The Army’s major modernization program, the Future Combat Systems (FCS) will again participate in the Air Force Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment (JEFX) 2008 as it did last year, according to a program official.
JEFX is a series of joint service experiments, led by the Air Force’s Global Cyberspace Integration Center, focusing on collaboration and connectivity across the strategic, operational and tactical levels to plan and execute global strike and other military operations.
FCS will provide the the most mature software for the ground maneuver–brigade and below–network portion of the JEFX. Boeing [BA] and SAIC [SAI] manage FCS for the Army.
“This marks an important step in joint service collaboration. The JEFX will provide one of the first opportunities to test the functionality and applicability of FCS Spin Out network technologies in a realistic joint warfighting environment,” Maj. Troy Crosby, assistant project manager (Joint) FCS Network Systems Integration, said in a statement earlier this month. “It will also evaluate FCS core program network systems maturity in a joint operating scenario.”
The FCS initiatives for JEFX 08 builds upon previous FCS participation in a 2006 JEFX experiment. “The 2006 event primarily involved dissemination of situational awareness and support to time-sensitive targeting,” Crosby said. “Since development of the FCS network has matured on schedule, the FCS initiative for JEFX 08 will be improved network integration and joint interoperability.”
FCS will participate in all four JEFX 08 events, cumulating in an April 2008 joint call for fires field demonstration with full joint connectivity and situational awareness in an operational scenario. “This experiment is only the beginning of FCS involvement in JEFX 08,” Crosby said. “Over the next several months as experiment events unfold FCS looks forward to deploying its most mature software to date–the System of Systems Common Operating Environment (SOSCOE) and Battle Command Build 1 Final. We will also utilize prototype hardware, waveforms and platforms.”
FCS participation will include hardware, according to an Army spokesman. The Joint Tactical Radio System Ground Mobile Radios will play a part. As well, during the summer’s final JEFX 2008 event, the Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System, tactical unattended ground sensors, and several vehicles with FCS Spin Out 1 network capabilities will be taking part.
FCS program objectives for JEFX include: joint network integration, demonstration of Joint Interoperability and Spin Out 1 interoperability, demonstration of assured Global Information Grid connectivity, establishment of a capability for evolving Enterprise Services and achievement of shared situational awareness and understanding across the services.
FCS consists of a family of manned and unmanned air and ground systems and sensors, all connected to a common network. FCS is specifically designed to improve situational awareness, protection and lethality for soldiers while putting new capabilities into their hand as soon as the technology is ready.
The Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2008 will be conducted by the Air Force partnered with the U.S. Strategic Command, coalition nations, and other services.