Integrated Tactical Network

:This material was split from Army Futures Command

The US Army's Integrated Tactical Network (ITN) "is not a new or separate network but rather a concept"—PEO C3T.PEO C3T [https://web.archive.org/web/20190621145751/https://peoc3t.army.mil/tr/itn.php (2018) Integrated Tactical Network] "is not a new or separate network but rather a concept"{{efn|When developing a complex product such as a network, it is helpful to develop piecewise, to avoid the 'zero defects mentality' ("But if you fail, we'd like you to fail early and fail cheap,' because progress and success often builds on failure." —Ryan McCarthy)David Vergun [https://www.army.mil/article/200323/new_army_futures_command_success_hinges_on_relationship_building_says_mccarthy (22 April 2018) New Army Futures Command success hinges on relationship building]—Ryan McCarthyPEO C3T [https://web.archive.org/web/20140913011900/http://peoc3t.army.mil/c3t/docs/Networking-the-Soldier-Flipbook.pdf Peo3ct.Army.mil (2021) Networking the Soldier] ARMY NETWORK CAPABILITY SET MODERNIZATION. 18 ppWalker, Gleason, and Ayer Peo3ct [https://www.army.mil/article/248248/global_network_super_highway_postures_army_for_multi_domain_operations (7 Jul 2021) Global network super highway postures Army for multi-domain operations] Global Agile Integrated Transport (GAIT) is a network design: RHN regional hub network, DoD Teleport Sites, 150 Gait points of presence (POPs)}} Avoid overspecifying the requirements for Integrated Tactical Network{{refn|Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. [https://breakingdefense.com/2019/11/new-army-network-a-revolution-for-airborne-commander/ (18 November 2019) New Army Network ‘A Revolution’ For Airborne: Commander] ITN full brigade Network equipment: PEO slide showing connectivity from BCT command post, down to Fire Team leaders cell phones; use each soldiers' IVAS goggles to locate each paratrooperKathryn Bailey, PEO C3T Public Affairs [https://www.army.mil/article/230047/the_armys_tactical_network_empowers_advanced_goggle_platform (19 November 2019) The Army's tactical network empowers advanced goggle platform] IVAS is under STP 2-- "In July 2020, STP 3 will fully integrate the ITN with IVAS"; IVAS is under STP 2-- "In July 2020, STP 3 will fully integrate the ITN with IVAS"Jared Serbu [https://federalnewsradio.com/army/2018/08/army-experimenting-with-equipment-proven-by-sof-forces-while-it-builds-long-term-plan-for-its-tactical-network/ (24 August 2018) Army experimenting with SOF-tested equipment while building long-term tactical network plan]U.S. Army PEO C3T [https://www.army.mil/article/221114/profile_program_executive_office_for_command_control_and_communications_tactical_peo_c3t (30 April 2019) Profile: Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T)]}} Information Systems Initial Capabilities Document. Instead, meet operational needs,{{refn|Mark Pomerleau [https://www.c4isrnet.com/it-networks/2020/01/22/what-a-deployment-to-the-middle-east-means-for-testing-a-new-army-network/ (21 Jan 2020) What a deployment to the Middle East means for testing a new Army network] An operational deployment begun 1 Jan 2020, which won't be instrumented, will provide some Soldier feedback, but instrumented testing is deferred until after redeployment.

