Seventy-one members of the House have written Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressing their “strong support” for the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) and The Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Fit (HMS) Radio.
“We understand the significant pressure being placed on the budget of the U.S. Army,” members wrote. “Nonetheless. WIN-T and HMS cannot sustain additional cuts–including cuts from reprogramming.”
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| WIN-T Point of Presence (PoP) and Soldier Network Extension (SNE) Courtesy General Dynamics |
Specifically, draft reprogramming documents are circulating that appear to take money from WIN-T for other programs.
Members quote Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno on Aug. 7, when he said, “ the network remains [the Army’s] number one modernization priority, giving our commanders and soldiers vastly increased ability to communicate and share information on the battlefield…while on the move and in the midst of ongoing operations.”
Both WIN-T and HMS are successful acquisition programs, members wrote. General Dynamics [GD] is developing and producing WIN-T, and General Dynamics and Thales Communications produce the Rifleman radio, part of HMS Radios.
The members signing the letter include the Massachusetts delegation. Win-T is produced in General Dynamics’ Taunton, Mass., facility. The site employs about 1,000 people, and other subcontractor work depends on the program.
Both systems are being developed to solve concerns: modern conflict moves faster than communication systems can keep up as shown in both the first Gulf War and in Iraq in 2003. Additionally, while civilians take it for granted they can access GPS, maps, voice and data any time, at home and on the move, most deployed soldiers cannot, and often operate on 1980s-era analog technology.
While the next mission is unknown, “we do know that our soldiers will need flexible and effective communications gear,” House members wrote.