Future Combat System

A mixed group of weapons systems connected to one another and to soldiers in the field by advanced communications. The future combat system represents the U.S. Army's response to the changing nature of combat and the increasing importance of accurate information and rapid communications in warfare.

The planned backbone of the U.S. Army's future combat system is called Warfighter Information Network Tactical, or WIN-T. It will consist of 18 individual weapons systems linked to one another and to soldiers in the field. These systems will include manned and robotic fighting vehicles, ground sensors, unmanned aerial reconnaissance drones, and new “smart” munitions. Soldiers connected to these systems will have access to data that can provide a much more accurate picture of what is happening around them.

The heart of the future combat system is a sophisticated communications network that links weapons and soldiers into a single coordinated unit. Unmanned reconnaissance aircraft will transmit information that allows commanders to locate enemy troops long before they can attack friendly forces. Non-line-of-sight systems, such as robotic fighting vehicles, will substantially increase the range at which the military can strike opponents. These weapons are referred to as “non-line-of-sight” systems because they allow soldiers to target and destroy enemy units that they cannot see.

The future combat system represents a dramatic change in U.S. military doctrine. Instead of large formations of troops accompanied by tanks and other heavy vehicles, the future combat system is designed to be small, light, and flexible. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, one objective of the future combat system effort is to develop lightweight forces in which no individual element weighs more than 20 tons. This would permit two full systems to be transported aboard a C-17 cargo aircraft. These lighter forces could be transported to battlefields or crisis spots more quickly and easily than conventional heavy-armored or infantry units. They also could be supported and supplied more easily than larger military formations.

Ultimately, the Army envisions the future combat system will develop into a fully integrated battlefield control system. In addition to robotic reconnaissance vehicles and sensors, it would include tactical mobile robots; mobile command, control, and communications platforms; networked fire support from futuristic ground and air platforms; and advanced, three-dimensional computerized targeting systems operating on land, in the air, and in space. However, the entire concept rests on a network of sensors, platforms, and command points linked by reliable high-speed communications, all of which are still under development. The systems must then be tested and refined before they can be put into operation. The Army is scheduled to equip an experimental battalion with WIN-T in 2008 and hopes to have all 18 systems online by 2014.