• Mark Pomerleau [https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/2019/09/26/how-the-army-will-test-its-new-battlefield-network/ (25 September 2019) How the Army will test its new battlefield network]Justin Eimers, PEO C3T [https://www.army.mil/article/211965/network_cross_functional_team_acquisition_partners_experimenting_to_modernize_tactical_network (3 October 2018) Network Cross-Functional Team, acquisition partners experimenting to modernize tactical network] In 2018 MG Bassett became (Program Executive Office Command Control Communications-Tactical) PEO C3T)C5ISR {{Cite web|title=Army leaders get firsthand look at C5ISR Center research, development projects|url=https://www.army.mil/article/229590/army_leaders_get_firsthand_look_at_c5isr_center_research_development_projects|access-date=2021-12-15|website=www.army.mil|language=en}}}} such as interoperability with other networks,{{refn|Joe Lacdan, Army News Service [https://www.army.mil/article/212893/interoperability_a_key_focus_in_building_the_armys_future_network (25 October 2018) Interoperability a key focus in building the Army's future network][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIhC4zswW8I DoD (16 May 2018) Army Officials Testify on FY 2019 Budget Request]{{rp|minute 1:26:00}}Mark Pomerleau [https://www.c4isrnet.com/digital-show-dailies/ausa/2019/04/01/how-the-army-will-sustain-its-tactical-network-of-the-future/ (1 April 2019) How the Army will sustain its tactical network of the future] ITN to take advantage of Tobyhanna depot. 5-3-1 model}} and release ITN capabilities incrementally.{{refn|Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. [https://breakingdefense.com/2019/04/multi-domain-networks-the-army-the-allies-ai/ (3 April 2019) Multi-Domain Networks: The Army, The Allies & AI]: Incremental ITN Capability sets '21, '23, '25}}
• Up through 2028, every two years the Army will insert new capability sets for ITN (Capability sets '21, '23, '25, etc.).{{refn|Claire Heininger and Amy Walker [https://www.army.mil/article/256080/the_backbone_of_everything_we_do_army_advances_new_communications_network_baseline (26 Apr 2022) 'The backbone of everything we do:' Army advances new communications network baseline]Devon L. Suits, Army News Service [https://www.army.mil/article/223507/new_tech_accessibility_to_improve_army_tactical_networks (21 June 2019) New tech, accessibility to improve Army tactical networks]ASA(ALT) [https://api.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/533115.pdf Weapon Systems Handbook 2018] [https://www.army.mil/e2/c/558424.pdf update]{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}}} and take feedback from Soldier-led experiment & evaluation.{{refn|Amy Walker, PEO C3T [https://www.army.mil/article/223334/modernizing_the_network (18 June 2019) Modernizing the Network]Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command [https://www.army.mil/article/224792/ccdcs_road_map_to_modernizing_the_army_the_network (22 July 2019) CCDC's road map to modernizing the Army: the network] 4th in a seriesSydney J. Freedberg Jr. [https://breakingdefense.com/2019/08/the-fraying-edge-limits-of-the-armys-global-network/ (29 August 2019) The Fraying Edge: Limits Of The Army's Global Network]}} However, the Army's commitment to a 'campaign of learning' showed more paths:{{refn|Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. [https://breakingdefense.com/2019/08/uncle-sam-wants-you-to-compete-for-army-network-upgrade-cs-21/ (27 August 2019) Uncle Sam Wants YOU To Compete For Army Network Upgrade: CS 21] Multiple Expeditionary Signal Battalion – Enhanced (ESB-E) network hardware sets are being fielded simultaneously to individual companies in the 50th Expeditionary Signal Battalion of 35th Signal Brigade/82nd Airborne Division in 2020, to allow maximum testing.Amy Walker, PM Tactical Network, PEO C3T [https://www.army.mil/article/230603/global_network_design_unifies_army_modernization_efforts (4 December 2019) Global network design unifies Army modernization efforts] GAIT: worldwide network mesh—CS21}}
