DELIVERING THE NETWORK
THE AGILE PROCESS The NIEs are led by a triad consisting of the Brigade Modernization Command, the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, and the System of Systems Integration Directorate under the Assis- tant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology.
AERIAL TIER
A 2/1 AD Soldier flies a MAKO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) flight system during NIE 12.1, the Army’s second NIE, in November 2011. The MAKO, a system under evaluation, provides Soldiers an ISR system that is portable and man- packable while wearing standard current combat equipment; a high-resolution image and full-motion surveillance camera during day and night operations; and a communications repeater capability to increase dismounted patrol range and situational awareness.
Baseline, which allows for insertion of
new technologies through the Agile Pro- cess, the new quick-reaction acquisition methodology to address defined capability gaps and insert new technologies into the overall network. The NIEs have allowed the Army to test capability and establish doctrinal insight on how to extend the network to the edge and enhance mission command on the move.
As we undertake NIE 12.2 in May, the third and most critical of the events thus far, it is valuable to review this progress and chart the path ahead. From the begin- ning, the aim of these exercises was to deliver an integrated Capability Set (CS) of networked equipment to brigade com- bat teams beginning early in FY13, and we intend to hit that target.
24
Held twice a year at White Sands Missile Range, NM, the events assess new net- work capabilities in a robust operational environment to determine whether they perform as needed, conform to the net- work architecture, and are interoperable with existing systems. The NIEs aim to ensure that the network satisfies the func- tional requirements of the force, relieves the end users of the technology integra- tion burden, and produces valuable Soldier feedback on new capabilities.
The first two events, NIE 11.2 in June-July 2011 and NIE 12.1 in October-November 2011, were the largest network field exer- cises the Army has ever held. It was an enormous challenge to train thousands of 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division (2/1 AD) Soldiers to operate dozens of systems while integrating all of the pieces into a newly established network architecture unique to the exercise.
While the brigade, system, and integration engineers, field support representatives, and other personnel involved did an out- standing job completing these tasks on a tight timeline, we have incorporated changes from lessons learned to make the process more efficient and effective as we move forward.
Specifically, we have formalized the Agile Process cycle to ensure that system candi- date assessments, network integration, and configuration are completed at Army lab- oratories before the equipment arrives at Fort Bliss, TX, for integration into tactical
formations and training with the 2/1 AD. At Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, the new command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance through
direct
laboratories fiber-optic
are linked connectiv-
ity, creating an integrated environment for government and industry to measure system performance and interoperabil- ity. Any necessary upgrades can be made before systems are tested in true opera- tional settings, when it is more difficult to adjust them.
We are grateful to our industry partners for their enthusiastic participation in the Agile Process. As the process continues to mature, companies of all sizes will see regular opportunities to demonstrate their network solutions to the Army. Compared with traditional acquisition methods, the Agile Process will allow us to move much faster in procuring and deploying commercial-off-the-shelf products demonstrate operational value.
that
The Army is already using this strategy as it prepares to procure a single-channel, vehicle-mounted radio running the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW). Recently con- ducted NIEs confirmed an operational need for these single-channel radios.
The Agile Process will also be
employed with the upcoming Mid-Tier Networking Vehicular Radio (MNVR) initiative, which seeks to procure a lower-cost replacement for the recently terminated JTRS Ground Mobile Radio (GMR). Designed to harness years of investment and technological progress associated with JTRS GMR develop- ment, this non-developmental item effort radios
aims that to procure can transmit available information
using high-bandwidth, nonproprietary waveforms such as SRW and Wideband
Army AL&T Magazine
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