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Integrated Tactical Network

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This material was split from Army Futures Command

The US Army's Integrated Tactical Network (ITN) "is not a new or separate network but rather a concept"—PEO C3T.[1][a] Avoid overspecifying the requirements for Integrated Tactical Network[11] Information Systems Initial Capabilities Document. Instead, meet operational needs,[15] such as interoperability with other networks,[18] and release ITN capabilities incrementally.[20]

  • Up through 2028, every two years the Army will insert new capability sets for ITN (Capability sets '21, '23, '25, etc.).[23] and take feedback from Soldier-led experiment & evaluation.[27] However, the Army's commitment to a 'campaign of learning' showed more paths:[30]
    • Firestorm was made possible by a mesh network—improvising an MEO, and then a GEO satellite link between JBLM to YPG. There are plans to have a Project Convergence 2021.[34] The Army fielded a data fabric at Project Convergence 2020;[35] this will eventually be part of JADC2.[40]
    • Five Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF) awards were granted to five vendors via the Network CFT and PEO C3T's request for white papers. That request, for a roll-on/roll-off kit that integrates all functions of mission command on the Army Network, was posted at the National Spectrum Consortium and FedBizOpps, and yielded awards within eight months.[41][Note 1] Two more awards are forthcoming.[Note 1]
    • The Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO)'s Emerging Technologies Office structured a competition to find superior AI/Machine Learning algorithms for electronic warfare, from a field of 150 contestants, over a three-month period.[42][Note 1]
    • The Multi-Domain Operations Task Force (MDO TF) is standing up an experimental Electronic Warfare Platoon to prototype an estimated 1000 EW soldiers needed for the 31 BCTs of the active Army.[43][44]
  • Capability Set '21 fields ITN to selected infantry brigades to prepare for IVAS Integrated vision goggles. Expeditionary signal brigades get enhanced satellite communications.
    • 1/82nd Airborne, 173rd Airborne, 3/25th ID, and 3/82nd Airborne infantry brigades will all have fielded the Integrated Tactical Network Capability Set '21 by year-end 2021.[45][6] 2nd Cavalry Regiment is getting Capability Set '21 on Strykers,[46] which will test the CS'23 network design on Strykers early.[47]
  • Integrated Tactical Network (ITN) Capability Set '23 is prototyping JADC2 communications and the data fabric, to LEO (low Earth orbit) and to MEO (medium Earth orbit) satellites, as continued in Project Convergence 2021 in Yuma Proving Ground.[50] Capability Set '23 has passed its Critical design review (CDR).[51][b]
  • Integrated Tactical Network (ITN) Capability Set '25 will implement JADC2, according to the acting head of the Network CFT.[56]
  • Integrated Tactical Network (ITN) Capability Set '27 design goals are being laid out.[21][57]

  • G-6 John Morrison is seeking to unify the battlefield networks of ITN, and IEN (Enterprise Network), as of September 2021.[58][59]
    • An Army leader dashboard from PEO Enterprise Information Systems is underway.[60][61] The dashboard is renamed Vantage.[62] The dashboard has streamlined and connected data updates for deployments.[63] Vantage is to be replaced by Army Data Platform 2.0, using multiple vendors.[64] Cloud-service-provider agnostic abstraction layers are in use, which allows merging the staff work in G-3/5/7 for cyber/EW (electronic warfare), mission command, and space. The "seamless, real-time flow of data" across multiple domains (land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace) is an objective for G-6, as well as the sensor-to-shooter work at Futures command.[65][67]
    • Fort Irwin, Fort Hood, Joint Base San Antonio, and Joint Base Lewis McChord have 5G experiments on wireless connectivity between forward operating bases and tactical operations centers, as well as nonaircraft Augmented reality support of maintenance and training.[68]
    • The Multi-domain task forces (MDTFs) will be used to expose any capability gaps in the Unified network plan.[69][58]

DISA is providing network services in preparation for JADC2, to USINDOPACOM.[70]