• Firestorm was made possible by a mesh network—improvising an MEO, and then a GEO satellite link between JBLM to YPG. There are plans to have a Project Convergence 2021.{{refn|Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. [https://breakingdefense.com/2020/09/longer-range-missiles-more-ai-project-convergence-2021/ (25 Sep 2020) Longer-Range Missiles & More AI: Project Convergence 2021] PrSM, AFATDS to F-35Thomas Spoehr [https://breakingdefense.com/2020/11/project-convergence-its-success-could-draw-army-astray/ (13 November 2020) Project Convergence: Its Success Could Draw Army Astray] Risks-- Opfor, Allies & Joint participation, EW jamming, PrSM launches, JADC2, Joint Forces command is a cautionary example.Thomas Brading, Army News Service [https://www.army.mil/article/243255/army_scales_up_joint_capabilities_as_project_convergence_grows (12 February 2021) Army scales up joint capabilities as Project Convergence grows]}} The Army fielded a data fabric at Project Convergence 2020; this will eventually be part of JADC2.{{refn|Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. [https://breakingdefense.com/2020/11/project-rainmaker-army-weaves-data-fabric-to-link-joint-networks/ (17 Nov 2020) Project Rainmaker: Army Weaves ‘Data Fabric’ To Link Joint Networks] CCDC C5ISR built Project Rainmaker to weave together a data fabric which is foundational to JADC2[https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2019/army/2019dcgs-a.pdf?ver=2020-01-30-115324-970 FY19 Army Programs (2018) Distributed Common Ground System – Army (DCGS-A)] capability drop 1, 2018Andrew Eversden [https://breakingdefense.com/2021/10/army-awards-palantir-823m-contract-for-enterprise-data-fabric/ (6 Oct 2021) Army Awards Palantir $823M Contract For Enterprise ‘Data Fabric’] DCGS-A Distributed Common Ground Systems-Army capability drop 2Claire Heninger and US Army [https://www.army.mil/article/251574/bridging_the_gap_army_weaves_data_fabric_at_project_convergence_21 (29 Oct 2021) Bridging the gap: Army weaves data fabric at Project Convergence 21]}}
• Five Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF) awards were granted to five vendors via the Network CFT and PEO C3T's request for white papers. That request, for a roll-on/roll-off kit that integrates all functions of mission command on the Army Network, was posted at the National Spectrum Consortium and FedBizOpps, and yielded awards within eight months.Kathryn Bailey, PEO C3T Public Affairs [https://www.army.mil/article/212562/new_players_bring_novel_approaches_to_the_armys_network_modernization_goals (17 October 2018) New players bring novel approaches to the Army's network modernization goals] Two more awards are forthcoming.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. [https://aal.army/ Army Applications Lab]: [https://breakingdefense.com/2018/10/army-futures-command-wants-you-to-innovate/ (23 October 2018) Army Futures Command Wants YOU (To Innovate)]
• —Adam Jay Harrison's list for types of Funding Authority
• The Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO)'s Emerging Technologies Office structured a competition to find superior AI/Machine Learning algorithms for electronic warfare, from a field of 150 contestants, over a three-month period.Nancy Jones-Bonbrest, Army Rapid Capabilities Office [https://www.army.mil/article/213530/cutting_through_the_noise_army_industry_work_together_to_speed_up_signal_detection (8 November 2018) Cutting through the noise: Army, industry work together to speed up signal detection]
• The Multi-Domain Operations Task Force (MDO TF) is standing up an experimental Electronic Warfare Platoon to prototype an estimated 1000 EW soldiers needed for the 31 BCTs of the active Army.Sydney J. FREEDBERG JR. [https://breakingdefense.com/2018/11/can-army-afford-electronic-warfare-force-it-wants/ (19 November 2018) Can Army Afford The Electronic Warfare Force It Wants?]Anthony Small {{citation |publisher=US Army |url=https://www.army.mil/article/218531/futures_command_highlights_changes_new_structure_at_sxsw |date=13 March 2019| title=Futures Command Deputy Commanding General talks the U.S. Army's Future at South by Southwest}}
• {{anchor|networkCapabilitySet21}}Capability Set '21 fields ITN to selected infantry brigades to prepare for IVAS Integrated vision goggles. Expeditionary signal brigades get enhanced satellite communications.
