Jane Edwards
The U.S. Army has tested long-range network management features of the Northrop Grumman-built Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System.
IBCS helped soldiers maintain video, data and voice connectivity through network management, execute and track simulated threats and identify aerial objects as “friend or foe†during the five-week soldier checkout event held with air-and-missile defense equipment at military sites in Alabama, Texas and New Mexico, Northrop said Wednesday.
“The ability of IBCS to integrate sensors and shooters over a vast area and grow the single integrated air picture offers huge advantages to air defenders and the joint forces,†said Dan Verwiel, vice president and general manager for missile defense and protective systems at Northrop.
The service demonstrated IBCS’ capability to network with at least 20 nodes across the three sites; virtually establish a task force to protect four defense assets; monitor cruise and tactical ballistic missiles and fighter jets; and self-configure as an ad hoc mobile network during the test.
The multinode distributed demonstration included nine IBCS engagement operation facilities; Patriot radars; Sentinel short-range air defense radars; PAC-2, PAC-3 and PAC-3 missile segment enhancement interceptors; and 12 IBCS integrated fire control network relays.
IBCSÂ is an open architecture-based command-and-control system designed to help combatant commanders and air warfighters get a single picture of the battlespace through the integration of sensors and weapon systems.
