Jumping Ahead to WIN-T
THE INTERIM JOINT NETWORK NODE HAS
BEEN WIDELY USED IN IRAQ, BUT RAPID
PROGRESS ON THE WARFIGHTER INFORMATION
NETWORK-TACTICAL MAY SUPERSEDE IT.
Put together in a rush to meet emergency communications needs, the Army’s Joint Network Node (JNN) program has been deployed extensively in Iraq. But the rapid progress of development of the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) has spurred Army officials to consider fielding an initial version of WIN-T, which is built from JNN, and adds network automation and broadband mobile communications, enabling battle command on the move.
The JNN initiative is a network-centric communications architecture that currently provides reliable and portable communications to the 3rd ID, 4th ID, 101st Airborne and 10th Mountain Division. It was designed as a collaborative effort led by the army’s project manager for tactical radio communications systems with General Dynamics C4 Systems (GDC4S), the Communications-Electronics Research Development and Engineering Center, Communications-Electronics Command Software Engineering Center and other Army organizations.
The Army began using the equipment in mission readiness exercises in advance of the 3rd ID’s deployment to Iraq. The Communications-Electronics Command subsequently reallocated $247 million to deploy the system to the three other units.
JNN comprises vehicles equipped with satellite communications as well as voiceover-IP and dynamic IP technologies and systems that connect to military networks. Designed as a bridge between existing Army communications systems and WIN-T, the system provides a communications gateway and interoperability with legacy tactical communications assets. It also includes shelters and transit cases.
GDC4S has completed the fieldings of four divisions to date and is under contract for production and fielding of the equipment for a total of seven divisions.
“We supported the government’s rapid acquisition strategy on JNN from the beginning,” said John Martin, vice president of communication networks division for GDC4S. “We had a prototype of a JNN shelter at Fort Gordon, Ga., in December 2003, and we delivered hardware to the 3rd ID in support of a new equipment training activity for their soldiers at Fort Stewart, Ga., within five months of the contract award. We’re proud of what we’ve done to date on the program.
“As soon as we were done with the fielding, the 3rd ID deployed, and they were operationally online over in Iraq by February 2005. The contract that was being used to provide this hardware expired, and the government needed to make a decision as to how they wanted to proceed beyond the first seven spirals,” Martin continued.
“We will be fielding the seventh spiral sometime this summer,” he added. “By the end of 2006, we will complete the fielding to the seven spirals.”
A few technical issues with the 3rd ID when they first deployed were quickly fixed, Martin said. “The soldiers have taken to the technology—this is an everything-over-IP approach to communication. We’re getting some fairly good informal feedback from the 3rd ID. Also, the 101st Airborne has just arrived in Iraq, so there are some good things happening.
“What JNN provides is an at-the-quickhalt capability. WIN-T will build on that and come up with a way to give the warfighters great mobility. They will be able to communicate on the move with the same kind of bandwidth and satellite capability that they have today with JNN,” Martin concluded. WIN-T is a highly mobile solution—communications on-the-move in real-time, using satellite links and terrestrial/aerial vehicle and man-pack points of presence for line-of-sight and beyond line-of-sight communications.
JNN, also highly mobile, uses satellite links for beyond line-of-sight communications. It requires a halt of the transportation vehicles to engage—they must be stopped, set-up and rigged—and so is said to provide “communications at the quick halt.”
JNN is an advance over the Army’s existing Mobile Subscriber Equipment (MSE) system, which required more setup time and was limited to line-of-sight communications. MSE was also heavier, larger equipment that required more people and vehicles.
The satellite connectivity of JNN allows forces and vehicles to be spread over a larger geographical area. This capability is key to the Army’s transformation to a scalable, modular fighting force in which smaller fighting units can stay connected and communicate over larger areas.
CAPSTONE TESTING
The Army conducted the capstone test for the system development and demonstration phase of the WIN-T program in November at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. Demonstration testing/operational testing (DT/OT) was performed using functional prototypes that represented each of the intended WIN-T production configuration items in a live network. It was followed by an operational demonstration and networksecurity threat-testing.
The capstone was a demo to senior leaders of the Army and industry. “This network brings the Army into the future, now,” said Colonel Angel Colon, WIN-T project manager. “The demo executed flawlessly. While we have not received results that give us a detailed view of all aspects of WIN-T in action, I am confident that the objectives of the test were met and will demonstrate tremendous progress.”
Soldiers from the 11th Signal Brigade who received a two-week training course on WIN-T operations conducted the test in accordance with scenarios provided by the Training and Doctrine Command Signal Center. Objectives of the test were to demonstrate that critical technologies operated at a high readiness level, and that 14 userdefined exit criteria were met. Network traffic generated by live users was augmented by traffic network generators, which emulated traffic loads to match the information exchange performance required for WIN-T production models.
