WASHINGTON — The Army encountered implementation difficulties during its initial attempt to integrate Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) technology from defense contractor Anduril into its existing communication networks, according to Army and company officials who spoke with Breaking Defense at the AUSA conference this week.
Brig. Gen. Shane Taylor, Portfolio Management Executive for Command and Control Information Network (C2IN), acknowledged the integration process was not seamless, stating, “There’s always growing pains in these endeavors. We learned a lot through this experience, and many of the challenges we observed were typical when integrating teams that haven’t previously collaborated.”
The test, conducted in September by the Army’s 25th Infantry Division during Lightning Surge 5 in Hawaii, aimed to validate the multi-phase modernization of the service’s command-and-control architecture. Prior deployments of Anduril’s NGC2 technology had been successful with the 4th Infantry Division in Colorado, where it was paired with new commercial hardware and software.
Lockheed Martin, leading the integration for the 25th ID’s NGC2 components, anticipated technical hurdles. Chandra Marshall, vice president of multi-domain combat solutions at Lockheed Martin, noted that scaling challenges emerged, particularly in data transmission through the Lattice platform, which she described as “not yet operating at the optimal state for the system’s current configuration.”
An Anduril representative confirmed that integrating Lattice with the 25th ID’s communications infrastructure revealed technical limitations inherent to the broader communication architecture. Program Manager James Craven highlighted that the 25th ID’s deployment involved mission environments distinct from the 4th ID, including different radio configurations (TSM radios with varied waveforms) and novel operational scenarios.
For successful NGC2 expansion, harmonizing Lattice with legacy communication systems remains critical, as the 25th ID’s setup represents the Army’s standard configuration for future baselining across I Corps divisions. Craven emphasized the importance of maintaining compatibility with legacy equipment, noting that “not every unit will receive a full technology refresh like the 4th ID.”
Environmental and Technological Challenges
Environmental factors and platform constraints further complicated the integration. The 4th ID’s operations in Colorado’s open terrain contrasted sharply with the 25th ID’s deployment in Hawaii’s dense jungle, which introduced unique signal propagation challenges. Additionally, the 25th ID’s lighter Infantry Squad Vehicles posed different physical integration constraints compared to the 4th ID’s Stryker-based platforms. Joseph Welch, Army acquisition executive for Command and Control, stressed that adapting compute capacity and transport solutions for mobile infantry units requires ongoing optimization.
Anduril and partners are refining edge computing capabilities, including adapting Lattice for tablet-based systems—a capability first piloted mid-exercise during Lightning Surge 5. Future deployments will allow pre-fielding integration testing to enhance readiness.
Expanding NGC2 Deployment Across Divisions
Following the decision to outfit I Corps with NGC2 capabilities, the Army is prioritizing baseline configurations for remaining divisions within the corps headquarters. Brig. Gen. Taylor emphasized the 25th ID’s role as a critical testbed for standard Integration Task Force (ITN) compatibility, stating, “When we introduce Next Gen C2 capabilities to other ITN divisions, that’s the integration we’ll conduct.”
Despite plans to complete I Corps baselining within the fiscal year, budgetary constraints like the continuing resolution may necessitate phased system deployments. Logistics challenges in transporting equipment across diverse Pacific locations require careful pacing to prevent overwhelming units with new capabilities. “We aim to position NGC2 as an enabler of mission success, not a disruption,” Welch explained, aligning fielding schedules with unit training cycles and exercises.
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