WIN-T Increment 2
Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) was designed to be the cornerstone tactical communications system supporting the implementation of the LandWarNet strategy during the 2007 to 2025 timeframe. The WIN-T program was to establish a single integrating framework creating a network of networks for the Army, subject to commander's intent and security policy. Warfighter Information Network - Tactical (WIN-T) was the Army's communications system for reliable, secure, and seamless video, data, imagery, and voice services that would enable decisive combat actions. It would be focused on moving information in a manner that supported commanders, staffs, functional units, and capabilities-based formations - all mobile, agile, lethal, sustainable, and deployable. It would be optimized for offensive and Joint operations so that the theater combatant commander would have the capability to perform multiple missions simultaneously.
Increment 2 capability supported limited collaboration, mission planning and on-the-move. It enables distribution of information via voice, data, and real-time video from ground-to-ground and ground-to satellite communications. Increment 2 capitalized on COTS/GOTS, mature technologies and added mobility to the Brigade Combat Team (BCT) including Battalions and Companies. Increment 2 initially enabled planning, monitoring, controlling and prioritizing (PMCP) the Div Headquarters (HQs) and/or the Bde network. It was expected to disseminate critical information in less than five seconds and time sensitive information in less than eight seconds.
Mobile communications for select users were enabled at 256 kbps for speeds up to 20 mph. It provided vehicular personnel force protection. It extended wide area/GIG network connectivity to the lower tactical subnets at the company level. Network survivability was enhanced by automatically reconfiguring the network due to node(s) or link loss (es). Spectrum reuse was accomplished with the Highband Network Waveform (HNW) and Net Centric Waveform (NCW). The Quality of Service (QOS) capability enabled message trafficking prioritization by level of importance to the warfighter. This Increment provided commercial and military band satellite communications to Div, Bde, Bn and Company (Co).
WIN-T Increment 2 was focused on Brigade Combat Teams (BCT). This increment would provide BCT and maneuver battalion commanders and their command posts, as well as maneuver companies the ability to access and receive relevant, near-real, tactically-relevant needed information, unfettered by range, terrain, or vegetation limitations, without tethering them to traditional static locations. Additionally, this increment would provide the Division G6 and BCT S6 the ability to allocate communications capacity consistent with the commander's priorities, as well as controlling, monitoring, and maintaining the network.
Currently, Army combat communications capability was based on "fixed backbone" technology that relied on a string of base stations equipped with satellite terminals or high-capacity radio terminals dispersed among front line units and connecting to rearward elements. The communications nodes were co-located with operations centers, which were at the nexus of operational information, decision-making and communications.
The dilemma with existing systems was if a commander were to direct their unit forward they also had manage the risk of degraded communications at a time when critical or unexpected events could take place. When a combat formation moved toward an objective that's was beyond the reach of their communications systems, however, operations centers had plan and execute a "jump," which was the planning-for, taking-down and setting-up a forward base station to support operations. During the "jump," the combat formation could be pressing forward against enemy locations and resistance. At the same time, access to critical information would be limited because primary communications systems were en-route. After the systems arrived at a new location, setup would also take additional time.
In order to set up a base station for a TOC (tactical operations center), soldiers have to stop, point satellite antennas, find out where the other TOC is, erect a mast and point a radio antenna at the other TOC's antenna. Soldiers also have to set up the software to control all the devices.
WIN-T was developing a network that persisted so that a commander had access to the information needed, wherever located. WIN-T Increment 2's persistence would work by eliminating the need for a fixed base-station. This was accomplished by including high-capacity radios and mobile satellites terminals, on Tactical Communications Node vehicles that would be dispersed among the deployed unit.
Each TCN vehicle was expected to be equipped with a "smart antenna," that would send and receive a high throughput radio to other ground nodes while on-the-move or at-the-halt. A smart antenna automatically finds its neighbor, so it knows which direction it wants to radiate. The antenna would be controlled by a specialized radio called the Highband Network Radio that could send, receive and relay radio traffic. Such radios were classified as "line-of-sight" radios, referring to the fact that they work when not blocked by terrain.
Another antenna on the TCN vehicle was to be a mobile satellite communications (SATCOM) terminal for "non-air breathers," so-called because they signal to space-based satellites. The satellite antenna would be controlled by a SATCOM modem, which is basically a satellite radio. Mobile satellite communications terminals have the advantage of extending communications beyond the limitation inherent with "line-of-sight" radios. Their drawback is less communications throughput.
Each TCN had a processor that could choose between "air-breathing" and "non-air-breathing systems. It would decide, 'if I can see you, I'll transmit over line-of-sight radio; If I can't see you, I'll transmit over SATCOM,'." Having the high throughput of air-breathing radios and the range extension of the non-air breathing satellites in one vehicle was expected to provide the best of both worlds. It would all be brought together by software. The antenna pointing, network configuration, planning functions and network management, would be wrapped up in one software package. It could be set up in minutes. Once set up, it would continue to operate and reconfigure itself on the move. One person with one computer terminal could monitor all the equipment and all the nodes.
The radios, modems, and antennas in the mobile TCN's work with the software to form the mesh-like "mobile backbone" that extends across land and into space. The decision-makers and planners could operate anywhere within the mesh with full access to information on the network.
The Army conducted an engineering field test of its future tactical communications network between 15 and 26 October 2007 and demonstrated a new mode of combat communications with a "mobile backbone," between 5 and 6 November 2007. Demonstrated were the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical Increment 2 engineering models being developed to allow brigade, battalion and company key leaders to continue to collaborate and exchange information using Internet-based voice, video and data technologies whether their combat formations are moving or halted.
WIN-T would fall into the Army's Future Combat System network, so there was a need to perform tests to identify and reduce areas of risk during development. In the summer of 2008 an Army unit was expected to perform more comprehensive limited user test with 30 nodes. The engineering field test was part of a schedule that would see delivery of WIN-T Increment 2 technologies to Army units, expected to begin in 2010. The Increment 2 capability would be provided for urgent communications needs and addressed the network technology to meet those needs within the FY09 to FY14 timeframe.
Increment 2 funds in FY09 supported continued System Development and Demonstration, Development Test, New Equipment Test, Limited User Test, Milestone C preparation/documentation, Request for Proposal process and Low Rate Initial Production Contract Award. The project manager's office for WIN-T was part of the US Army Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications-Tactical.