Notes and References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. Army Applications Lab: (23 October 2018) Army Futures Command Wants YOU (To Innovate)
    • —Adam Jay Harrison's list for types of Funding Authority
  1. ^ When developing a complex product such as a network, it is helpful to develop piecewise, to avoid the 'zero defects mentality' ("But if you fail, we'd like you to fail early and fail cheap,' because progress and success often builds on failure." —Ryan McCarthy)[2][1][3][4]
  2. ^ The Senate Appropriations Committee is cutting an Army component of the FY23 Presidential Budget Request which funds a CS'23 network capability.[52]
  1. ^ a b c d e PEO C3T (2018) Integrated Tactical Network "is not a new or separate network but rather a concept"
  2. ^ David Vergun (22 April 2018) New Army Futures Command success hinges on relationship building—Ryan McCarthy
  3. ^ PEO C3T Peo3ct.Army.mil (2021) Networking the Soldier ARMY NETWORK CAPABILITY SET MODERNIZATION. 18 pp
  4. ^ Walker, Gleason, and Ayer Peo3ct (7 Jul 2021) Global network super highway postures Army for multi-domain operations Global Agile Integrated Transport (GAIT) is a network design: RHN regional hub network, DoD Teleport Sites, 150 Gait points of presence (POPs)
  5. ^ a b c ASA(ALT) Weapon Systems Handbook 2018 update
  6. ^ a b Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (18 November 2019) New Army Network ‘A Revolution’ For Airborne: Commander ITN full brigade Network equipment: PEO slide showing connectivity from BCT command post, down to Fire Team leaders cell phones; use each soldiers' IVAS goggles to locate each paratrooper
  7. ^ Kathryn Bailey, PEO C3T Public Affairs (19 November 2019) The Army's tactical network empowers advanced goggle platform IVAS is under STP 2-- "In July 2020, STP 3 will fully integrate the ITN with IVAS"; IVAS is under STP 2-- "In July 2020, STP 3 will fully integrate the ITN with IVAS"
  8. ^ Jared Serbu (24 August 2018) Army experimenting with SOF-tested equipment while building long-term tactical network plan
  9. ^ U.S. Army PEO C3T (30 April 2019) Profile: Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T)
  10. ^ a b Mark Pomerleau (1 April 2019) How the Army will sustain its tactical network of the future ITN to take advantage of Tobyhanna depot. 5-3-1 model
  11. ^ [5][1][6][7][8][9][10]
  12. ^ Mark Pomerleau (21 Jan 2020) What a deployment to the Middle East means for testing a new Army network An operational deployment begun 1 Jan 2020, which won't be instrumented, will provide some Soldier feedback, but instrumented testing is deferred until after redeployment.
  13. ^ Justin Eimers, PEO C3T (3 October 2018) Network Cross-Functional Team, acquisition partners experimenting to modernize tactical network In 2018 MG Bassett became (Program Executive Office Command Control Communications-Tactical) PEO C3T)
  14. ^ C5ISR "Army leaders get firsthand look at C5ISR Center research, development projects". www.army.mil. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  15. ^ [12][13][14]
  16. ^ Joe Lacdan, Army News Service (25 October 2018) Interoperability a key focus in building the Army's future network
  17. ^ DoD (16 May 2018) Army Officials Testify on FY 2019 Budget Request
  18. ^ [16][17]: minute 1:26:00 [10]
  19. ^ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (3 April 2019) Multi-Domain Networks: The Army, The Allies & AI: Incremental ITN Capability sets '21, '23, '25
  20. ^ [19][5][1]
  21. ^ a b Claire Heininger and Amy Walker (26 Apr 2022) 'The backbone of everything we do:' Army advances new communications network baseline
  22. ^ Devon L. Suits, Army News Service (21 June 2019) New tech, accessibility to improve Army tactical networks
  23. ^ [21][22][5][1]
  24. ^ Amy Walker, PEO C3T (18 June 2019) Modernizing the Network
  25. ^ Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (22 July 2019) CCDC's road map to modernizing the Army: the network 4th in a series
  26. ^ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (29 August 2019) The Fraying Edge: Limits Of The Army's Global Network
  27. ^ [24][25][26]
  28. ^ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (27 August 2019) Uncle Sam Wants YOU To Compete For Army Network Upgrade: CS 21 Multiple Expeditionary Signal Battalion – Enhanced (ESB-E) network hardware sets are being fielded simultaneously to individual companies in the 50th Expeditionary Signal Battalion of 35th Signal Brigade/82nd Airborne Division in 2020, to allow maximum testing.
  29. ^ Amy Walker, PM Tactical Network, PEO C3T (4 December 2019) Global network design unifies Army modernization efforts GAIT: worldwide network mesh—CS21
  30. ^ [28][29]
  31. ^ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (25 Sep 2020) Longer-Range Missiles & More AI: Project Convergence 2021 PrSM, AFATDS to F-35
