US Army authorised to continue fielding WIN-T Inc 2 tactical network

General Dynamics C4 Systems (GDC4S) has announced that it has been awarded a $346 million delivery order by the US Army to procure the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2 (Inc 2) network for additional Brigade Combat Teams and Division Headquarters units. The contract follows the army’s authorisation by the US Department of Defense (DoD) to continue fielding the WIN-T Inc 2 as part of the army's Capability Set 13 deployment.

According to a 4 October company statement, initial fielding of the WIN-T Inc 2 network as a key component of Capability Set 13 began October 1st at Ft. Drum, and Ft. Polk, with the training of two brigades of the 10th Mountain Division using previously procured equipment.

Network modernisation is the army's top priority and WIN-T is its cornerstone programme. WIN-T Inc 2 completed its Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) during the army's Network Integration Evaluation 12.2 this summer. The IOT&E was the largest tactical-network test of its kind, involving more than 4,000 soldiers dispersed over a 2,000-square-mile area. The soldier feedback following the evaluation enables General Dynamics to work with the army to continue optimizing the system's overall performance and effectiveness.

Chris Marzilli, president of General Dynamics C4 Systems, said: ‘WIN-T Increment 2 has shown the value of high-speed communications for commanders who need robust, reliable communications and situational awareness. Commanders can now make faster, more informed decisions using real-time information while moving with their soldiers, rather than being tethered to command posts.’

WIN-T is the army's mobile battlefield network that provides mission critical voice, video and data to soldiers. WIN-T Increment 1 is now fully fielded to 210 active duty, reserve and National Guard units. WIN-T Increment 2 moves with commanders and provides situational awareness and the ability to command from anywhere on the battlefield.