FBCB2
Encyclopedia
Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) is a Linux based (older versions are Solaris based) communication platform designed for commanders to track friendly and hostile forces on the battle
field. It increases a vehicle commander's situational awareness of the battlefield by gathering information near real-time based on vehicle locations being updated on the battlefield. This information is viewed graphically, and exchanged via both free and fixed text message formats (instead of verbal collection of reports).
FBCB2 was tested under the First Digitized Division 4th Infantry Division based in Fort Hood, Texas
, and a series of what were called "Advanced Warfighting Experiments" at the National Training Center
near Barstow, California, starting in 1997. The division conducted Limited User Test on the equipment in 1998, and the system was approved for production. It was then tested and implemented under the Force XXI concept that stemmed from Operation Desert Storm/Shield. The system was first used in actual military operations in the former Yugoslavia in 1998. It played a key role in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan starting in 2003, where it is still in use.
The United States Army
awarded TRW
(as of 2002, a part of Northrop Grumman
) the prime contract for FBCB2 in 1995; (ESP)Or Engineering Solutions and Products now is the prime contractor for the system. Work has begun on plans to reach the level of nearly 160,000 tracking systems in the Army within a few years; recently the United States Army
, the United States Marines Corps have reached agreement to standardize on a new variant of the system to be called Joint Battle Command-Platform.
The FBCB2 system, and the BFT
system of which is a variant of it, have won numerous awards and accolades, including: recognition in 2001 as one of the five best-managed software programs in the entire U.S. Government, the 2003 Institute for Defense and Government Advancement’s award for most innovative U.S. Government program, the 2003 Federal Computer Week Monticello Award (given in recognition of an information system that has a direct, meaningful impact on human lives), and the Battlespace Information 2005 “Best Program in Support of Coalition Operations".
Battle
Generally, a battle is a conceptual component in the hierarchy of combat in warfare between two or more armed forces, or combatants. In a battle, each combatant will seek to defeat the others, with defeat determined by the conditions of a military campaign...
field. It increases a vehicle commander's situational awareness of the battlefield by gathering information near real-time based on vehicle locations being updated on the battlefield. This information is viewed graphically, and exchanged via both free and fixed text message formats (instead of verbal collection of reports).
Development
The development of the system is managed by Project Manager, Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below, a component of the U.S. Army's Program Executive Office – Command Control and Communications Tactical (PEO C3T) Special Projects Office. PEO C3T is based at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.FBCB2 was tested under the First Digitized Division 4th Infantry Division based in Fort Hood, Texas
Fort Hood, Texas
Fort Hood is a United States military post located outside of Killeen, Texas. The post is named after Confederate General John Bell Hood. It islocated halfway between Austin and Waco, about from each, within the U.S. state of Texas....
, and a series of what were called "Advanced Warfighting Experiments" at the National Training Center
Fort Irwin Military Reservation
Fort Irwin & the National Training Center is a major training area for the United States Military and is a census-designated place located in the Mojave Desert in northern San Bernardino County, California. Fort Irwin sits at an elevation of . The 2010 United States census reported Fort Irwin's...
near Barstow, California, starting in 1997. The division conducted Limited User Test on the equipment in 1998, and the system was approved for production. It was then tested and implemented under the Force XXI concept that stemmed from Operation Desert Storm/Shield. The system was first used in actual military operations in the former Yugoslavia in 1998. It played a key role in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan starting in 2003, where it is still in use.
The United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
awarded TRW
TRW
TRW Inc. was an American corporation involved in a variety of businesses, mainly aerospace, automotive, and credit reporting. It was a pioneer in multiple fields including electronic components, integrated circuits, computers, software and systems engineering. TRW built many spacecraft,...
(as of 2002, a part of Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company was the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2010, and the largest builder of naval vessels. Northrop Grumman employs over...
) the prime contract for FBCB2 in 1995; (ESP)Or Engineering Solutions and Products now is the prime contractor for the system. Work has begun on plans to reach the level of nearly 160,000 tracking systems in the Army within a few years; recently the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, the United States Marines Corps have reached agreement to standardize on a new variant of the system to be called Joint Battle Command-Platform.
The FBCB2 system, and the BFT
Blue Force Tracking
Blue Force Tracking is a United States military term used to denote a GPS-enabled system that provides military commanders and forces with location information about friendly military forces....
system of which is a variant of it, have won numerous awards and accolades, including: recognition in 2001 as one of the five best-managed software programs in the entire U.S. Government, the 2003 Institute for Defense and Government Advancement’s award for most innovative U.S. Government program, the 2003 Federal Computer Week Monticello Award (given in recognition of an information system that has a direct, meaningful impact on human lives), and the Battlespace Information 2005 “Best Program in Support of Coalition Operations".
See also
- Blue Force TrackingBlue Force TrackingBlue Force Tracking is a United States military term used to denote a GPS-enabled system that provides military commanders and forces with location information about friendly military forces....
- Program Executive Office Command Control and Communications Tactical