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PEO C3T finds efficiencies as it continues to upgrade Blue Force Tracking
On the battlefield, situational awareness capabilities help reduce the uncertainty known as the "fog of war" by locating and tracking friendly and enemy forces. Now, the project manager for Joint Battle Command - Platform (PM JBC-P) is enhancing those capabilities by fielding upgrades to the Army's friendly force tracking system, Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below/Blue Force Tracking (FBCB2/BFT). Known as Joint Capabilities Release (JCR), the new technology allows for the implementation of a faster satellite network, Type 1 secure data encryption and upgraded logistics capabilities.
Also, PM JBC-P has implemented a larger satellite coverage area with a shift of satellite channels to provide direct communication with the systems and increase the flow of information, greatly enhancing flexibility in operational and training environments while also saving money.
In today's fiscally constrained climate, PM JBC-P thus is not only delivering a better product to Soldiers on the battlefield, but also realizing efficiencies with streamlined services and reduced costs. The consolidation of services translates to a cost avoidance of more than $207-6 million for the Army through at least FY16.
A TWO-PART UPGRADE
JCR is the first step in a two-part upgrade of capability that is critical to the Army's tactical communications network, on which Soldiers rely for situational awareness as well as command and control. The system includes computers, global positioning equipment and communication capabilities that combine to provide near-real-time information to combat leaders at the tactical level. Soldiers inside vehicles can plot and track the location of enemy and friendly forces and relevant objects, while exchanging messages.
Among the many upgrades JCR brings to the original FBCB2 are the capabilities gained through the integration of the Movement Tracking System (MTS) into the JBC-P family of systems. The MTS system comes in a vehicle-mounted or dismounted control station configuration that tracks logistics formations. It includes a radio frequency identification capability to provide in-transit, near-real-time monitoring of critical cargo.
Two critical acquisition decision memorandums laid the foundation for bringing the two systems of like technologies together. In 2006, the Army directed the use of the FBCB2 product line software to replace MTS software. Then in 2010, a memorandum directed the transfer of...