ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — Fueled by the tailored use of acquisition pathways, Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensor greatly accelerated the timeline to field the Terrestrial Layer System – Brigade Combat Team, or TLS BCT, Manpack. Soldiers and Army units received the system this past summer, marking the first unit issued milestone in providing an asymmetric advantage in the electromagnetic spectrum.
The TLS BCT Manpack is a fully configurable system capable of conducting radio frequency surveying, signals collection and direction-finding operations, electromagnetic attack and force protection operations, as well as EMS visualization and scanning/surveying operations. The system provides both mobile electronic attack and electronic support capabilities to inform the commander’s decision-making process.
As the rebirth of the Electronic Warfare Corps within the Army is still recent, having a system that allows the pairing of non-kinetic options with the pre-existing kinetic weapons is key to fighting in a multi-domain environment.
“The TLS BCT Manpack system is providing the BCT commander a tactical advantage with a robust state-of-the-art mobile [electronic warfare] capability for multi-domain operations,” said Maj. Austin Knighton, Assistant Product Manager for TLS BCT Manpack. The system is the Army’s first tailorable, modular, terrestrial capability that allows the integration of signals intelligence and electronic warfare — SIGINT and EW, respectively — collection, processing, exploitation, reporting, and effects capabilities within the SIGINT collection team and electronic warfare team elements.
“The TLS Manpack is a proven EW technology based on a design originally fielded to Army Special Operations Forces. It leverages existing [commercial off the shelf technology] equipment that provides direction-finding capabilities to the tactical edge,” said Col. Leslie Gorman, Army Capability Manager - Electronic Warfare, or ACM EW, Director. “Its smaller form factor and relatively light weight add to its functionality, important features for EW Soldiers supporting light infantry units.”
Getting the new EW capability into Soldiers’ hands was due in large part to the efforts of Project Manager Electronic Warfare & Cyber, ACM EW, ACM Intelligence Sensors, the Army Test and Evaluation Center and electronic warfare officers in multiple operational units, to include the new Transform in Contact units.
“This expeditious and near record turnaround was made possible by rapid prototyping and rapid fielding — underscoring the utility of middle tier acquisition to quickly bring a capability to fruition,” said Ken Strayer, Project Manager Electronic Warfare & Cyber, or PM EW&C. “Such focused urgency and execution to demonstrate, test, and rapidly procure this modular and mobile system is making a significant contribution to winning the EMS fight.”
In just a year, the TLS BCT Manpack program received requirements and achieved a production and fielding decision from the Army Acquisition Executive with an initial fielding quantity award.
“The reason why we leaned forward to expedite TLS BCT Manpack fielding was to get the capability out to Soldiers, foremost the designated TIC units,” said Gorman. “This enables the ACM EW team to conduct immersive experimentation and operational feedback opportunities with EW Soldiers using TLS BCT Manpack and the PM. The feedback from these sessions will directly impact capability improvements.”
Specifically, the Soldiers provided human systems integration feedback through surveys and hands-on events. They looked at the size, weight, and power of the systems as well as the safety, survivability and usability of the user interface in both at the halt and on the move configurations. User feedback and recommendations were captured, vetted and prioritized. EW Warfighters are now directly involved in designing systems that allow them to accomplish their mission.
“The system is going to be deployed to every brigade combat unit in the Army,” said Strayer. “This is exciting because we are finally getting program sensor data within an enduring capability out and into the hands of our electronic warfare officers, something we have been on a glide path for the last two years.”
The system has already been fielded to two TIC units with a plan to field up to two BCTs a month over the course of the next three years. PEO IEW&S delivers capability now through affordable and adaptable programs that pace the threat. The TLS BCT Manpack is part of the PM EW&C Portfolio with the mission to develop and field integrated capabilities for spectrum warfare.
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