Procurement of the Army’s mobile network was halted when tests showed it was vulnerable to a near-peer adversary, but recent tests show the slimmed-down version of the maligned Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) is ready for combat, according to a classified report on the system’s most recent evaluation.
Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) conducted follow-on operational tests of WIN-T Increment 2 during the Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) 17.2 at Fort Bliss, Texas, from July 14 to July 30. The test was designed to verify corrections to network operations deficiencies identified during an operational assessment of the Network Operations and Security Center-Lite (NOSC-L) and Tactical Communications Network-Lite (TCN-L) during an NIE in fiscal 2016.
Both the TNC-L and NOSC-L were found to be both operationally “effective” and “suitable” according to the executive summary — obtained by Defense Daily — of a classified report on NIE 17.2 by the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E). A portion of the three-page executive summary is redacted, but it is signed by the then-acting Director of Operational Test and Evaluation David Duma.
“Soldiers using the downsized WIN-T Increment 2 TCN-L and NOSC-L were able to install, operate and maintain a WIN-T network and executive NetOps under operationally realistic conditions,” the report says.
NOSC is located at division and brigade headquarters where servers and other equipment necessary to “plan, install, operate, maintain and defense the WIN-T network” are kept. It is transported on a six-wheeled armored Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle (FMTV) truck.
TCN is a “communication assemblage” that provides line-of-sight and satellite communications at the halt and on the move to support mobile headquarters elements, according to the Army’s Command, Control and Communications-Tactical program office (PEO C3T). It is capable of secure and non-secure voice calls, serving as a combat radio relay and enabling voice, video and data services at the division, brigade and battalion levels. TCN is currently transported by an armored FMTV.
PEO C3T spokesman Paul Mehney confirmed the Army recently successfully completed an operational test in which the Increment 2 Tactical Communications Node-Lite and the Network Operations & Security Center-Lite were found effective, suitable and survivable.
“As part of the Army’s tactical network, the TCN provides beyond-line-of-sight and high-bandwidth line-of-sight network communications, both on-the-move in a convoy, at the quick halt, and at the stationary command post,” Mehney said in an email to Defense Daily. “Soldiers use the NOSC to monitor, manage and provide enhanced security to the tactical network. The Lite versions of these configurations provide the same networking and network management capabilities as their much larger predecessors, with significantly reduced size and system complexity.”
To better facilitate mobile operations and deployment of the system with infantry and Stryker brigades, the Army and contractor General Dynamics [GD] downsized both systems into “lite” versions transportable by a trailer pulled by a Humvee that can also be sling loaded by a CH-47 Chinook or C-130 cargo aircraft.
During the tests, soldiers did have problems with two of the NOSC-L software tools — the summary board tool and the highband networking waveform (HNW) planning tool — that were repeat deficiencies from previous tests and were deemed ineffective.
Both systems were confirmed transportable by CH-47F helicopter sling load and cargo aircraft to support mobile operations, but the report notes the Army does not have established operational concepts for how to deploy air-transportable WIN-T components.
“Upon landing, soldiers were able to initialize the TCN-L and provide communications within 20 minutes,” the report says.
Regarding operational suitability, the TCN-L met its reliability requirement, but “not with confidence.” Soldiers reported about 80 percent confidence in the system’s reliability, according to the report. The system also met both availability and maintainability requirements. NOSC-L met all of its reliability, availability and maintainability targets.
Soldiers involved in the test expressed a need for improved WIN-T training that includes TCN-L operation and troubleshooting to reduce reliance on field service representatives. They also called for more in-depth training on the NOSC-L theory of operations, system operation, troubleshooting and software.
A major deficiency and subsequent complaint about the WIN-T system is that it was not survivable against modern enemy detection systems and is vulnerable to hacking.
In the July tests, WIN-T Increment 2 as a whole was found to be survivable. A field service representative was tasked with implementing sufficient cybersecurity for the forces deploying WIN-T and to assist soldiers with its operation. The report recommends funding FSRs to accompany units deploying the system or training Army signal officers in the necessary cybersecurity tasks.
“Soldiers demonstrated a robust cyber network defense to protect against an operationally realistic cyber threat opposing force,” the report summary says. “The virtual firewall and improved software tools were effective.”
A scathing DOT&E report in 2016 inspired furious denunciations of WIN-T from Congress, particularly attracting the ire of Senate Armed Forces Committee Chair John McCain (R-Ariz.). The Army has since sought to curtail funding of WIN-T increment 2, though fielding will continue of systems already on order from GD. All of the Army’s brigades will be baselined with WIN-T increment 1 capability but only infantry and Stryker brigades will receive Increment 2 systems, according to PEO C3T.
“The program office is working to complete fielding of WIN-T Increment 2 capability to all active component infantry and Stryker brigade combat teams,” Mehney said.
The program is now procuring the NOSC and TCN lite systems for fielding to priority light infantry brigade combat teams, Mehney said. Each brigade equipped will receive eight TCN-L units and one NOSC-L system. Procurement for WIN-T Increment 2 capability will be halted in fiscal 2018, but fielding will continue into fiscal 2021. The first brigade to receive the fielding of the NOSC-L and TCN-L is the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division. Elements of the 101st Air Assault Division also have lite TCN and NOSC versions.