Global Military Communications Magazine

Blue Force Tracking – What’s new?

Satellite is a key enabler for government and military groups around 10 times faster than BFT-1, the newer system enables
the world over, delivering unparalleled capabilities both at almost real-time accuracy, with 99.95 percent network
home and abroad. From keeping military commanders up availability, a key factor for the US Army. Ground vehicle and
aviation transceivers operate over ground station equipment
to date in the field, enabling heads of government to installed at L-band satellite provider sites and are controlled by
securely conduct international affairs, and to allowing satellite NOCs. The ground vehicular transceiver is a single Line
officials to respond to local emergencies, satellite provides Replaceable Unit (LRU), while the aviation transceiver is a two-
vital voice, imaging, video, data and connectivity services LRU design that separates the antenna and RF assembly from
the world over. While in previous years, many governments the modem assembly to offer better aerodynamic performance.
had stalled or cut their space programme budgets, a turn- Both transceivers have successfully completed MIL-STD-461,
around in investment is expected soon, prompting satellite 464, and 810 testing.
service providers to ramp up their offerings.
Blue Force Tracking developments
In 2016, we heard how the US Army was testing a new channel-
A GPS-enabled system that providers military forces and sharing capability for Blue Force Tracker-1 and Blue Force
their commanders with location information of friendly (blue) Tracker-2 to reduce costs. Currently, both BFT systems combine
and hostile (red) forces, Blue Force Tracking (BFT) makes a command and control software, satellite transmissions, GPS
huge difference to the warfighter in the field. BFT systems usually capabilities and other elements, but operate over different
include a satellite terminal, antenna, GPS receiver, computer, satellite channels. Sharing a single channel is expected to reduce
command and control software, and mapping software. satellite costs by as much as 60 percent, keep infrastructure
Capabilities include reporting battlefield locations and conditions replenishment expenses in check, and make the BFT system
such as mine fields or other obstacles, route planning tools with easier to use by eliminating the need to shift between different
proximity warnings, and displays that show the location of the hardware and software set-ups when working between the two
host vehicle, blue forces and red forces. Newer BFT systems BFT systems.
also allow users to send a receive text and imagery. The US Army’s channel-sharing tests, which culminated in
Blue Force Tracker-1 (BFT-1) and Blue Force Tracker-2 (BFT- an operational test on both ground and aerial vehicles at the
2) are used by most ground and aviation vehicles in the US Communications-Electronics Research, Development and
Army today. Although they fulfil the same function, each operates Engineering Center (CERDEC) Intelligence and Information
over its own dedicated satellite channel. The original BFT-1 was Warfare Directorate (I2WD) Flight Activity, evidenced channel-
built by Northrop Grumman in the 1990s, and was hailed as a sharing as a practical alternative to the current approach. The
massive benefit to situational awareness in the Iraq War. single-channel plan will be built into the next generation of Blue
However, limitations included communications delays of up to Force Tracker, currently known as BFT-2.5, while market
five minutes, and the inability of GPS to penetrate into buildings. research for more advanced antennas, processors, modems
ViaSat launched the BFT-2 network several years ago to and transceivers is currently ongoing prior to the system launch,
deliver faster position, location and information (PLI) refresh although there’s been no news in quite some time on any further
rates, as well as greater data throughput capabilities. Operating developments.

A 2nd Brigade, 1st Armoured Division Soldier uses the Joint Capabilities Release of Force XXI Battle Command Brigade
and Below/Blue Force Tracking during the Army’s Network Integration Evaluation 12.1. JCR provides a “bridge” to Joint
Battle Command-Platform, which will bring features such as detailed touch-to-zoom maps and drag-and-drop icons as well
as a new level of situational awareness for dismounted Soldiers. (Photo Credit: Claire Schwerin, PEO C3T)

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The Mounted Family of Computer Systems introduces a standardized family of tactical computers that are scalable and
tailorable to the mission. Soldiers will be able to operate the Army’s primary situational awareness capability, Joint Battle
Command-Platform, as well as other command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance applications. (Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of DRS Tactical Systems Inc.)

