In a move hailed as the dawn of a new era for the Army, the 4th Infantry Division recently showcased its cutting-edge Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) initiative during the first iteration of its Ivy Sting exercises. The demonstration involved firing an M777A2 Howitzer using a beta version of the new Artillery Execution Suite (AXS) tool, marking a significant step towards modernizing battlefield management.
A Shot Heard ‘Round the Modern Battlefield
„That’s the beginning of a new era for the Army,” Maj. Gen. Patrick Ellis, 4th Infantry Division Commander, told reporters following the Sept. 15 test strike. The Ivy Sting exercises aim to rapidly test and evaluate NGC2 technologies, with the goal of scaling the capability to the division level.
During Ivy Sting 1, reporters were given a firsthand look at how the Army used AXS to swiftly gather target information, transmit it through the chain of command, and ultimately hit its target. This streamlined process is a departure from the traditional, siloed approach to warfighting functions.
Breaking Down Silos
Historically, functions such as intelligence, logistics, and fires operated independently, hindering information sharing and situational awareness. NGC2 seeks to consolidate these functions into integrated applications, similar to apps on a smartphone, providing commanders and units with access to comprehensive data and information. AXS will serve as one of these critical „apps” within the NGC2 ecosystem.
According to Maj. Gen. Ellis, the success of Ivy Sting 1 lies in its ability to accelerate the deployment of new technologies. “Really, we already met the success criteria, which was…we actually accelerated all this stuff, and we shot live on Monday night.”
Speed and Precision: A Winning Combination
The Army envisions NGC2 as a long-term effort to revolutionize its command and control capabilities. The Army awarded Anduril and a team of vendors a nearly $100 million contract to prototype a broader NGC2 system for 4th Infantry Division between July and next summer for Project Convergence Capstone 6. More recently Lockheed Martin and its team of vendors were awarded a contract to work an integrated data layer for 25th Infantry Division under the NGC2 portfolio.
For the initial Ivy Sting exercise, focusing on the fires thread proved to be a logical starting point.
“The fires thread is a very logical thread that we all understand really well. AXS was coming along. We knew was coming online. We accelerated that because fires threads are really good,” Ellis explained. „The fires backbone becomes a very convenient place for us to then pull in all of these other threads and say, this is where I need to make all of these other things work.”
From Target to Impact: Streamlining the Process
The traditional process of engaging a target with a howitzer involves multiple steps and staff sections, potentially delaying critical strikes. Information from the Army Intel Data Platform goes to the strike cell, then to the Joint Air-Ground Integration Cell (JAGIC), then to the Fire Control Element, and finally to the Fire Direction Cell that will actually fire the M777. NGC2, and specifically AXS, aims to expedite this process and alleviate the cognitive load on soldiers.
While the Army currently uses the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS), a data management tool introduced in 1995, to aid in the process, it is viewed as insufficient for the demands of the modern battlefield.
Col. Charlie Brown, division artillery commander for 4th ID, noted that AFATDS has been successful in a „static COIN [counter-insurgency] environment,” but „we don’t think AFATDS can get there” in a dynamic, multi-domain environment. „AXS is being introduced to help accelerate that kill chain.”
Shaving Seconds, Saving Lives
The exercise demonstrated AXS’s ability to significantly reduce the time required to engage a target. During dry runs, troubleshooting on the legacy system took over two hours due to a system issue with counting days. In contrast, the AXS system was online and ready to fire before soldiers had even finished preparing the howitzer.
This speed is crucial in a rapidly evolving battlefield where targets are mobile and static forces are vulnerable. According to officials, NGC2’s mesh networking capabilities will allow artillery batteries to operate more dispersed, increasing combat power. Lessons from the war in Ukraine highlight the need for rapid movement, as forces must relocate within seven to eight minutes to avoid being targeted.
„Every second that we can shave off the kill chain reduces risk for our formation,” Brown stated. „At the same time, it puts pressure on the tempo against the enemy. So reduces risk and increases tempo against the enemy, so we see that as a huge benefit.”
Maj. Gen. Ellis emphasized the importance of demonstrating the effectiveness of the new technology to soldiers. „When I look at my 13B, my artillery men and say, ‘Okay, this technology is going to make your life better,’ they may believe me, but when they see that, he turned on the radio and he was up communicating with the Fire Direction Center, was ready to fire before they finished digging the spades in, to me, that’s the benefit of all of this.”
While Ivy Sting 1 was a focused test, it served as a crucial validation of the NGC2 system. As the Army continues to develop and expand the NGC2 initiative, the Ivy Sting exercises will play a vital role in ensuring its success.
