve their ability to receive, analyze and distribute information.”

NETWORK-PLANNED, -PRIORITIZED

Similar to the way a commander can prioritize artillery assets for the battalion in the fight, BCTs will now have an opportunity to prioritize network resources. The prioritization of network resources will be accomplished through the distribution of network policies. For example, if 1st Battalion is the main effort in a mission, they can be allocated priority for bandwidth, as opposed to a brigade’s reserve units which would receive less priority. This ensures that mission-critical units and operators will receive data and intelligence information needed to successfully complete the operation, Collins said.

As part of this prioritization, WIN-T Increment 2 Network Operations (NetOps) — a “transformational” set of integrated network monitoring tools– will be provided to S-6s to allow them to plan, initialize and monitor the network. The S-6 is the principal brigade and battalion-level communications or signal officer for all matters concerning command, control, communications and computer (C4) operations.

“The NetOps planning tool within the BCT will enable the S6 to perform the network planning, allocation, monitoring and response within the brigade, enabling them to become an integral part of the Military Decision Making Process cycle,” Collins said. “The tools we provide will enable the S-6 to conduct ‘what if’ drills, analyze numerous courses of action, and provide recommendations to the brigade commander.”

Once the agreed upon policies are pushed out, the network will automatically prioritize information according to precedence level or category, ensuring safety and missioncritical messages, like medevac and calls-for-fire receive higher priority. Vital information will be delivered ahead of routine data.

BCT-CONFIGURED

As far as equipment is concerned, compared to WIN-T Increment 1, which had only separate standalone signal assemblages, BCTs will now also be equipped with components of WIN-T Increment 2 installed on organic Modified Table of Organization and Equipment (MTOE) vehicular platforms.

WIN-T Inc 2 equipment, known as Configuration Items (CI) for BCTs, includes the Tactical Communications Node (TCN), the Point of Presence (POP), the Soldier Network Extension (SNE), and the Vehicular Wireless Package (VWP). The TCN is the centerpiece and hub of the WIN-T network. It is delivered to the unit by the Project Manager (PM) on a Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) platform and its primary mission is to support command posts and tactical operations centers while at the halt.

Unlike current WIN-T Increment 1 systems, the Increment 2 TCN is equipped with both satellite and Line of Sight (LOS) terrestrial transmission systems which operate while on-the-move, allowing it to stay connected during command post movement operations known as a “jumping.” Because it can operate on-the-move during the jump there is no delay while transmission systems are set up in support of a new command post location.

The WIN-T POP is the primary OTM configuration item that will be installed on the tactical combat platforms of select commanders and staff officers at division, brigade and battalion echelons. The POP enables mobile battle command by providing secret-level OTM network connectivity. The POP, similar to the TCN, includes both Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) satellite and LOS terrestrial transmission systems. TCNs and POPs include the WIN-T Increment 2 developed Highband Networking Radio (HNR) running the Highband Networking Waveform (HNW). HNR will increase LOS capacity over currently deployed systems while simultaneously increasing simplicity of set-up. It will also be fully integrated with SATCOM systems in order to dynamically move traffic based on link availability and priority.

WIN-T SNEs will be installed in combat vehicles at select battalion and at company echelons. The SNE will be used to heal and extend lower echelon tactical radios networks for geographically-separated elements. In the past, terrain features could fracture the radio component of the network. The SNE has the ability to heal these fractured radio networks over its on-the-move satellite communications system. With the SNE at company echelon collocated with and “in contact” with lower echelon radio nets such as the Wideband Networked Waveform (WNW), Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW), Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS), and Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS), Pentagon to foxhole communications is close to a reality.

The final component of the WIN-T network is the VWP that extends the WIN-T network to command post vehicles which are moving in convoy with the TCN. The VWP is an inexpensive and small form factor Local Area Network, or LAN, extension of the TCN’s satellite and terrestrial LOS network systems.

BROADLY INTEGRATEABLE

WIN-T Increment 2 is developing integration kits for numerous platforms across I, H and SBCT vehicle types as well as working with PM Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to ensure theater provided equipment such as MRAPs are also supported. For HBCTs, WIN-T will be capable of integration on High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV), M113 Family of Vehicles (M113, M1068), as well as Bradley Fighting Vehicles in the future.

