ALWAYS C NNECTED


Satellite communications network enables more expeditionary Army to move beyond the FOB


by Mr. Darren LeBlanc F


or the past 13 years, much of the Army fought from forward operating bases (FOBs). Te FOBs housed command posts with well-established net- work infrastructure, which served as an information “home base” for troops between patrols. Tat approach was well-suited to the operational environ- ment and counterinsurgency mission in Iraq and Afghanistan, but future contingencies and support operations—even the current Ebola response mission in West Africa— demand more flexibility. Command posts must be smaller and more agile to support rapid deployment. Forces must be able to connect to critical information while en route to a developing situation. Network systems must be integrated on vehicle platforms of all shapes and sizes, so Soldiers can communicate on-the-move, regardless of location or echelon.


To meet these challenging requirements, the Army’s tactical communications network backbone, Warfighter Information Network – Tactical (WIN-T), is also evolving beyond the FOB. By harnessing new technologies and optimizing current capabilities, the future network, with WIN-T serving as its communications pipeline, will enable a globally responsive force to seamlessly communicate from any location, linking the foxhole to the enterprise. Armed with advanced network communications, future forces will be able to quickly and simultaneously address multiple contingencies in every envi- ronment. For example, should concurrent military or humanitarian support be needed in the deserts and mountains of the Middle East, the jungle terrain of the Pacific Rim, frigid environments in northern Asia and the urban environments of developing nations, the Army will be able to adapt the network to support the unique information needs of each situation.


Te satellite-based WIN-T network is essentially the Soldier’s anywhere, anytime Inter- net service, providing the tactical communications network backbone to which other networked systems and applications need to connect in order to function. WIN-T provides the data “pipe” that enables Soldiers to access redundant, reliable forms of communication and mission command applications, both at-the-halt and on-the-move, at the farthest tactical edge. Commanders can be untethered from their command posts


ASC.ARMY.MIL 25


ACQUISITION


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