clarification

March 2008

Clarification: Army to Create ‘Hybrid’ Network of Incompatible
Blue-force Trackers

Regarding the February 2008 story, “Army to Create ‘Hybrid’ Network of Incompatible Blue-force Trackers,” I would like to offer the following clarifications:

• Our architecture is nowhere near operating at full capacity at this time. The success of blue-force tracking has created great demand for more systems. We are currently making improvements that will keep the network more than capable of handling the increasing numbers of BFT platforms expected to be fielded over the next several years.

• Feedback from soldiers points out occasional periods of “longer than normal” time to send messages to one another. This is not a symptom of network overload, but most often occurs when longer messages are sent, when satellite line of sight is interrupted, or when periodic platform-level computer “cleanup” is required.

• While we do have two variants of our system in the field today (one uses line of sight radio, one uses satellite communication), and they are not integrated into one “box,” they are compatible with one another. We have an extremely dedicated team of folks that tie these two networks together. This network operations team ensures that all of our worldwide users can talk, 24/7.

Lt. Col. David Grauel, USA
Project Manager, Blue Force Tracking

Please email your comments to SErwin@ndia.org

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