Integrating these capabilities onto platforms is not without its challenges, including size, weight, power and cooling (SWaP-C) limitations. It is also essential to make certain that all of the electronics and transmission systems to be placed on a vehicle can co-exist and function without interference while ensuring the safety of operators and maintainers. Collins believes that it is the responsibility of the military and industry to come together to provide viable safety, co-site and SWaP-C integration solutions.

GOING FORWARD

Currently WIN-T Increment 2 is post Milestone C in the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase of production, and it is preparing for the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation in the second quarter of fiscal year 2012.

WIN-T Increments 1 and 2 are a key component of the upcoming Network Integration Rehearsal and Network Integration Exercise, which will test the Army’s future network. The goal of this test – part of a larger, four-part series of events – is to allow the Army to incrementally modernize its networks and C4ISR assets through engineering and integration initiatives.

“This will be a great opportunity to conduct testing and make sure that the system works as an integrated system before delivering to the warfighter,” Collins said.

Submitted by Unmanned Ground Vehicles Product Management Office, PEO GCS

U.S. Army Brigade Combat Teams are fielding the Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) officially known as the XM1216. The SUGV has been developed to perform critical surveillance and reconnaissance missions to increase the distance between the warfighter and the potential threat.

SUGV Go Ahead

In February 2011, the Defense Acquisition Board formalized approval to purchase additional SUGVs under the U.S. Army’s Brigade Combat Team Modernization (BCTM) program. The delivery of two additional infantry brigade sets, 76 total SUGVs, is currently scheduled for FY12. The manufacturer of the SUGV, iRobot Corporation, delivered 38 robots in FY11 to the first unit, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, as part of the Army’s Low Rate Initial Production contract under the BCTM effort.

This initial fielding, along with a conditional material release, was historic as it is the Army’s first official small unmanned robot program of record. An additional 10 SUGVs will be delivered to the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) to facilitate training on the product.

“The Army has successfully fielded and trained the soldiers of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, to deploy the XM1216 SUGV,” LTC Jay Ferreira, Product Manager, Unmanned Ground Vehicles, said. “The Brigade has completed its first major training exercise with the robot at the National Training Center. The comments from soldiers are positive and reinforce the message that UGVs provide value added, protect the force and are a welcomed capability by the soldier to help defeat threats.”

Robust and Load Ready

The XM1216 SUGV has a rugged design that allows it to operate in all-weather conditions, while performing tactical maneuvers necessary to compliment the activities of the warfighter on the ground. The system’s maneuverability, coupled with its day/night cameras, range finder, live and still imagery and audio capabilities, make it the first robot able to meet the demanding requirements of infantry missions. Weighing about 32.5 pounds without payload, the XM1216 SUGV is lightweight and compact, fitting easily in a Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) backpack to be transported by the soldier.

Adaptable and expandable, the XM1216 SUGV is designed to accommodate a variety of optional payloads and sensors. The simplicity of the design ensures it is well positioned to take advantage of new developments in robotic technology, including the integration of additional sensors, manipulator arms and other payloads as a result of changes to warfighter requested and DOD approved requirements. As the needs of the warfighter evolves, so too will the Army’s platforms.

“We will continue seeking innovative solutions for the warfighter to assist in overcoming the challenges faced by our military personnel on the battlefield,” Ferreira said. Through the Brigade Combat Team Modernization (BCTM) program, the Army is continuing to develop a follow-on variant of the XM 1216 SUGV. This future SUGV variant will provide enhanced processing, sensor, communications and payload capabilities. It is currently planned to be available in the 2013 timeframe.

More info: www.peogcs.army.mil

By Mike Fallon, Director, Marine Corps Programs for General Dynamics C4 Systems

U.S. Marine Corps Combat Operations Centers (COCs) have raised the bar for deployable, tactical command and control (C2) facilities for the U.S. military. The first operations center contract was awarded to General Dynamics C4 Systems in 2002. Since then, General Dynamics, the prime contractor for the program, has delivered more than 360 operations centers in support of Marine Corps training and readiness, operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as humanitarian and peacekeeping missions worldwide. COCs are scaled to the way Marines fight, using capability sets, or Cap Sets. The centers can be scaled to serve at the Battalion/Squadron, Regiment/Group and Division/Wing/Logistic group levels.

