COMMAND & CONTROL ON-THE-MOVE
REPEATABLE PROCESS Integrating on-the-move technologies onto vehicles takes time, but that does not mean the Army must wait for the physi- cal vehicle integration to begin designing and prototyping the system. A series of pilot and experimentation efforts provide the Army with the systematic feedback it needs to ensure the network performs as designed for mobile operations. Also, the on-the-move design must be compatible and interoperable with the existing unified network capabilities and a series of verifi- cation and validation events are needed.
“Te first priority is to ensure the network design supports all types of units, includ- ing mounted, dismounted, aviation or sustainment,” said Matt Maier, project manager for interoperability, integration and services, under the Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communi- cations ‒ Tactical (PEO C3T). “Everyone is trying to use the same network and talk to each other, so the preliminary network design has to perform across all unit types and be operationally suitable, survivable, effective and safe.”
From there, lab-based risk-reduction efforts provide information on which network components work in an on-the- move configuration; the need for high throughput, low latency bandwidth; and the ability to function in a dispersed environment, while minimizing electro- magnetic signature, he said.
A system-of-systems command and control on-the-move kit can then be inte- grated into a limited number of vehicles and fielded in small quantities to an oper- ational unit to support further field-based risk reduction efforts, before putting the vehicles into an operational evaluation or larger Soldier touch point. Te last piece of the process puts the integrated vehicles in an active Army unit that can assess the
74 Army AL&T Magazine Spring 2024
LESSONS LEARNED
The Army is using lessons learned from initial Command Post Integrated Infrastructure experiments and tests to integrate new command post capabilities onto a JLTV variant. The integrated JLTV is serving as the tactical vehicle platform for a fire support prototype command post design and pilot, which will determine the ability of forward observers to initiate a call for fires missions to the command post headquarters. (Photo by Erika Jordan, U.S. Army Test Command)
operational effectiveness at a combined training center rotation, followed by inser- tion into real-world operations.
“We’re really trying to get after this kind of repeatable process for any type of C2 on-the-move effort,” Maier said. “Tese series of events happen concurrently, with some units participating at various stages, to allow for the insertion of up-and- coming technologies that we keep in our C2 on-the-move incubator.”
Te Command Post Integrated Infra- structure (CPI2) program implemented this process by partnering with the 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team (1-2 SBCT), under 7th Infantry Division at
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. In 2023, the 1-2 SBCT was the first unit equipped and fielded in the Army with CPI2 capability, which provided modular command post capability that integrates network and communications technol- ogies into a family of medium tactical vehicle platforms, replacing existing tent- based command post capability.
These vehicle-based command posts enabled the unit to displace and then emplace the command post and its supporting command post functions into the operational environment, demon- strating the first step in enabling future command and control on-the-move technology designs that work in mobile
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124
