In an important move for its Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) initiative, the Army has reached out to industry leaders for innovative ideas, formally initiating the next phase of its pursuit on Monday.
The Army’s program executive office for command, control, communications-tactical (PEO C3T) issued a request for information (RFI) online, expressing its desire for industry input on “experimentation, pilots, and prototyping” as part of the establishment of NGC2.
This RFI marks the first communication regarding C2NG from PEO C3T and follows an industry day event on September 16, designed to inform potential vendors about the project. The announcement is also aligned with the Army Futures Command (AFC) Characteristics of Need (CoN) requirement, related to the office’s interest in next-generation command and control, which was released on May 21.
The RFI specifies several inquiries for industry stakeholders, including the design and management of a common services architecture for warfighting applications, aimed at enabling a “plug-and-plan” infrastructure. It also seeks insights on how a common data layer can be utilized to enhance capabilities in meeting warfighting demands. Moreover, the document explores how industry perceives the role of the Army’s Unified Data Reference Architecture in developing and managing the NGC2 system.
Furthermore, the initiative emphasizes “maximizing vendor access to capabilities and users” while striving to strengthen the partnership between industry and the government.
A significant aspect of NGC2 involves integrating advanced technologies, as the RFI notes that selected services and products will rely heavily on progressive software analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning capabilities to provide performance feedback.
NGC2, also referred to as C2 Next, aims to establish a comprehensive command and control framework that emphasizes data-centricity “at every echelon.” The initiative seeks to unify intelligence, command and control, and fire operations into a cohesive system, ensuring commanders have immediate access to critical information—aligning with the Pentagon’s broader Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control effort.
The Army plans to test the principles of NGC2 in March 2025 during the Project Convergence capstone five event, as stated by Col. Michael Kaloostian, the AFC’s networks and security director for NGC2. In an August interview with Breaking Defense, Kaloostian emphasized that the project is currently in the science and technology phase, and research and development efforts continue.
“We’re going to learn with each step… It’s always going to be iterative, because technology is always going to improve,” he explained, indicating the ongoing commitment to innovation and adaptation throughout the development of the NGC2 initiative.