Army standardizes IT components, software across 400 units
Over the course of a two-year period, the Army will standardize software to improve security, interoperability and combat effectiveness.
The Army has begun an ambitious effort to implement a common set of software and hardware standards across more than 400 different units in order to maximize interoperability and combat efficiency, service officials said.
Currently, various battle command applications, such as force tracking, airspace conflict avoidance and digital mapping technologies are operated according to different IP protocols, computer addresses and software standards.
This new initiative, to roll out over the next few years, seeks to ensure broad commonality between Army, Reserve and National Guard units, said Paul Mehney, spokesman for Program Executive Officer Command, Control, Communications – Tactical.
“The Army has put out multiple iterations of mission command software with improvements to make it better. This is what creates a lack of standardization across the Army,” Mehney said.
The concept is to take multiple versions of a widely used technology, such as the Army’s Command Post of the Future, and condense it into a single system so that soldiers across the Army are all working with the same system.
“This makes it easier to send upgrades and security patches,” Mehney added.
Mehney explained that soldiers who often transition from one unit to another will have vastly improved training opportunities.
“We are so reliant on software that we need a standard that will help us protect and harden our network systems,” he said.