MAGTF DRIVER

A system comprised hardware, software, tents, trailers, power and environmental control units, COCs are the focal point for information and decision-making within the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). COCs are configured to provide a common operational picture for commanders and their staffs, along with the workspace needed to maintain persistent situational awareness that includes intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data from sensors including UAV video and imagery and other intelligence data and resources. The inner workings of the COC include the communications systems, comprising voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), chat and email and Internet-like access to joint tactical networks and information that reaches across the battlespace and around the world.

The capability that separates the COC from other Marine Corps C2 systems is the development, integration and real-time management of the common tactical and common operational picture used at various levels of command. Input from a wide range of Marine Corps and military systems such as Command and Control Personal Computer (C2PC), Joint Tactical Workstation (JTWS) and Force XX1 Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) and others, continuously feed information to various operator stations within the COC. Visualization and collaboration tools are displayed on a large screen in the Battle Section so that staff members can be synchronized and able to see and focus on the same operational information or picture at the same time.

EFFICIENT EVOLUTION

Future COC improvements will exploit emerging technologies in hardware and software. Reducing size, weight and power consumption is a key focus as these systems evolve with the Marine Corps’ missions at home and abroad. For instance, solar panels are being considered for power generation, LEDs are replacing fluorescent lighting fixtures, and new thermal barrier materials are helping to reduce heating and cooling within the tent. General Dynamics C4 Systems has also developed a MAGTF C2 benchmarking environment in Scottsdale, AZ to speed innovation to new and fielded COCs.

The bottom line is that COCs are considered commercial- off-the-shelf (COTS) systems. Keeping the COC a COTS- based system helps keep it affordable and sustainable in the field. As we move forward, next generation COCs will focus on reducing size, weight and power while increasing the operation center’s capability to support evolving Marine Corps’ missions at home and abroad.

More info: www.generaldynamics.com

By Steve Gitlin and Bryan da Frota, AeroVironment, Inc.

Not since World War II was fought simultaneously in the vastly different European and Pacific theaters have U.S. military operations been engaged at the same time in two such diverse and equally challenging territories as Afghanistan’s mountainous, remote terrain and Iraq’s urban environments. While military challenges some 65 years ago were addressed with the most cutting-edge innovations for their time, they were more suited for the massive standing armies that fought then. Today’s threat environment, which is characterized by smallunit, special operations-oriented battle strategies, has driven the growing demand for immediate intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) afforded by small, hand-launched, unmanned aircraft systems.

The U.S. Army has created its Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Roadmap to develop, organize and employ UAS from 2010 to 2035 across the full spectrum of military operations. A major effort within this Roadmap involves the research and development of backpackable/man portable, hand-launched UAS carried and used by armed forces who frequently operate across large geographic areas, often far removed from their bases and dependent mainly on what they can carry in their packs or vehicles. They deliver front-line, real-time situational awareness to increase combat effectiveness and force protection.

AEROVIRONMENT

The prime contractor and sole supplier to all U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) programs of record for the category of small unmanned aircraft systems, AeroVironment (AV) has delivered more than 15,000 new and replacement air vehicles to customers in the U.S. and internationally.

RAVEN B

The most prolific UAS employed by the DoD, the AV RQ-11B Raven, has a wingspan of 4.5 feet and weighs only 4.2 pounds. The rugged, battery-powered Raven is employed by all four departments of the U.S. military and has performed hundreds of thousands of hours in support of combat missions. Flown either manually or programmed for autonomous operation using advanced avionics and precise GPS navigation, Raven provides 90-minute aerial observation capability, day or night, at line-of-sight ranges up to 10 kilometers.

New Raven systems now come equipped with a Digital Data Link™ (DDL) developed by AV. With digital Raven systems, users can operate up to 10 times as many air vehicles in the same geographic area as compared to the analog systems they replace. Digital Raven systems also permit beyond line of-sight operation, the creation of an ad-hoc wireless data network for the battlefield (turning the Raven into a “miniature communications satellite”) and secure communications.

