Force XXI Battle Command Brigade-and-Below (FBCB2)

Force XXI Battle Command Brigade-and-Below (FBCB2)

“Where am I?”“Where are my buddies?”“Where is the enemy?”The senior leadership of the Armyformulated the hypothesis that ifbattlefield commanders and theirstaffs had the answers to thesequestions and other criticalinformation, they could make bettertactical decisions, and make themfaster. To test this hypothesis, the Armyembarked on a rigorous anddemanding methodology – the TaskForce XXI Advanced WarfightingExperiment (TF XXI AWE). This ninemonth process of force-on-force fieldexperimentation and evaluationculminated in a “digitized” trainingevent held at the National TrainingCenter in March 1997.(FBCB2). Provided to a brigade-sizedcombat team, this system deliveredunprecedented, focused, andaccurate near-real-time informationto every member of the team:combat and combat support arms;digitization provides significantbenefits to the combat service supportelements in the form of more accurateand timely logistics, and a near-realtime view of personnel / logisticssupply status. To provide “situational awareness”.Task Force XXI proved that BLUE /RED(air/ground, Army/joint) locations could To improve the decision-makingbe provided, and that such information process. Situational awareness –is of great value to the warfighter.especially when integrated withactive combat identification – To provide a common view of thereduced fratricide. Situationalbattlespace to combat arms, combat awareness also increased thesupport, and combat service support effectiveness of the 1st BCT; the 1stelements. FBCB2 proved that it canBCT was able to decide and towork for the entire 1st Brigade Combat act/react faster than the OpposingTeam (1st BCT), and that there is value Force (OPFOR). With the ability to“Digitization of thein sharing common data across allmake timely decisions, the 1st BCTBattlefield”members and branches within the 1st was able to engage decisively theInformation technology equipmentBCT. Providing FBCB2 to all of theOPFOR by massing appropriate fires(e.g., computers, secure radios, packet elements of the 1st BCT facilitatedand/or forces quickly in the rightrouters, etc.), software, and related coordination and teamwork. Indeed, place at the right time, without havingtraining were all combined into ait is clear that the benefits ofto commit the 1st BCT reserve tosystem called “Force XXI Battledigitization are applicable to everyone every action.Command Brigade-and-Below ”in the combat team, not just for the

The Task Force XXI soldiers showedthat they can learn to use thedigitization equipment and software,and use it to increase their unit’scombat power through better andquicker decision-making. Throughthe introduction of informationtechnology, the cumulative effectresulted in decisively reducing the“fog of war”.TRW, as the Army’s prime contractorfor Force XXI Battle CommandBrigade-and-Below, provided thehardware (computers and installationkits), software, data bases, installation,training, and maintenance for the TaskForce XXI Advanced WarfightingExperiment. The results werespectacularly successful, validatingthe Army’s hypothesis: informationtechnology does improve theeffectiveness of the land-combatteam. The Army now has the data itneeds to guide its vision to “digitize”the Army in the early 21st century.Many new ideas and products weretried during Task Force XXI, but thecenterpiece of the entire activity wasthe hardware and softwareconstituting Force XXI BattleCommand Brigade-and-Below(“Appliqué”) system. More than 1,000Appliqué systems operatedsimultaneously during Task Force XXI,demonstrating their unique capabilityto gather and distribute critical combatinformation to soldiers, units, andbattle commands in near-real-timethrough the use of its revolutionarynew communications system, the“Tactical InterNet”.Displayed on a digital map backgroundwith associated battlefield symbology,the TRW-provided Appliqués andTactical InterNet combined to delivernear-real-time situational awareness,allowing each wheeled vehicle,tracked vehicle, helicopter, fixed-wingaircraft, and dismounted soldier soequipped to “see” friendly and knownenemy forces.TRW is proud to have led the Army’scontractor team in validating theArmy’s vision of “digitizing the force”.The TRW / Army team is already atwork using the lessons learned duringthe Task Force XXI AWE process tomake Force XXI Battle CommandBrigade-and-Below a reality, for theArmy’s Interim Digitized Division, foran initial Digitized Corps, and for thecomplete force of the future.message parser) were used in 10 othersystems. This flexibility and rehostability have also made possibleanother key benefit: the unification ofthe Army’s strategy for digitization withits plan for weapons platformmodernization, particularly for theABRAMS main battle tank, the ApacheSoftwarehelicopter, the BRADLEY fightingBased on layered applicationsvehicle, and the CRUSADER artilleryconnected via a “software backplane” vehicle, among others.and built-in evolutionary increments,starting with a “software architecture A segment of the FBCB2 software,skeleton”, the version 1 software used termed “Embedded Battle Command”at the Task Force XXI AWE proved that (EBC), will be integrated directly intosituational awareness could beon-platform embedded computers inprovided to a large, mobile force,these modern weapons platforms.communicating over the TacticalThese (EBC-equipped) platforms areInterNet. Moreover, it demonstrated provided access to the FBCB2 variablethat the FBCB2 software architecture message format, situationalis suitable for the digitization mission awareness, command-and-control,and the evolutionary introduction of and Tactical InterNet functionality,additional capabilities, while providing simultaneously guaranteeing theirthe near-real-time performance and inter-operability with the “appliquéd”reliability required by the mission. New fleet of platforms. A proof-of-conceptfunctions providing support for allimplementation of this importantelements of the combat team aresoftware module has been completedalready in progress for future versions and demonstrated.of the software, based on the“lessons-learned” of the Task Force Technical ArchitectureXXI AWE process.FBCB2 was the first large-scalesoftware system to be built inTRW’s techniques of layering,compliance with the new Armyisolation, encapsulation, andTechnical Architecture, a “buildingmodularity made the FBCB2 software code” for complex software systems,flexible and re-hostable. Six different since adopted as a joint standard.computers were used during the Task Military-specific devices (such as theForce XXI AWE process, and portions SINCGARS SIP radio and the EPLRSof the software (most notably, thedata radio) were integrated under avariable message format [VMF]set of commercial protocol standards, ACCURATE AND TIMELY SITUATION AWARENESS SHORTENED YET IMPROVED DECISION CYCLE SYNCHRONIZATION OF COMBAT POWER REDUCED FRATRICIDE