WIN-T demonstrated critical technologies and capabilities, including mobile ad-hoc networking utilizing a three-tier communications architecture with ground, airborne and satellite layers and high bandwidth on demand while operating on the move and at the quick halt. Other critical technologies included secure wireless communications and dynamic network management tools.
WIN-T demonstrated interoperability with current, joint and coalition networks, including JNN, and reachback into strategic Single Tactical Entry Point sites. The Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) conducted information assurance threat testing on the WIN-T network, finding that the network was invulnerable to threat exploits, wireless interrogation, virus insertion and denial-of-service attacks.
During DT/OT, the WIN-T team conducted live demonstrations across 14 network nodes in four geographic locations: Fort Huachuca; Fort Monmouth, N.J.; Fort Hood, Texas; and Taunton, Mass. Capabilities demonstrated included on-the-move networking over terrestrial (line of sight) and satellite (non-line of sight) links; voice-, video- and data-over-IP; self-healing network properties; satellite tracking and adaptive signal retrieval; network operations with real-time situational awareness; network security; secure cellular communications; and collaboration tools reaching from commanders to foot soldiers.
Prime contractor General Dynamics and partner Lockheed Martin lead a team on the WIN-T program that includes BAE Systems, Harris, L-3 Communications and Cisco Systems.
“The General Dynamics team met my expectations,” Colon said.
DT/OT will emerge with valuable technology assessments and operational insights that will serve as a transformational step for the warfighter and the Army. ATEC was expected to deliver an early look of their independent assessment this winter.
“It was a synergistic teaming effort between warfighter representatives, testers, program management and industry partners. Disparate technologies went rapidly from the test bench and into a mobile, ad hoc, dynamically adaptive network that performed well at a combined developmental, operational test,” said Major Rob Collins, chief of the WIN-T Test, Modeling and Simulation Branch.
“For the first time, we see critical technologies coming together in the field: dynamic bandwidth allocation with satellite communications on-the-move in a self-healing, self-forming network based on quality of service and operating over IPv4 and IPv6. These technologies present an opportunity to truly revolutionize tactical communications. The network moves from PowerPoint to reality,” Colon said.
“We think the initial demonstrated WIN-T capability is mature and could provide immediate benefit to our soldiers, enabling mobile battle command from a broadband mobile network,” said Bill Weiss, vice president of tactical networks at GDC4S.
“Warfighters and commanders need high-bandwidth, self-forming networks to support highly mobile operations,” said Weiss. “At Fort Huachuca, the team showed how WIN-T provides a true on-the-move enterprise network, enabling mobile battle command over large distances. This mobile, high-speed network is a key underpinning of future combat systems, and can also provide immediate benefits to the current modular force.”
FUTURE FIELDINGS
Meanwhile, the Army is deliberating further JNN procurements, according to Timothy Rider, a spokesman for the Program Executive Office Command, Control and Communications Tactical (PEO C3T). “We are gathering information from the WIN-T DT/OT to inform the requirements for future JNN procurements. That information will determine the mix of JNN and WIN-T equipment in future fieldings. Our objective is to deliver WIN-T capabilities to the current force,” he said.
In October, the Army had indicated plans to issue a request for proposals to field an additional three increments of JNN. Northrop Grumman formed a team of partner companies to bid for the work, including L-3 Communications, Ultra Electronics, ITT Industries, ManTech International and Agile Communications. The RFP has not materialized, however.
“The stellar team we’ve formed can provide the Army with a synchronized communications system to leverage the previously fielded JNN sets and at the same time spiral in new capabilities that will be needed by future programs, including the WIN-T and Future Combat System,” said Otto Guenther, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman’s Tactical Systems Division. “The Northrop Grumman team brings a wide array of experience in all past and future JNN-related programs.”
In addition, the Army Communications-Electronics Command in December awarded DataPath, a global telecommunications systems integrator, a firm-fixed-price contract for custom satellite earth terminals and associated services.
The award extended the Army’s JNN initiative to provide enhanced communications services to multiple National Guard Units in Iraq and provides additional capabilities to the Marine Corps’ Video Storage Wide Area Network (VSWAN) and Logistics Support Wide Area Network (LSWAN) initiatives.
DataPath will deliver trailer-based satellite earth terminals and also provide the Army with associated integrated logistics and technical support to meet mission requirements.
“The U.S. military continues to march to embrace a net-centric operating model,” said Andy Mullins, chief executive officer of DataPath. “Expanding our involvement in the Army JNN initiative and the Marine Corps VSWAN and LSWAN initiatives, this award underscores DataPath’s ability to meet joint requirements and highlights the military’s increasing focus on interoperability. We are proud that the military continues to count on DataPath for our proven record of success in delivering mission-critical video, voice and data to the edge of the network.”
Earlier, DataPath announced a $96 million contract for additional JNN deployments to the First Cavalry, 25th ID, 82nd Airborne and multiple Army National Guard units. ♦
