Army Wants to Deploy C5ISR Systems Ahead of Conflict

The U.S. Army wants to change how it deploys communications and networking equipment to help troops keep up with the changing environment and modernization of adversaries, C4ISRNet reported Thursday. 

Maj. Gen. Randy Taylor, commander of Army Communications and Electronics Command, said the command has launched efforts to determine global hot spots where soldiers may require immediate support from technicians. Taylor said forward technicians will provide support when systems break or require updates while in the field. The Army also aims to configure systems ahead of conflicts to maintain military capability. 

“What we’re looking at now with this possible near peer conflict is fight tonight expeditionary,” Taylor said. “That’s part of the imperative for modernizing the network so it’s lighter, faster, more capable, but sustainment has to keep pace with those expeditionary units.”

The Army CECOM manages sustainment and refurbishing of the service’s command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. The Army plans to integrate C5ISR systems with “pre-positioned stocks,” which provide troops with immediate access to equipment and eliminate the need to carry their gear during deployment.