U.S. Army's Next Generation Command & Control Capabilities Roll Out Worldwide
The U.S. Army is rolling out new Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) capabilities across the 4th Infantry Division, even in remote locations like South Korea, the U.S.-Mexico border, and the Middle East. This marks a significant step in the Army's plan to revolutionize its data management and communication systems.
The 4th ID is leading this transformation through a series of Ivy Sting command and control exercises, culminating in the Ivy Mass event. These serialized events occur every six weeks, with the next one, Project Convergence Capstone 6, scheduled for July 2024. Following this event, the Army will decide on specific NGC2 systems to purchase and deploy to units, potentially leading to larger service-wide changes.
At Fort Carson, an integration lab hosts industry engineers working alongside the Army to co-engineer NGC2 technology. This collaboration allows for real-world testing and iteration, ensuring the technology meets the Army's needs. The 4th ID has also established a C2 Support Element to synchronize NGC2 integration across data, application, and transport layers.
The Army has invested nearly $100 million in developing a division-level NGC2 prototype, with Anduril and a team of vendors leading the project. This prototype aims to change the way the Army fights, organizes, and utilizes military occupational specialties (MOSs). Additionally, the Army is developing another NGC2 prototype for the 25th Infantry Division, with both divisions cooperating and learning from each other's experiences.
The Army's NGC2 initiative is well underway, with units across the 4th ID already training with new capabilities. As the Army continues to test and integrate these technologies, it aims to have them ready for Project Convergence Capstone 6 in July 2024. This marks a significant step towards the Army's goal of entirely changing the way it fights and uses its resources.
