The Army is fielding General Dynamics’ [GD] Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2 to Styker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCT), expanding mobile tactical capability.
WIN-T Inc. 2 is being fielded to the 2nd SBCT, 2nd Infantry Div., (2/2 SBCT) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and the 1st SBCT, 1st Armored Div., Fort Bliss, Texas.
WIN-T Inc 2 allows commanders and some staff to maneuver on the battlefield without losing touch with their troops without stopping to set up communications, which makes them vulnerable, a General Dynamics statement said March 3.
WIN-T consists of mobile points of presence installed on specific vehicles at battalion levels and
Photo: General Dynamics
above, wireless packages, and the soldier network extension that provides company-level connections. This brings voice, data and command apps from brigade down to the company level through an ad hoc self-forming network.
The 10th Mountain Div. was the first to have WIN-T Inc. 2 as it deployed to Afghanistan in July 2013. The secure WIN-T Inc 2 network backbone is also fielded to 12 infantry Brigade Combat Teams and four division headquarters.
“Fielding WIN-T Increment 2 to Army Stryker Brigades closes the communications gap between fast moving SBCTs and ‘boots on the ground’ soldiers,” said Chris Marzilli, president of General Dynamics Mission Systems. “The highly mobile and operationally simplified Increment 2 allows soldiers to quickly and simultaneously address multiple missions in any environment, across the mission field or between continents.”
WIN-T is the Army’s top-tier, mobile command and control system that connects and protects voice and data communications to support the full spectrum of Army operations worldwide.
General Dynamics Mission Systems continues to work to make WIN-T Inc 2 easier to use, while reducing the size, weight and power needs of the system overall. Ideas and suggestions for system improvements come from soldier feedback during evaluation events, from soldiers returning from their deployments and from training activities both at home base and at the Signal School at the Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon, Ga.