WIN-T contractors approved to begin field tests

The Army has approved the final design of Increments One and Two of its $7.8 billion Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) program and cleared the two main WIN-T contractors to begin field-testing their systems in October.

The WIN-T platform will be the Army's main mobile communications system and will replace all of the Army's current radio equipment. The introduction of fully mobile battlefield communications capabilities will begin in earnest in WIN-T's Increment Two, which will include tactical communication nodes, mobile points of presence, vehicle wireless packages and soldier network extensions ? all of which will operate as ad hoc, self-forming, self-healing network elements.

The Army conducted critical design reviews of General Dynamics C4 Systems' and Lockheed Martin's designs for Increments One and Two in January and February and determined that the designs will meet its baseline requirements, according to the companies. After additional field tests in the fall, the contractors will start delivering WIN-T's mobile communications capabilities in 2009.

John Rendleman writes for Government Computer News, an 1105 Government Information Group publication.