Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below

Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below
Name	Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below
Type	Digital tactical battle command system
Origin	United States
Used by	United States Army
Designer	TRW Inc., Northrop Grumman
Design date	Mid-1990s
Production date	1999–2005

Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below. It was a foundational digital command and control system developed for the United States Army during the Force XXI modernization initiative. Designed to provide situational awareness and blue force tracking from brigade down to the individual combat vehicle and dismounted soldier, it aimed to create a common operational picture. The system's fielding marked a significant shift from analog, voice-based reporting to a digital, networked force, influencing subsequent network-centric warfare capabilities.

Overview

The genesis of FBCB2 was deeply tied to the Army After Next studies and the broader Revolution in Military Affairs. It was conceived as the tactical centerpiece of the Army Battle Command System, intended to close a critical gap in digitizing the battlefield. The program was managed by the Program Executive Office, Command, Control and Communications-Tactical under the auspices of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. Its development was accelerated following insights from advanced warfighting experiments like the Task Force XXI at the National Training Center.

Development and fielding

Initial development was led by a contractor team including TRW Inc. and Litton Industries, later succeeded by Northrop Grumman. A major developmental milestone was its use during the Division Capstone Exercise at Fort Hood. The system achieved its Initial Operational Capability in 1999 with the 1st Cavalry Division and saw its first major combat deployment during the 2003 invasion of Iraq with units like the 3rd Infantry Division. Fielding continued through the early 2000s to Army National Guard and United States Army Reserve units.

System components and capabilities

The hardware suite included the Vehicle Integration Kit installed on platforms like the M1 Abrams, M2 Bradley, and M113 armored personnel carrier. For dismounted leaders, the Commanders Digital Assistant and later the Joint Tactical Air Controller kit were issued. Core software provided a moving map display with icons representing friendly and enemy units, leveraging the Position Location Reporting System and Enhanced Position Location Reporting System. It enabled functions such as fratricide prevention, obstacle marking, and call for fire support.

Integration and interoperability

FBCB2 was designed to interface with higher-echelon systems within the Global Command and Control System family, such as the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System and the All Source Analysis System. A critical leap was its integration with the Blue Force Tracking satellite network, which extended situational awareness beyond line-of-sight communications. This interoperability was crucial for joint operations, allowing data exchange with systems like the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System and the Close Air Support community.

Operational use and impact

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, FBCB2 proved instrumental in the rapid maneuver of coalition forces across Iraq, notably during the Thunder Run into Baghdad. It significantly reduced the fog of war and enhanced combat identification, though challenges with information overload and network latency were reported. The system provided a continuous common operational picture that improved coordination between armored cavalry, combat aviation brigades, and logistics convoys throughout the Iraq War.

Evolution and legacy

FBCB2 evolved into the Joint Capabilities Release and subsequently the core of the Joint Battle Command-Platform system. Its architecture and lessons learned directly informed the development of the Army's Common Operating Environment and the Integrated Tactical Network. The program's emphasis on networked force management laid the groundwork for current command post computing environment initiatives and the Project Convergence experiments, cementing its role as a progenitor to the Internet of Battlefield Things.

Category:United States Army equipment Category:Military communications Category:Command and control