WASP

Wasp is small and lightweight with a wingspan of only 28.3 inches and total weight of one pound. Although initially employed by the US Air Force, Wasp has seen significant combat use by the U.S. Marines. Wasp offers day and night targeting capability, 45-minute endurance and exceptionally quiet operation. Like other AV small UAS, operators may employ Wasp manually or program GPS-based autonomous operation.

PUMA AE

Selected by USSOCOM in July 2008 to meet the All- Environment Capable Variant (AECV) small UAS program, AV’s Puma AE is already making its presence felt in theater under a U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force sponsored effort. With a 9-foot wingspan and weighing 13 pounds, Puma is larger than Raven, but is still hand-launched and auto lands like Raven. Puma’s unique fuselage design with fully sealed line replaceable units also permits landings on fresh and salt water. Puma is the first UAS in its class to feature a fully stabilized mechanically gimbaled sensor with digital image stabilization, providing high quality, persistent ISR and targeting data for two hours on a rechargeable battery.

GROUND CONTROL

According to the Army’s current UAS Roadmap, the future evolution of its small UAS requirement from one focused solely on the Raven system into a family of systems, consisting of a Raven along with a larger and a smaller air vehicle. A United States Army brigade combat team is currently evaluating the use of AV’s Raven, Wasp and Puma with AV’s common ground control system.

AV’s Ground Control Station (GCS) provides a compact, “universal” controller for small UAS and ground robots. By transmitting live, streaming video directly to a common, hand-held GCS with an embedded color monitor, AV UASs provide real-time information that helps U.S. and allied armed forces operate more safely and effectively. In addition, it allows the operator to capture screen images, store and play back data for target assessment and facilitates realtime re-transmission of video and metadata to an operations network.

When embedded at remote locations, AV’s GCS also can be operated as a remote video terminal, enabling command centers or monitoring stations with the same viewing and analysis capability of the UAS operator. Compact and portable, taking up only a portion of a small backpack, the GCS can be assembled in less than two minutes.

MAVERIC

To meet the needs of the modern warfighter, Prioria Robotics created the Maveric unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Maveric is a next-generation UAS that is single person portable and operable, designed for the most rugged of conditions and equipped with the latest technologies. Capitalizing on advanced composite materials and patented technology to provide a unique airframe that is rugged and durable, the UAS is also able to fly in 25 knot-sustained winds, with gusts up to 35 knots.

Maveric deploys quickly without assembly and can be airborne in less than two minutes. The UAS’s bendable wings allow the aircraft to be stored fully assembled in a 6-inch-diameter tube. The storage tube and aircraft combined are small and light enough for one person to transport. Interchangeable payloads allow it to fly multiple types of missions.

BRAINS AND PAYLOAD

Utilizing an embedded processing platform called Merlin®, the UAS processes images through visual-based control onboard, reducing reliance on GCS communication. Merlin enables image stabilization and recording, digital zoom and collision detection. Maveric contains a forward-looking camera in the nose of the AV and a rugged carbon composite interchangeable pod in its belly. Payload options include a 10x optical zoom, thermal IR, gimbaled EO and high-resolution digital camera. Mounted within a carbon fiber frame, each payload is as durable as the rugged airframe it connects to. The interchangeable payloads are all connected with thumb screws, and each camera payload can be swapped within two minutes in the field. The Maveric was designed to be a highly-configurable multi-mission asset. Payload management is one of the key tactical strengths that Maveric brings to the Tier 1 UAS space. Multiple payloads make each Maveric the equivalent of several different aircraft.

RUGGED, PORTABLE GCS

The Maveric GCS consists of a rugged Panasonic® Toughbook® laptop, two communication boxes, tripod, cables and hand-held controller. Also included are TerraScope™ and mission planning software.

Rugged and easy to set up, the Maveric GCS comes stored in a custom case and is easily carried in a backpack. The GCS consists of a rugged laptop, communication boxes and a handheld controller. The GCS also includes state-of-the-art and industry standard software for serious UAS applications. The system boots quickly and features an optional long-range amplifier and antenna kit that gives hassle free operation up to 15 kilometers.