El Ej\u00e9rcito de Estados Unidos est\u00e1 preparando su quinta iteraci\u00f3n del Proyecto Convergencia, donde los soldados probar\u00e1n la futura arquitectura de comando y control (C2) del servicio para ver si va por el camino correcto. El objetivo es proporcionar a los soldados una arquitectura unificada y “plana” a trav\u00e9s de la cual puedan comunicarse sin problemas. Para lograrlo, actualmente est\u00e1 actualizando la red en el marco de su iniciativa C2 Fix . Pero, al mismo tiempo, est\u00e1 considerando un plan m\u00e1s ambicioso denominado C2 Next o Next Generation C2.<\/p>\n
FORT JOHNSON, La. \u2014 The US Army is gearing up its fifth Project Convergence iteration where soldiers will test out the service\u2019s future command and control (C2) architecture to see if it\u2019s on the right track, according to a senior leader helming the initiative.<\/p>\n
Today the service faces a complicated time overcoming network challenges and is embarking on a multi-pronged plan aimed at eventually providing soldiers with a\u00a0unified, \u201cflattened\u201d architecture that they can seamlessly communicate through. To get there, it is currently upgrading the current network under\u00a0its\u00a0C2 Fix\u00a0<\/a>initiative. But at the same time, it is eyeing a more ambitious plan referred to as either C2 Next or Next Generation C2 (NGC2).<\/p>\n Still in the early days of development, this new prototyping umbrella is slated to include: a single array; a line-of-sight and beyond line-of-sight terminal; modular RF communications software; and \u201cedge computing capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n Col Michael Kaloostian, the Army Futures Command\u2019s (AFC\u2019s)\u00a0networks and security director for NCC2, plans to have soldiers test out the proof of principle at the Project Convergence capstone five event early next year.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are in the S&T [science and technology] phase, and we\u2019re still doing [research and development] on this project,\u201d he told Breaking Defense during an Aug. 22 interview. Even still, AFC head Gen. James Rainey has tasked the team with testing out the new construct at the National Training Center at\u00a0Fort Irwin, Calif. during Project Convergence\u00a0maneuver events.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wants to use it completely,\u201d Kaloostian explained.<\/p>\n He said later that C2 Next is \u201ccompletely different\u201d and a \u201c100 percent clean sheet approach\u201d compared to the current network and C2 Fix.\u00a0If the test goes well, senior leaders will likely hand the prototyping project over to the AFC\u2019s\u00a0Network\u00a0Cross-Functional Team\u00a0to continue testing it out.<\/p>\n That team is \u201calready getting the requirements developers together. They\u2019re already looking at the budget that it will require, and working [on] the acquisition approach,\u201d Kaloostian said.<\/p>\n Part of that tentative plan ahead revolves around delivering a \u201cminimal viable product\u201d to units later in 2025 for continued testing before the service begins fielding it to soldiers, possibly in 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to learn [with] each step. \u2026 It\u2019s always gonna be iterative, because technology is always going to improve,\u201d Kaloostian said.<\/p>\n And although the Army has an idea of the key C2 Next components, it is looking for avenues to inject competition into the new network\u2019s development. More information should be available to interested vendors in mid-September when the\u00a0Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T) hosts a\u00a0virtual, industry day<\/a>.<\/p>\n