Editor's Perspective
Written by Harrison Donnelly
Developed on a fast track during the run-up to the conflict in Iraq, the existing BFT system has been widely credited with reducing fratricide and improving battlefield awareness through GPS-enabled technology identifying the location of friendly forces and vehicles.
The system as implemented represented a somewhat cobbled-together combination of line-of-sight radio and satellite links, however, resulting among other things in a relatively low rate of data transmission and information updates in some situations. Also, military planners began eagerly eyeing the potential for enhancements such as including location information on aviation assets, linking more closely with the Marines, and integrating with the Future Combat System.
One strand of the search for the next-generation BFT has been under development for a couple of years by ViaSat and program integrator Northrop Grumman, which are working on a prototype of what they call BFT2 under an Army contract. As you’ll see, a demonstration early this year showed that the system could offer high data rates and connect with a Blackhawk helicopter maneuvering at up to 150 knots.
More recently, Comtech Mobile Datacom, which provides key technology for the current program, unveiled its Blue Force Tracking High Capacity (BFT-HC) solution for satellite-enhanced asset tracking and secure mobile data communications. Company executives emphasized that the new system would provide improved performance while also holding down costs by maintaining compatibility with existing equipment.
The development projects are moving forward on separate tracks, with Comtech executives expecting to compete in a head-to-head comparison with BFT2 over the coming months. Whoever the Army ultimately selects, it looks like a competition in which the warfighter will be the real beneficiary.
Harrison Donnelly, Editor
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