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FORT LAUDERDALE: General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, and Rockwell Collins today announced the on-time delivery of the first Integrated Computer Systems (ICS) to the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program. ICS is the common computing environment for 13 of the 14 platforms in the FCS family of systems, which comprises a network of sensors, unmanned aerial platforms and manned and unmanned ground platforms.
Prototype units supplied by the General Dynamics-Rockwell Collins ICS team provide computing, networking and information assurance resources to enable U.S. Army current force vehicles to be a part of the FCS network.
ICS is embedded in mobile platforms and provides users with a common operating picture for faster decision-making. Bradley fighting vehicles, Abrams main battle tanks and Command Variant High-Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicles will be equipped with ICS as part of the first spin-out of FCS future force technologies in 2008.
“ICS is the heart of FCS, the U.S. Army's transformational program to enable network-centric warfare,” said John van Dyke, director of Net-Centric Systems for General Dynamics C4 Systems. “This accomplishment provides a key component of the high-performance technology infrastructure required to take FCS to the next level of preparedness and bring the future of combat to the current force.”
The ICS team designed, built, tested and delivered the Current Force Integrated Computer systems in 21 months to support the rapid spin-out of FCS capability into the Current Force vehicles.
“ICS accomplishes one of the central objectives of the FCS program – the ability to provide real-time connectivity across the battlespace, using common hardware and software,” said Woody Hogle, vice president and general manager for Government Integrated Systems at Rockwell Collins. “To make these deliveries on time is a tribute to the team's persistence, dedication and commitment.”
FCS uses a groundbreaking approach that brings advanced technologies together to help create an agile Unit of Action. The ICS integrates a wide range of traditionally independent computing applications into a single, integrated, secure processing environment. This provides the FCS-equipped Units of Action with unprecedented processing, networking, data storage and information assurance capabilities.
ICS will appear in the General Dynamics Booth #808 and the Rockwell Collins Booth #523 at the Association of the U.S. Army Institute of Land Warfare's upcoming “Winter Symposium and Exhibition,” scheduled for March 7 through 9 at the Broward Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