• 1/82nd Airborne, 173rd Airborne, 3/25th ID, and 3/82nd Airborne infantry brigades will all have fielded the Integrated Tactical Network Capability Set '21 by year-end 2021.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. [https://breakingdefense.com/2021/05/paratroopers-pioneer-new-army-network-tactics/ (20 May 2021) Paratroopers Pioneer New Army Network, Tactics] HMS Manpack and Leader radios, ITN CS '21, can use variable height antenna drones, MUOS constellation: for tactical satellite communications —[https://breakingdefense.com/2021/09/army-drops-nearly-350m-for-new-radios-after-two-years-of-testing/ Andrew Eversden (24 Sep 2021) Army Drops Nearly $350M For New Radios After Two Years of Testing] 2nd Cavalry Regiment is getting Capability Set '21 on Strykers, which will test the CS'23 network design on Strykers early.Kathryn Bailey, PEO C3T Public Affairs (25 January 2022)[https://www.army.mil/article/253451/armys_integrated_network_rolls_on_with_stryker_vehicles Army's integrated network rolls on with Stryker vehicles]
• {{anchor|networkCapabilitySet23}}Integrated Tactical Network (ITN) Capability Set '23 is prototyping JADC2 communications and the data fabric, to LEO (low Earth orbit) and to MEO (medium Earth orbit) satellites, as continued in Project Convergence 2021 in Yuma Proving Ground.{{refn|Jaspreet Gil [https://breakingdefense.com/2022/06/army-cio-fy23-is-year-of-inflection-for-digital-transformation/ (10 Jun 2022) Army CIO: FY23 is ‘year of inflection’ for digital transformation] CIO Raj Iyer: "Iyer said that the overall budget is 'almost flat' going from FY22 to FY23".Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr. [https://breakingdefense.com/2021/05/army-network-upgrade-seeks-fast-data-for-jadc2/ (4 May 2021) Army Network Upgrade Seeks Fast Data For JADC2]Colin Demarest [https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/it-networks/2022/04/01/us-army-picks-l3harris-and-thales-for-radio-modernization/ (1 Apr 2022) US Army picks L3Harris and Thales for radio modernization] replaces SINCGARS}} Capability Set '23 has passed its Critical design review (CDR).Colin Demarest [https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/it-networks/2022/04/28/us-army-wraps-review-of-future-battlespace-network-tools/ (28 Apr 2022) US Army wraps review of 'future battlespace' network tools]{{efn|name=sascFY23cut|1= The Senate Appropriations Committee is cutting an Army component of the FY23 Presidential Budget Request which funds a CS'23 network capability.Jaspreet Gill [https://breakingdefense.com/2022/08/in-army-worry-follows-senators-proposed-cuts-to-network-comms-upgrades-official/ (2 Aug 2022) In Army, worry follows Senators’ proposed cuts to network, comms upgrades: Official] Cuts to CS'23 layer will affect upcoming CS'25 capability}}
• {{anchor|networkCapabilitySet25}}Integrated Tactical Network (ITN) Capability Set '25 will implement JADC2, according to the acting head of the Network CFT.{{refn|Andrew Eversden [https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/it-networks/2021/06/09/army-says-2025-tactical-network-will-make-jadc2-a-reality/ (9 Jun 2021) Army says 2025 tactical network will make JADC2 a reality]Andrew Eversden [https://breakingdefense.com/2021/09/new-army-pilot-program-to-test-armored-brigade-mobile-communications/ (29 Sep 2021) New Army Pilot Program To Test Armored Brigade Mobile Communications] N-CFT and PEO C3T are cooperating on CS'25, using 12 M1068 mobile command posts as test vehicles.Brad Williams [https://breakingdefense.com/2021/09/dod-spending-jadc2-jumps-focus-interoperability/ (21 Sep 2021) DoD Spending On JADC2 Jumps, With Increased Focus On Interoperability: Report] a cautionary note on stovepiped systems —Billy Fabian}}
• {{anchor|networkCapabilitySet27}}Integrated Tactical Network (ITN) Capability Set '27 design goals are being laid out.Colin Demarest [https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/c2-comms/2024/05/10/thales-doubles-down-on-radio-production-as-us-army-rethinks-its-network/ (10 May 2024) Thales doubles down on radio production as US Army rethinks its network]

