Maj. Gen. Patrick Ellis, the director of the Army’s command-and-control modernization, shared insights from his extensive career in the operational Army during a recent Pentagon briefing. He noted the prevalence of critical data often being written down on makeshift materials, such as cardboard or sticky notes, by units in the field. Ellis emphasized that this method is inefficient and reflects a concerning lack of speed in the Army’s operations.
The Army’s command-and-control (C2) architecture, essential for enabling commanders to plan and execute missions, has developed haphazardly over the past 20 years amid the Global War on Terror. According to Alex Miller, the Army’s chief technology officer, this setup comprises 17 separate programs, which have resulted in significant technical and procedural debt. Miller described the situation as “60 years of policy archeology,” indicating that established processes hinder rapid adaptation to technological advancements.
Recognizing the need for modernization, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George initiated a program to revamp the Army’s C2 capabilities, which is currently one of the top priorities for Army modernization. Gen. James Rainey, commander of Army Futures Command, underscored the importance of effective command-and-control systems for battlefield success at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Global Force Symposium held in Huntsville, Alabama.
In a significant development, the Army showcased a proof-of-concept demonstration for its Next-Generation C2 (NGC2) system at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California. During this event, soldiers collaborated with various industry partners like Google and Palantir, utilizing modern communication tools to streamline reconnaissance, targeting, and operations without reliance on cumbersome legacy systems.
The culmination of this effort allowed soldiers to operate efficiently from their vehicles, reducing their electromagnetic footprint while planning and executing missions. Following this successful demonstration, the Army conducted further experimentation at the NetModX exercise in September, testing real Army systems in challenging conditions.
Notably, the Army achieved a remarkable timeline, progressing from initial concept validation to capability delivery in just one year—an endeavor Miller described as “astronomically fast” by comparison to the usual five- to seven-year cycle for such advancements. This efficiency suggests that soldiers will not only be equipped with NGC2 technology but will also benefit from the integration of real-time data analysis for improved decision-making.
The Army is shifting its procurement strategy to enhance agility in acquiring commercially available technologies, moving away from rigid requirements and instead allowing industry partners to address specific problems outlined by the Army. Ellis highlighted the importance of building an integrated data layer to support various applications, ensuring that data accessibility is straightforward and user-friendly.
As the Army continues to iterate on its C2 capabilities, plans are underway to extend the system to an entire division by the next iteration of Project Convergence in summer 2026. With a goal to streamline the deployment process, Miller indicated that multiple divisions might even access the cloud-based system simultaneously upon the initial rollout.
Furthermore, funding for Next-Generation C2 will be sourced from the cancellation of legacy systems, potentially amounting to billions of dollars. The aim is to optimize taxpayer investment in military capabilities by being efficient in financial stewardship moving forward.
In closing, Jen Judson, an award-winning journalist known for her coverage of land warfare, provided the report, emphasizing the dynamic changes within the Army’s command-and-control systems and their critical role in future military operations.
