World Defense Show 2026: Northrop Grumman to present improved C2 management system
The Northrop Grumman Integrated Battle Command System is in service with Poland and the US Army with another 20 countries believed to have expressed an interest.
The Boeing Company and the US Air Force's Electronic Systems Center are demonstrating network-centric capabilities aboard a US Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) test aircraft during the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment (JEFX) at Nellis Air Force Base. The event began April 12 and is scheduled to conclude on April 22.
"For the first time, Boeing and the Air Force have brought together key components tested in previous experiments to constitute a complete network-centric capability," said Rick Heerdt, director of Boeing Airborne Warning Systems. "These modifications, which enable more rapid and accurate sharing of data, have been integrated into the new Block 40/45 mission system aboard the Test System 3 AWACS aircraft."
Block 40/45, now in production, is the most significant upgrade in the history of the US AWACS fleet and introduces a state-of-the-art-battle management and command and control capability within a new open architecture mission system.
During JEFX, AWACS operators are using Web applications, such as chat, and display capabilities, including Google Earth, to improve situational awareness and operational effectiveness. The operational tempo will be increased through the use of software applications that read and interpret chat text to automatically update tactical databases.
Operators also will use automated systems to monitor the airspace, allowing them to control the battle more efficiently.
"Net-centric command and control capabilities aboard the E-3 AWACS fleet will allow for more efficient use of airborne and ground assets and give the warfighter a comprehensive picture of the battlefield, resulting in better situational awareness and enhanced decision making," said Heerdt.
Source: Boeing
The Northrop Grumman Integrated Battle Command System is in service with Poland and the US Army with another 20 countries believed to have expressed an interest.
The Thales DigitalCrew package, first unveiled at last year’s Defence IQ International Armoured Vehicles conference, is designed to merge imaging and apply a layer of decision-making and observation algorithms to support crew and other personnel.
Nomad can provide militaries with real-time intelligence, saving critical time on the battlefield.
Taurus operates alongside the Israel Defense Forces’ Orion system which supports mission management across tens of thousands of manoeuvring forces, from squad leaders to battalion commanders.
The plan for the new displays follows fresh investment in Kopin’s European facilities by Theon and an order for head-up displays in fielded aircraft, with funding from the US Department of Defense.
Persistent Systems received its largest ever single order for its MPU5 devices and other systems earlier this month and has already delivered the 50 units to the US Army’s 4th Infantry Division.