MCLEAN, Va., Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman's new command-and-control system, Joint Capabilities Release, has been approved by the U.S. Army for fielding with deployed troops.
JCR is the next-generation Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below system, the key situational awareness and command-and-control system used by U.S. and coalition forces.
More than 95,000 FBCB2 systems have been deployed worldwide, forming the world's largest tactical network.
Northrop Grumman said the JCR will be incorporated into the LandWarNet/Battle Command Baseline for fielding to deploying units scheduled to receive software block 2.
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JCR upgrades include an increase in network bandwidth that allows the system to move more information to more users within seconds rather than in minutes. JCR also provides a common FBCB2 platform solution for the Army and U.S. Marine Corps.
"The ability to receive and share battlefield data through a broad-based, reliable network is increasingly important and critical to the mission," said Joe G. Taylor, Jr., vice president of the Ground Combat Systems business unit within Northrop Grumman's Information Systems sector.
"JCR provides new collaboration tools and other enhancements that are orders of magnitude more capable than what is available to soldiers and Marines today."
The system includes Blue Force Tracking 2, a high-tech, high-speed force-tracking satellite-communications network. The Army says BFT 2 will be roughly 10 times faster than the existing BFT system.
With JCR, warfighters will also be able to share more broadly critical, sensitive information. The BFT 2 will include a new Programmable In-Line Encryption Device that is fully compatible with JCR.
Other new JCR capabilities include the Commercial Joint Mapping Tool Kit and an over-the-air self-descriptive situational awareness capability. SDSA will eliminate inflexible fixed databases and allow FBCB2-equipped units to change task organizations in the field to meet new mission requirements.
