In speech after speech, the U.S. Army chief of staff said we need to adapt to a battlefield where drones, sensors and satellites track soldiers' every move. Among Gen. Randy George's most notable reform targets is the command post, once a vast site that must now be converted into a small, mobile camouflage outpost that can evade enemy missiles.
Much of the technology that makes that possible comes from commercial or commercially derived technologies, said Mark Kitts, director of the Army's Command, Control and Communications Tactical Program Office.
The force is already experimenting with using commercial communications networks rather than setting up military communications links that are immediately visible to the enemy.
But without better technology, Kitts said, the units are doomed to fade into obscurity.
During a recent training event at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) in Louisiana, a unit attempted to camouflage itself in commercial communications traffic using commercial communications infrastructure rather than military equipment.
But differences between the commercial technology used by the Army and the technology used locally prevented the unit from integrating, Kitts said. “That commander at JRTC couldn't see the environment effectively, so he didn't realize he was standing out.”
Kitts did not say exactly what the unit did wrong, but it would be readily apparent if civilian infrastructure uses 3G base stations. Examples of units installing 4G base stations listed.
To solve this problem, Kitts' team is working on a “transport agnostic” communications system that would allow commanders to switch between different communication types as needed.
He said the Army will award a contract in 2025 for a pilot program for a new type of command post that includes technology that will allow soldiers to switch between different types of communications networks, from cellular to military communications links. He plans to do so.
The Army is also increasingly interested in private satellite providers, whose technology provides troops with significantly more data than their Army counterparts. Plates can be placed and removed in minutes, allowing troops to quickly disperse and avoid enemy fire.
Kitts said the Army is interested in implementing a system that would allow it to contract services with a variety of commercial satellite providers based on affordability and popularity in specific operational environments. One unit will use SpaceX's Starlink, and another unit will likely use Eutelsat's OneWeb.
Last September, the Army announced it was piloting a program that would serve as a model for its acquisition program, also known as “satellite communications as a managed service.”
To facilitate this program, the Army is working to develop next-generation tactical terminals. This will be an Army-provided satellite terminal that can receive input from a variety of commercial satellite providers. Kitts said the Army hopes to issue a request for proposals in 2025 and win both the terminal and commercial satellite service contracts by the end of 2025.
The Army will also work with the Space Force on the project, Kitts said.
The service is likely to use funds from the procurement budget to acquire core network technology such as switches and routers, he said.
But certain commercial satellite capabilities could be paid for through another acquisition category, the Army operations and maintenance budget, Kitts said. Operational funding is less reportable and in some cases under the control of unit commanders, such as colonels in charge of Army brigade combat teams.
The Army recently announced it would use operational funds to acquire some commercial drones to get more drones into the hands of soldiers.
Implementing commercial satellite connectivity would partially eliminate the brigade's bandwidth limitations, Kitts added. “I think we're going to see a battalion.” [command posts] There are no bandwidth issues,” Kitts said.
But as more battalions disperse to avoid enemy fire, fewer troops will have access to those terminals, he added.
The Army is also working to bring airspace collision avoidance tools to command posts, Kitts said, as the Army increases its own unmanned aircraft operations while continuing traditional cooperation with the Air Force. It is said that this is a movement.
The service is working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop prototype airspace collision avoidance tools and is also experimenting with airspace management tools for the Air Force. Kitts said a version of the collision avoidance tool could debut “within the next year.”
“I think there will be something coming soon that will help us in environments from 1,000 feet to 5,000 feet,” Kitts said. “Technology is really at its peak.”
One prototype airspace collision avoidance tool runs on Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) software, Kitz added.
TAK is open source software that can be loaded onto chest-worn Android smartphones and Windows computers at headquarters. The software allows commanders to track their forces, drop pings on enemy force locations, send messages, and access a variety of features such as drone feeds.
Kitts said the Army will likely transition to TAK at some point as the user interface for many command post tools. “Overall, [command and control] The system will likely see integration at the user interface level, at least around TAK. ”
In preparation for the 12th Technology Exchange Conference in November, the Army will issue a request for proposals for modernizing artillery targeting software to replace the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) and the Joint Targeting Command Coordination Suite (JTIC2S).
“It's time to modernize and really stimulate an industry that doesn't even have a history.” [artillery] It’s a community,” Kitts said.