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. has had quite a busy it to be used in austere operational environments. The final
year in terms of BFT contracts with the US Army. In April 2017, objective requires the ability to quickly change to different
Comtech Telecommunications’ Comtech Mobile Datacom waveforms based on changing operational environments and
Corporation subsidiary was awarded a five-year contract with a requirements. Upon phase 2 and 3 execution, the total value for
not-to-exceed value of US$42.7 million to continue to provide these additional phases is US$5.3 million. The US$6.5
sustainment support for the US Army’s Project Manager Mission million contract is expected to be completed within seventeen
Command (PM MC) – BFT-1 programme. months.
Under the new five-year BFT-1 sustainment contract, The contract vehicle utilized for this award is pursuant to an
Comtech will perform engineering services, satellite network Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) between C5 and the US
operations and programme management through a hybrid Firm Army Contracting Command-New Jersey. The OTA enables
Fixed Price (FFP)/Time & Materials (T&M) contract with Cost the US Army to direct a coordinated research and development
Reimbursement CLINs. The base performance period began programme designed to develop prototype command, control,
on 15 2017 and ends on 14 April 2018, and the contract provides communications and computer technologies directly relevant
for four twelve-month option periods exercisable by the US Army. to weapon systems information technologies.
The total estimated value of the base year is US$8.0 million.
The US Army placed an initial funded order of US$3.5 million US Army rejects Win-T Increment 2
under this contract, and in May 2017 was awarded contract BFT currently uses commercial satellite connectivity, and we
modifications of US$4.2 million, bringing the total base year reported last year that the ultimate intention was to bring it into
value to US$7.7 million to date. the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T). Whether
“We are pleased that Comtech has again been selected to that remains the case has not been made clear in the wake of
work together with the US Army to sustain this critical worldwide the latest news.
military communications system. The award of this contract In a sudden move in September 2017, the US Army informed
further demonstrates the ongoing importance of the US Army’s Congress that it didn’t want to go ahead with the 10-year old
BFT-1 satellite tracking communication system,” Fred Kornberg, Warfighter Information Network – Tactical (WIN-T) (Increment
President and Chief Executive Officer of Comtech 2), and requested that the money designated for its procurement,
Telecommunications Corp. some US$544 million, be redistributed.
Later in September 2017, Comtech Telecommunications’ WIN-T is the US Army’s tactical telecommunications system
Comtech Mobile Datacom Corp. subsidiary was awarded a five- delivering command, control, communications, computers,
year FFP, Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR)
for providing BFT-1 Aviation Terminals to the Defense Logistics capabilities that are mobile, secure, survivable, seamless, and
Agency (DLA). Under this contract, the DLA will procure capable of supporting multimedia tactical information systems.
Comtech’s AVX-06-203 Aviation Satellite Communication Systems development and integration for WIN-T started back
Transceivers. This contract has a single five-year base period in 2002, and was divided into four increments (1, 2, 3 and 4) in
from 20 April 2017 through 19 April 2022 and a maximum value 2007 following a restructuring. The US Army mostly relies on
of US$4.2 million. WIN-T (Increment 1), even though WIN-T (Increment 2)
Meanwhile, October 2017 saw Comtech underwent tests as long ago as 2012. Increments 3 and 4 are
Telecommunications’ Comtech Mobile Datacom Corp. subsidiary absent.
awarded a FFP US$6.5 million contract from the Consortium Following a one-year review of various tactical networks
Management Group (CMG) to support the US Army PM MC and ordered by US Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, Lt. Gen.
the BFT-2 programme. Bruce Crawford, the US Army’s Chief Information Officer, told
Phase 1 execution, which totals US$1.2 million, is to port Congress that WIN-T is too vulnerable to hacking, and takes
additional waveforms onto the current BFT-2 transceiver to allow too long to get set up and running.

