Army Approves Final Design of On-The-Move Information Network for Warfighters

TAUNTON, Mass., Apr. 29 /PRNewswire/ --

TAUNTON, Mass., April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army has approved the final design of Increments 1 and 2 of the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) program, authorizing General Dynamics C4 Systems and partner Lockheed Martin to prepare for field testing in October 2008. Testing will be followed by deployment of the WIN-T on-the-move communications capabilities in 2009. WIN-T will be the Army's primary battlefield communications network.

The approval follows successful critical design reviews (CDR) conducted in January and February. During the CDRs, the Army assessed the systems' final designs to validate that baseline requirements would be met.

A key success factor in these CDRs was the detailed plan to enable mobile battle command down to the company level. In particular, WIN-T Increment 2 will provide tactical communication nodes, mobile "points of presence," vehicle wireless packages and soldier network extensions to enable mobile battle command in a completely ad-hoc, self-forming, self-healing network. These warfighter-mobility features will support a commander's ability to exercise command-and-control and synchronize warfighting functions from anywhere on the battlefield.

"These successful CDRs further demonstrate that the WIN-T program is on track for initial fielding in 2009 and confirms that the Army's incremental delivery strategy will put broadband, on-the-move communications capabilities in soldiers' hands as soon as possible," said Bill Weiss, vice president of Tactical Networks for General Dynamics C4 Systems.

Prime contractor General Dynamics and partner Lockheed Martin lead a team of communications, network systems and platform integration experts that includes BAE Systems, Harris Corporation and L-3 Communications.

General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics , is a leading integrator of secure communication and information systems and technology.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 84,000 people worldwide and reported 2007 revenues of $27.2 billion. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about the company is available on the Internet at www.generaldynamics.com.