{{anchor|unifiedNetworkPlan}}

• G-6 John Morrison is seeking to unify the battlefield networks of ITN, and IEN (Enterprise Network), as of September 2021.Andrew Eversden [https://breakingdefense.com/2021/09/army-general-network-modernization-never-going-to-stop/ (23 Sep 2021) Top Army General: Network Modernization 'Never Going To Stop']CIO and G-6 [https://api.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/2021/10/07/d43180cc/army-unified-network-plan-2021.pdf (8 Oct 2021) The Army Unified Network Plan: ENABLING MULTI-DOMAIN OPERATIONS]
• An Army leader dashboard from PEO Enterprise Information Systems is underway.Ellen Summey, PEO EIS [https://www.army.mil/article/224036/army_leader_dashboard_creating_insight_driven_decisions (1 July 2019) Army Leader Dashboard, creating insight-driven decisions]Lizette Chapman [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-14/palantir-wins-new-pentagon-deal-with-111-million-from-the-army (13 December 2019) Palantir Wins New Pentagon Deal With $111 Million From the Army] HR, supply chain, et al. The dashboard is renamed Vantage.Billy Mitchell [https://www.fedscoop.com/inside-palantirs-support-armys-massive-data-problem/ (DEC 26, 2019) Inside Palantir's support of the Army's massive data problem] The dashboard has streamlined and connected data updates for deployments.Capt. Matthew Visser [https://www.army.mil/article/258912/reinventing_modern_deployment_soldiers_leverage_army_vantage_to_make_data_driven_decisions (30 Jul 2022) Reinventing Modern Deployment: Soldiers leverage Army Vantage to make data-driven decisions] Vantage is to be replaced by Army Data Platform 2.0, using multiple vendors.Jaspreet Gill [https://breakingdefense.com/2023/12/army-asks-industry-for-best-acquisition-approach-for-vantage-data-platform-re-compete/ (4 Dec 2023) Army asks industry for best acquisition approach for Vantage data platform re-compete] Cloud-service-provider agnostic abstraction layers are in use, which allows merging the staff work in G-3/5/7 for cyber/EW (electronic warfare), mission command, and space. The "seamless, real-time flow of data" across multiple domains (land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace) is an objective for G-6, as well as the sensor-to-shooter work at Futures command.{{refn|Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. [https://breakingdefense.com/2020/07/army-future-ops-depend-on-cloud-but-not-on-jedi/ (29 July 2020) Army Future Ops Depend On Cloud – But Not On JEDI ]Kelsey Atherton [https://breakingdefense.com/2020/08/pentagon-code-library-will-support-multiple-clouds/ (7 August 2020) Pentagon Code Library Will Support Multiple Clouds]Andrew Eversden [https://www.c4isrnet.com/2020/10/15/us-armys-tactical-network-team-tests-new-unified-data-fabric-in-yuma/ (15 Oct 2020) US Army's tactical network team tests new unified data fabric in Yuma]}}
• Fort Irwin, Fort Hood, Joint Base San Antonio, and Joint Base Lewis McChord have 5G experiments on wireless connectivity between forward operating bases and tactical operations centers, as well as nonaircraft Augmented reality support of maintenance and training..S. Army Public Affairs [https://www.army.mil/article/236174/two_army_installations_selected_for_5g_testing_and_experimentation U(3 June 2020) Two Army Installations selected for 5G testing and experimentation]
• The Multi-domain task forces (MDTFs) will be used to expose any capability gaps in the Unified network plan.Andrew Eversden [https://breakingdefense.com/2021/12/tactical-cloud-coming-to-armys-multi-domain-task-forces-in-2022/ (15 Dec 2021) Tactical cloud coming to Army's Multi-Domain Task Forces in 2022]

DISA is providing network services in preparation for JADC2, to USINDOPACOM.Jaspreet Gill [https://breakingdefense.com/2022/11/disa-moves-forward-with-1-5b-network-transport-contract-after-protest/ (2 Nov 2022) DISA moves forward with $1.5B network transport contract after protest ] "The contract was awarded in August, but the government froze work until a protest by Verizon was resolved, a Defense Department official told Breaking Defense".