NASHUA, N.H., 19 June 2012. Skyler Frink discusses the U.S. Army's next network upgrade in this week's Military & Aerospace Electronics Report.
Transcription: This is the Military & Aerospace Electronics Report, I'm Skyler Frink.
With the Army's third network integration evaluation concluded, warfighters will be getting a network upgrade sooner rather than later.
The upgrade, called Capability Set 13, is a series of network components, software and equipment that will enable integrated voice and data capability throughout an entire Brigade Combat Team formation. All the way from the brigade commander to the dismounted soldier at the edge of combat. Capability Set 13 will also be featured on the Army's Mine-resistant, ambush-protected, or MRAP, ground vehicles. MRAPs will be used in the Brigade Combat Team formations that will be equipped with Capability Set 13.
Capability Set 13 is scheduled to be fielded in October of this year, and was largely enabled by the Army's Agile acquisition process. The Agile process enables the Army to quickly assess capability gaps, form requirements, utilize industry technology and perform tests and evaluations in a way that takes years off of traditional Army acquisition timelines.
Starting in October the Army will field Capability Set 13 with up to eight brigade Combat Teams with priority to deployed forces and units scheduled to be deployed next.
It looks like the Agile acquisition process is working much better than previous programs. It's a great thing to see military programs proceeding at a quick and smooth pace, hopefully the Agile process will continue to help move programs along with this kind of speed and success.
For the Military & Aerospace Electronics Report, I'm Skyler Frink.
