In the 1980s, Army leaders made a conscious decision to develop increasingly lethal weapons platforms aided by automation. The utility of this decision was demonstrated during Operation Desert Storm. The Army and other services are now increasing the lethality of the total force package by developing automated command and control (C2) systemsOperations of the ‘90s in Southwest Asia, Somalia, Rwanda, and Haiti have underscored the need to improve tactical voice, data, and multimedia signal support systems. Today, force projection, split based operations, information warfare, and joint or combined operations are the rule. Improvements in the systems and services providing information network support to warfighting forces during all phases of an operation are crucial. Rapid and reliable information networks are necessary to enable the Army to project the force, protect the force, gain information dominance, shape the battlespace, conduct decisive operations and sustain the force.
The Army must be prepared to project overwhelming combat power from the continental United States and overseas bases in response to crises or other global requirements. The success of joint and combined military operations will depend on the rapid exchange of information within a highly mobile and dynamic battlefield. Future wars will be fought in a new hyper-linked digital world. Commanders must know the precise positions of all friendly and enemy forces. Vertical networks will link command echelons while horizontal connections tie together mounted, dismounted and airborne combat units. The digital battlefield will frame an architecture that encompasses every stationary and moving platform in the battlespace.Existing tactical communications systems generally employ early 1980’s technology. Velocity and capacity requirements for data distribution are rapidly outpacing the capabilities of today’s communications systems. With current systems, communications over different radio frequency bands require a commensurate number of unique, discrete and primarily radio systems.
Army Battle Command System (ABCS) employs a mix of fixed/semi-fixed installations and mobile networks and will be interoperable with theater, joint, and combined command and control systems.ABCS is a combination of all migrated Army Command and Control Systems, to include
- Army Global Command and Control System (AGCCS) is the Army component of the Joint Global Command and Control System (GCCS). AGCCS will be built from application programs developed by the:
- Army Tactical Command and Control System (ATCCS) will be linked directly to Army Global Command and Control System (AGCCS), providing a framework of seamless connectivity from brigade to corps. ATCCS is also the linchpin between AGCCS and Force XXI Battle Command Brigade-and-Below (FBCB2), creating a holistic, seamless integration of battle command from individual platforms to echelons above corps (EAC). ATCCS is made up of five systems:
- Force XXI Battle Command Brigade-and-Below (FBCB2), a subset of Army Battle Command System (ABCS), provides an integrated command and control system that extends horizontally across all Battlefield Operating Systems (BOS) and vertically from individual squad/platform to brigade/regimental headquarters. It also provides a seamless, holistic battle command capability to leaders of all combat, combat support, and combat service support units performing missions across the operational continuum at the tactical level of war.
- Tactical Internet
- SINCGARS
- MSE/TPN
- EPLRS
- Near Term Digital Radio (NTDR) to replace EPLRS
- Battlefield Information Transmission System (BITS) far–term
- Warfighter Information Network (WIN)
- Battlefield Operating Systems (BOSs) are the major functions performed by the force on the battlefield to successfully execute Army operations (battles and engagements) in order to accomplish military objectives directed by the operational commander. They include maneuver, fire support, air defense, command and control, intelligence, mobility and survivability, and combat service support.