E x a m p l eA p p l i q u éI n s t a l l a t i o nPos/NavV2 ComputerLaser Range FinderBCISRadioVehicle IntercomDriver’s Displaywhich proved to aid significantly inthe system-level integration of themore than 1,000 Appliqué systemsthat took part in Task Force XX.Improvements to the selectedprotocol suite are already inevaluation for future versions of theFBCB2 / Tactical InterNet systemof-systems.IntegrationTRW’s approach for managingmultiple fielded configurations ofcomplex software systems,previously proven on Armyprograms such as CSSCS, FAADC2I, GBR, and STACCS, proved againthat disciplined configurationmanagement procedures combinedwith sound system/softwareengineering processes are absolutelycrucial to the future of the digitizedbattlefield. Adhering to this provenapproach for managing multiplesystems, TRW integrated a dozensystems developed by severalcontractors (including AFATDS,ASAS, BCIS, CSSCS, EPLRS, FAADC2I, INC, JANUS, MCS, NMT-B2,PLGR, SIMNET, SINCGARS SIP,TMG, and others) into more than adozen mobile Tactical OperationsCenters and the 1,000-node FBCB2network. The Army has alreadyscheduled many other systems forCautions/Warningsintegration by TRW and PMAppliqué into the digital battlefield.This approach ensures that the TRW/ Army software solution for FBCB2can grow to support not just adigitized division, but the entiredigitized force, includingcomponents from other servicesand allies.we also delivered nearly 200 soldiersystems. The design of thesedevices was proven appropriate forthe intended use, as we achieveddaily operational availability ratesin the high 90’s every day of theAWE; on most days, achieving ratesof about 98%! This experience isbeing used to define cost-effective“next-generation” equipment thatHardwarewill not only provide additionalTRW’s responsibilities for Taskperformance “break-throughs”, butForce XXI and FBCB2 extend well will ensure that digitization ispast software, the Tactical InterNet, affordable as well as effective.system architecture for the digitalbattlefield and system integration.They also include a variety ofhardware responsibilities, includingdesign, development, qualification,production, and maintenance of allof the computer systems for theAppliquéd platforms; and the design,development, qualification,production, installation, andmaintenance of more than 90% ofthe installation kits, for wheeledground platforms, tracked groundplatforms, helicopters, and somedismounted soldiers.For Task Force XXI, TRW and ourteam-mates delivered more than1,000 computers (of 6 varieties) andinstalled them into more than 850platforms (of nearly 50 varieties);

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