Army Finalizes and Awards Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2 LRIP Contract

By PEO C3T Public Affairs OfficeJanuary 28, 2011

Army Finalizes and Awards Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2 LRIP Contract and Propels Army Modernization
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army Finalizes and Awards Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2 LRIP Contract and Propels Army Modernization
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CW5 Leslie Cornwall, left and Maj. Marcus Odum from the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Capabilities Manager Networks and Services examine Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) equipment during the WIN-T Increment Two Engineering Fie... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The United States Army has finalized and awarded the WIN-T Increment 2 Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract, allowing for continued production of a tactical communications network which will bring mobile ad-hoc communications to the Army, extending that capability to the company-level Warfighter for the first time.

With the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2, maneuver units who once had to stop and establish connectivity before communicating will now be able to communicate via voice, video and data in a mobile environment.

"This significant step brings WIN-T Increment 2 from the conceptual stage to the tactical training and operational employment environment," said Brig. Gen. N. Lee S. Price, Program Executive Officer for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T). "For the first time, we can evaluate this equipment in dynamic, operational conditions."

"This critical milestone allows the Army to continue the modernization of its current technologies and to provide the network which will bring future capability sets earlier to the battlefield," said Lt. Col. Robert M. Collins, Product Manager for WIN-T Increment 2/3. "As the Army modernizes current software capabilities and integrates its stand alone technologies into a system of systems, WIN-T Increment 2 will provide the additional bandwidth to enhance Army Modernization."

WIN-T Increment 2 builds on the success of WIN-T Increment 1, and delivers a self-forming, self-healing mobile communication infrastructure. "This moving communications grid will accelerate the speed of maneuver on the battlefield and allows Soldiers and Commanders to stay connected at all times," Collins said. "Commanders can more effectively plan the communications network, establish contingency plans and have the ability to easily adjust network priorities from a current mission to one of higher precedence."

WIN-T Increment 2 will connect terrestrial line-of-sight communications and satellite networks together. As a result, even Soldiers in lower echelons will be capable of collaborating on a high-intensity battlefield. "It will provide the line-of-sight communications necessary for urban fights and the ability to communicate 'over the horizon' in mountainous terrains such as Afghanistan," Collins said. "This capability will empower company-level Commanders who can communicate with higher echelons and share information via satellite rather than physically sharing maps via hazardous transportation routes."

The WIN-T Increment 2 contract was fully definitized with General Dynamics on 30 December 2010. It has a ceiling of $2.8B to support approximately 20 maneuver units and includes 2 years of LRIP and an option for 1 year of Full Rate Production (FRP). An earlier undefinitized contract portion was awarded in April 2010 and has allowed Project Manager (PM), WIN-T to produce the initial equipment sets for upcoming qualification tests, culminating in the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) in second quarter fiscal year 2012. The qualification testing and IOT&E will provide data necessary to support a WIN-T Increment 2 Full Rate Production Decision and statutorily required Beyond LRIP Report (BLRIP). The exact fielding schedule is still to be determined; however it is expected to begin by the end of 2012.

Feel free to contact our Public Affairs Officer to set up interviews, so you can discuss this milestone with the Project Manager, WIN-T team. Our PAO can be reached by telephone at (443)591-0292 and e-mailed at kyle.bond2@us.army.mil or PAO.PEOC3T@us.army.mil