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“After almost a year of careful review… we have come to the transceivers. JBC-P is also integrated with the Tactical
conclusion that the network we have is not the network that we Intelligence Ground Reporting (TIGR) system, which provides
need to fight and win against a peer threat in a congested or historical intelligence data, including area structures, obstacles
contested environment,” said Lt. Gen. Bruce Crawford. “Our and previous incidents for a given site.
current network does not meet our warfighting needs now, nor “JBC-P also features a multi-function screen with mapping
do we believe it will meet the future warfighting needs of a high- and message management environments,” said Ignacio
intensity conflict.” Filgueira, Lead Engineer for JBC-P at MCSC. “Operators can
Gen. Mark Milley asserted that while WIN-T is adequate for select different functions including a real-time chat room
low-tech ‘static’ battlefield situations such as Iraq or Afghanistan, capability where they can send and receive messages, use icons
the system will become a liability in case of all-out war with on a map that show other JBC-P-equipped vehicles, position
‘near-peer militaries,’ since it is too susceptible to jamming, and information, adversaries, threats and shared SA and C2
takes 40-50 hours on average to set up. Lt. Gen. Bruce Crawford, capability with JTCW.”
meanwhile, explained to Congress that the US Armed Forces The joint nature of the JBC-P enables greater cooperation
are impeded by bloated and lengthy procurement operations to between the US Army and US Marine Corps. With both forces
buy new technologies, with the process strung out for years, or using the same software, the Army’s Network Operation Centre
even decades. Within such an environment, it is impossible to (NOC) can oversee all BFT operations and enable greater
keep up with adversaries in terms of technological development. cooperation between the two forces, enhancing both operational
The programme has already cost some US$6 billion, which and cost efficiencies.
Congress has said will be squandered if WIN-T (Increment 2) is “Today, through JBC-P, Soldiers and Marines are no longer
rejected. However, Lt. Gen. Bruce Crawford has stated that the burdened by operating with two separate command and control/
US Army still wants to deploy capabilities and elements of mission command systems,” said Lt. Col. Shane Sims, the Army’s
Increment 2, but US$413.8 million of the funding would be best Product Manager for JBC-P. “By using the same system, the
used to fix the network’s most pressing interoperability and Marine Corps and Army know where each other are in relation
security concerns, while the remaining US$131.1 million would to the enemy. JBC-P enables them to communicate on missions
be used to adapt and buy unidentified ‘better systems.’ together, which is a huge tactical and operational advantage
over our adversaries.”
Onto the next big thing JCB-P was initially slated for full roll-out by 2026, but the US
US defence forces are already looking to the next big thing in Army is ramping up fielding in the face of high demand for the
BFT capabilities. The US Army and US Marine Corps are improved systems. In August 2017, it was announced that JCB-
currently partaking in the Joint Battle Command Platform (JBC- P and the US Army’s new standardized tactical computer, the
P) programme, which was designed to provide military leaders Mounted Family of Computing System (MFoCS), will be rolled
greater command, control and situational awareness than ever out to all Reserve and National Guard units by 2024.
before. Initially, the US had planned to save money by fielding legacy
“JBC-P is the Marine Corps primary command, control and hardware, JV-5, to 60 percent of units, and the newer system,
situational awareness tool for the battalion and below,” said Capt. MFoCS, to the remaining 40 percent of units. However, the older
Jamie Claflin, JBC-P Project Officer at MCSC. “It allows the hardware was eventually ruled out in order to reduce software
commander to see friendly forces in his area of responsibility in and hardware baselines, improve cyber protection, and reduce
real time including other services, and also provides situational costs by eliminating sustainment of older systems. MFoCS is
awareness data that is reported into the common operating available in a variety of forms, including a detachable tablet and
picture.” a vehicle-mounted workstation. The US Army plans to
JBC-P delivers faster satellite communications using BFT- have 98,000 MFoCS systems in the field by 2024.
2, a high-speed GPS satellite network 10 times faster than the In order to meet the new reduced timeframe, PM MC is
previous system that delivers secure encrypted transmissions increasing the size of its training and fielding teams and ramping
and vastly reduces reaction times thanks to the lower latency. up vehicle hardware and software platform procurement. As of
BFT-2 uses Inmarsat’s I-4 satellite constellation to gain much August 2017, JBC-P had been field-tested to 17 units with an
more bandwidth with higher data rates (up to 120kb on the additional 18 units slated for the 2018 fiscal year. From the 2019
forward link and up to 3kb on the return link), drawn from new fiscal year, 50-70 units will be fielded annually. GMC

Photo courtesy of US Army

18 www.globalmilitarycommunications.com | February 2018