  32. ^ Thomas Spoehr (13 November 2020) Project Convergence: Its Success Could Draw Army Astray Risks-- Opfor, Allies & Joint participation, EW jamming, PrSM launches, JADC2, Joint Forces command is a cautionary example.
  33. ^ Thomas Brading, Army News Service (12 February 2021) Army scales up joint capabilities as Project Convergence grows
  34. ^ [31][32][33]
  35. ^ a b c Andrew Eversden (15 Oct 2020) US Army's tactical network team tests new unified data fabric in Yuma
  36. ^ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (17 Nov 2020) Project Rainmaker: Army Weaves ‘Data Fabric’ To Link Joint Networks CCDC C5ISR built Project Rainmaker to weave together a data fabric which is foundational to JADC2
  37. ^ FY19 Army Programs (2018) Distributed Common Ground System – Army (DCGS-A) capability drop 1, 2018
  38. ^ Andrew Eversden (6 Oct 2021) Army Awards Palantir $823M Contract For Enterprise ‘Data Fabric’ DCGS-A Distributed Common Ground Systems-Army capability drop 2
  39. ^ Claire Heninger and US Army (29 Oct 2021) Bridging the gap: Army weaves data fabric at Project Convergence 21
  40. ^ [36][37][38][39]
  41. ^ Kathryn Bailey, PEO C3T Public Affairs (17 October 2018) New players bring novel approaches to the Army's network modernization goals
  42. ^ Nancy Jones-Bonbrest, Army Rapid Capabilities Office (8 November 2018) Cutting through the noise: Army, industry work together to speed up signal detection
  43. ^ Sydney J. FREEDBERG JR. (19 November 2018) Can Army Afford The Electronic Warfare Force It Wants?
  44. ^ Anthony Small Futures Command Deputy Commanding General talks the U.S. Army's Future at South by Southwest, US Army, 13 March 2019
  45. ^ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (20 May 2021) Paratroopers Pioneer New Army Network, Tactics HMS Manpack and Leader radios, ITN CS '21, can use variable height antenna drones, MUOS constellation: for tactical satellite communications —Andrew Eversden (24 Sep 2021) Army Drops Nearly $350M For New Radios After Two Years of Testing
  46. ^ a b Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr. (4 May 2021) Army Network Upgrade Seeks Fast Data For JADC2
  47. ^ Kathryn Bailey, PEO C3T Public Affairs (25 January 2022)Army's integrated network rolls on with Stryker vehicles
  48. ^ Jaspreet Gil (10 Jun 2022) Army CIO: FY23 is ‘year of inflection’ for digital transformation CIO Raj Iyer: "Iyer said that the overall budget is 'almost flat' going from FY22 to FY23".
  49. ^ Colin Demarest (1 Apr 2022) US Army picks L3Harris and Thales for radio modernization replaces SINCGARS
  50. ^ [35][48][46][49]
  51. ^ Colin Demarest (28 Apr 2022) US Army wraps review of 'future battlespace' network tools
  52. ^ Jaspreet Gill (2 Aug 2022) In Army, worry follows Senators’ proposed cuts to network, comms upgrades: Official Cuts to CS'23 layer will affect upcoming CS'25 capability
  53. ^ Andrew Eversden (9 Jun 2021) Army says 2025 tactical network will make JADC2 a reality
  54. ^ Andrew Eversden (29 Sep 2021) New Army Pilot Program To Test Armored Brigade Mobile Communications N-CFT and PEO C3T are cooperating on CS'25, using 12 M1068 mobile command posts as test vehicles.
  55. ^ Brad Williams (21 Sep 2021) DoD Spending On JADC2 Jumps, With Increased Focus On Interoperability: Report a cautionary note on stovepiped systems —Billy Fabian
  56. ^ [53][54][55]
  57. ^ Colin Demarest (10 May 2024) Thales doubles down on radio production as US Army rethinks its network
  58. ^ a b Andrew Eversden (23 Sep 2021) Top Army General: Network Modernization 'Never Going To Stop'
  59. ^ CIO and G-6 (8 Oct 2021) The Army Unified Network Plan: ENABLING MULTI-DOMAIN OPERATIONS
  60. ^ Ellen Summey, PEO EIS (1 July 2019) Army Leader Dashboard, creating insight-driven decisions
  61. ^ Lizette Chapman (13 December 2019) Palantir Wins New Pentagon Deal With $111 Million From the Army HR, supply chain, et al.
  62. ^ Billy Mitchell (DEC 26, 2019) Inside Palantir's support of the Army's massive data problem
  63. ^ Capt. Matthew Visser (30 Jul 2022) Reinventing Modern Deployment: Soldiers leverage Army Vantage to make data-driven decisions
  64. ^ Jaspreet Gill (4 Dec 2023) Army asks industry for best acquisition approach for Vantage data platform re-compete
  65. ^ a b Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (29 July 2020) Army Future Ops Depend On Cloud – But Not On JEDI
  66. ^ Kelsey Atherton (7 August 2020) Pentagon Code Library Will Support Multiple Clouds
  67. ^ [65] [66][35]
  68. ^ .S. Army Public Affairs U(3 June 2020) Two Army Installations selected for 5G testing and experimentation
  69. ^ Andrew Eversden (15 Dec 2021) Tactical cloud coming to Army's Multi-Domain Task Forces in 2022
  70. ^ Jaspreet Gill (2 Nov 2022) DISA moves forward with $1.5B network transport contract after protest "The contract was awarded in August, but the government froze work until a protest by Verizon was resolved, a Defense Department official told Breaking Defense".