{"id":24567,"date":"2019-10-17T16:49:06","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T16:49:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/10\/17\/squads-to-tap-into-cellular-networks-and-battle-track-on-tablets-at-network-trials\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:26:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:26:40","slug":"squads-to-tap-into-cellular-networks-and-battle-track-on-tablets-at-network-trials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2019\/10\/17\/squads-to-tap-into-cellular-networks-and-battle-track-on-tablets-at-network-trials\/","title":{"rendered":"Squads to tap into cellular networks and battle-track on tablets at network trials"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Squads and above at an 82nd Airborne Division<\/a> prototype brigade will start training with gear from the Army\u2019s integrated tactical network<\/a> this winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gear will include lighter and faster communication equipment, battle-tracking applications on tablets and new ways to communicate with one another, as well as partner forces. By using a secure-but-unclassified architecture<\/a>, soldiers can tap into commercial cellular networks, like 4G, and a greater range of wavelengths, depending on the electronic threat environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first paratroopers to be fielded the new equipment will help determine how the rollout to more soldiers will work beginning in fiscal year 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe integrated tactical network is about improving the war fighting capabilities of our maneuver formations, our brigade combat teams,\u201d said Maj. Gen. Peter Gallagher, director of the Network Cross-Functional Team. \u201cThey\u2019re getting new capabilities that include advance networking waveforms, which significantly improves our mobile ad hoc networking capability at the lowest tactical echelon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Program Executive Office responsible for the testing is planning to begin new equipment training and fielding to the 1st Brigade Combat Team at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, starting in October through December, according to Col. Garth Winterle, Integrated Tactical Network experimentation lead for Capability Set 2021, or CS21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The soldiers will begin collective training at the squad-level and above in early February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A Soldier with 3-6 FA 1BCT 10th Mountain Division, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, navigates the new Precision Fires – Dismounted system at the Mission Training Center, Fort Drum, April 5, 2018.Soldiers will now be able to view live-streaming full-motion video from unmanned aerial vehicles through an app on approved smartphones. Dismounted Soldiers will get 3-D digital maps and the ability to send precision target coordinates. The hardware is also less expensive than the previous version.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUltimately it\u2019s going to take a hard look at [whether] we have the right radios in the right places,\u201d Winterle said. \u201cAre the new capabilities really adding enough capability to justify price points and overall cost of the networks. So, it\u2019s exciting the 1-82nd was selected to do this.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CS21 is just the start of more bi-annual capability sets that will be rolling out through 2028 to update the Army\u2019s integrated tactical network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not a new or separate network, but instead uses existing devices and gateways alongside commercial off-the-shelf products to make sure communications can continue even in limited bandwidth environments and amid electronic attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne thing we know for sure is the capabilities we\u2019re pursuing are better, definitely better than what we had,” Gallagher said. “And soldiers that don\u2019t have it today are chomping at the bit to get it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fort Bragg\u2019s 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade has already used some of the new capabilities. For instance, the brigade utilized Nett Warrior<\/a> downrange in Afghanistan, a dismounted handheld system that provides the location of friendly forces and other mapping data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special operations forces have for years been using the Android Tactical Assault Kit application on tablets for battle tracking and calling in air support, which is what Nett Warrior is derived from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the amount and specific types of gear needed for infantry, Stryker and armor brigade combat teams do vary and so each type will require different approaches to fielding equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\t