L3Harris Technologies has been selected to support the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) program under a new contract that aims to revolutionize mission command capabilities across the service. The effort is part of a broader push by the Army Futures Command and Program Executive Office Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T) to modernize battlefield decision-making tools for multi-domain operations.
NGC2: A Cornerstone of Multi-Domain Operations
The NGC2 program is a key enabler of the U.S. Army’s transformation toward Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2), integrating sensors, shooters, and decision-makers across land, air, sea, space, and cyber domains. Managed by PEO C3T in coordination with the Network Cross-Functional Team (N-CFT), NGC2 seeks to replace legacy mission command systems with a unified software-defined architecture that supports real-time data fusion and decision-making.
According to official statements from L3Harris and Army leadership, the goal is to develop an open architecture that can ingest data from multiple sources—such as ISR platforms, ground sensors, or satellite feeds—and present commanders with actionable insights in near real-time. This aligns closely with broader Department of Defense initiatives under CJADC2 (Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control), which emphasizes interoperability among services and coalition partners.
L3Harris’ Role in Phase One of NGC2
L3Harris was awarded a contract for Phase One of the NGC2 development effort. While financial terms were not disclosed publicly as of early June 2024, this phase focuses on prototyping critical software capabilities needed for future command post architectures. The company will contribute its expertise in tactical networking systems, software integration frameworks such as WINTAK/ATAK plugins, data transport layers over resilient mesh networks (including SATCOM-on-the-move), and AI-assisted decision support tools.
In particular, L3Harris is expected to help develop modular software components that can be deployed across various echelons—from battalion-level Tactical Operations Centers (TOCs) up through Corps-level Joint Task Force headquarters. These components are intended to be hardware-agnostic and cloud-native where possible—enabling deployment on edge compute nodes such as mounted combat vehicles or expeditionary servers.
Integration with Other Key Programs: TITAN & Project Convergence
The NGC2 initiative does not exist in isolation—it intersects with several other high-priority modernization programs including:
- TITAN (Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node): A key node in the sensor-to-shooter chain that ingests overhead ISR data from space-based assets like satellites or HAPS platforms.
- Project Convergence: The Army’s flagship experimentation campaign for testing multi-domain integration concepts involving AI/ML-enabled targeting cycles.
- Command Post Integrated Infrastructure (CPI2): A parallel effort focused on reducing the physical footprint of command posts while improving mobility and survivability.
L3Harris’ participation in these adjacent programs gives it an advantage in aligning its NGC2 contributions with broader architectural goals. For example, by leveraging its work on TITAN ground stations or resilient tactical waveforms like TrellisWare TSM-X™, L3Harris can help ensure seamless data flow between disparate battlefield nodes.
Technical Focus Areas: AI/ML Integration & Data Fabric
One of the most critical challenges facing next-gen C2 systems is managing vast volumes of heterogeneous data from multiple domains. L3Harris aims to address this by developing an integrated “data fabric” capable of ingesting structured/unstructured data streams while applying AI/ML models for pattern recognition, anomaly detection, target prioritization, or predictive logistics.
This aligns with recent DoD guidance emphasizing modular open systems architecture (MOSA) principles—ensuring that future upgrades can be rapidly inserted without vendor lock-in. In practical terms this means operators could receive fused situational awareness dashboards combining Blue Force Tracking feeds with satellite imagery overlays or SIGINT-derived threat alerts—all within a single pane-of-glass interface optimized for mobile use cases.
Strategic Implications & Industry Competition
The selection of L3Harris signals growing confidence in mid-tier defense primes capable of delivering agile software-defined capabilities at scale—especially compared to traditional platform-centric contractors. It also reflects increasing pressure within DoD acquisition circles to break away from monolithic legacy systems like AFATDS or DCGS-A that have struggled with interoperability or user experience limitations.
L3Harris joins other firms such as Palantir Technologies—which received a similar award under the same NGC2 Phase One solicitation—in what appears to be a competitive prototyping environment ahead of down-select decisions expected by FY2025. The outcome will likely shape how mission command evolves over the next decade—not only for U.S. forces but also NATO allies seeking plug-and-play interoperability under STANAG protocols.
