Capability Set 13: Blue Force Tracking Upgrades Offer Greater Situational Awareness

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA584595 | Open PDF

Abstract:

On the battlefield, situational awareness not only provides a technological advantage to Soldiers, it saves lives. Now, the Army is delivering that awareness to the lowest levels. After more than a decade of war, the friendly force tracking system Soldiers relied on for situational awareness, Force XXI Battle Command Brigade-and-BelowBlue Force Tracking FBCB2BFT is being upgraded and enhanced through two generational steps Joint Capabilities Release JCR followed by Joint Battle Command-Platform JBC-P. Both work with networked handheld devices to bring dismounted Soldiers into the situational awareness picture. Prior to and as part of Capability Set 13 CS 13, JCR is being fielded to Afghanistan. The system allows Soldiers in battle to view blue icons on a computer screen inside their vehicle that pinpoint the grid locations of friendly forces. They can also alert nearby friendly units of improvised explosive devices or enemy locations by plotting them in red. The capability consists of computers, global positioning equipment, and communication systems that work in tandem to provide near real-time information to combat leaders at the tactical level. The information it provides also mitigates fratricide. With the FBCB2 capability, Soldiers can move more freely on the battlefield knowing the whereabouts of friendly or enemy forces. Fielded by Project Manager JBC-P, the technology is being upgraded based largely on Soldiers experience and feedback. While JCR is being fielded to troops in Afghanistan through CS 13, JBC-P, which will bring enhanced on-the-move command and control capabilities down to the dismounted Soldier, is already being tested and is planned for fielding as part of CS 14.

Author(s):
Jones-bonbrest, Nancy
Author Organization(s):
SYMBOLIC SYSTEMS INC SUMMIT NJ
Descriptive Note:
Journal article
Supplementary Note:
Published in Army Communicator, v37 n4 p31-32, Winter 2012.
Pagination:
0003

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Monitor Series:
SIGCOE
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_3_Force Application; JCA_3.1.1_Maneuver to Engage; JCA_3.1_Maneuver; JCA_5.2_Understand; JCA_5.2.2_Develop Knowledge and Situational Awareness; JCA_6_Net Centric; JCA_1.2_Force Preparation; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_6.1_Information Transport; JCA_8_Building Partnerships; JCA_6.2.3_Core Enterprise Services; JCA_6.2.4_Position Navigation and Timing; JCA_8.2_Shape
Modernization Areas:
Space
Communities of Interest:
Space
Descriptor(s):
*ARMY EQUIPMENT, *BATTLEFIELDS, *COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS, *POSITION FINDING, *SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, *TACTICAL COMMUNICATIONS, *TRACKING, AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT, ARMY TRAINING, DIGITAL MAPS, GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE, LOGISTICS SUPPORT, MINE RESISTANT VEHICLES, MOBILE COMPUTING, REPRINTS, SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS, WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS
Field(s)/Group(s):
Military Forces and Organizations, Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics, Radio Communications
Keyword(s):
*CAPABILITY SET 13, *BLUE FORCE TRACKING UPGRADES, *JOINT CAPABILITIES RELEASE, *JOINT BATTLE COMMAND PLATFORM, FBCB2 BFT ENHANCEMENTS, FBCB2 BFT(FORCE XXI BATTLE COMMAND BRIGADE AND BELOW BLUE FORCE TRACKING), JCR LOGISTICS, MRAPS(MINE RESISTANT AMBUSH PROTECTED VEHICLES), FRIENDLY FORCES TRACKING, NEW EQUIPMENT FIELDING, NEW EQUIPMENT TRAINING, NETWORK INTEGRATION EVALUATION, NETT WARRIOR, HANDHELD DEVICES, DISMOUNTED SOLDIERS
Report Date:
2011 Jan 01
Creation Date:
2014 Jan 08