Nick Perkinson, USA, the PEO-C3T assistant product manager for Network Operations, describes the technology trio as “foundational prototype efforts” that will eventually come together under a Unified Network Operations program of record. The Army is rapidly developing and fielding the technologies under the Unified Network Operations mid-tier acquisition effort. The systems are included in a suite of tools that reduces the time it takes to initialize, plan and load a brigade’s worth of radios from four weeks to less than two hours.
They are the Network Operations Management System (NOMS), which is used to manage the network and support non-classified, classified and coalition network enclaves with a common look and functionality Atom, described as a single planning and loading tool that supports multiple tactical radios and the Ruggedized Application Platform-Tactical Radio (RAP-TR), which consolidates lower tactical network tools onto a single Dell laptop or tablet to streamline tactical network management. Three of those either are being fielded now or will be soon. The PEO-C3T plans an array of technologies to achieve that goal. He adds that it is critical for the service to begin removing some of that complexity.
“What that creates is a larger burden and a greater degree of difficulty to manage those networks and then to be able to operate all of the various network management tools that come with that.” That comes with challenges for how you manage all of this additional capability,” Mehney explains. “We’re obviously providing additional commercial network capability in the units at a fairly rapid pace. Paul Mehney, a spokesman for the Program Executive Office-Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO-C3T), says the office is providing “leaps ahead in connectivity, leaps ahead in the ability to maneuver, leaps ahead in the ability to know where their soldiers are located and push that data, location data and operational mission command data across echelons up and down. However, as the Army provides one advanced capability after another, it also injects more sophisticated and complex systems, creating challenges for signal officers and soldiers. Modernization efforts include fielding enhanced equipment to signal battalions, cutting-edge command posts and commercial satellite communications capabilities. John Morrison Jr., USA, the service’s deputy chief of staff, G-6, has described the separation of enterprise and tactical networks as a false divide. Under a unified network, communication offices from the tactical edge through corps level will have fewer network management and monitoring applications and tools to enhance their ability to plan, configure, manage, monitor and secure the network. The unified network is expected to provide a seamless integrated network management capability to simplify user experience, increase situational awareness and strengthen cyber network defense, according to Army officials. As part of the Army’s efforts to eventually unify its tactical and enterprise networks, the service is developing three pilot technologies designed to simplify the planning and management of its tactical network.