Self-Contained C2
NAVY-DEVELOPED MOBILE COMMAND POST BRINGS LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO REMOTE DEPLOYMENTS.
The U.S military is often called upon to respond to crises in remote regions of the globe in areas devastated by war, natural disaster or other catastrophic influence. Once deployed, these forces need a self-sustaining command center to effectively manage the situation.
In response to this growing and critical need to support joint task force operations in both peacetime and wartime missions, the Deployable Joint Command and Control Joint Program Office (JPO) has developed and delivered the Deployable Joint Command and Control (DJC2) system. The self-contained, self-powered tent-based headquarters system was designed, integrated and produced by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, under the direction of the DJC2 JPO in Panama City Beach, Fla. The program executive officer for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (PEO C4I) is assigned as the Navy service lead for the DJC2 program.
“The DJC2 system is a perfect example of how PEO C4I is achieving its primary mission, which is to provide Department of Defense personnel with integrated communication and information technology systems that enable the command and control of military forces,” said Chris Miller, the program executive officer. “The DJC2 system can be used whether they are engaged as warfighters or in humanitarian aid.”
The DJC2 system cleared its last acquisition milestone in September 2008, and has been delivered to combatant commands around the world. The mobile command post incorporates leading-edge developments in command and control capability, including open architecture, virtualization of computer servers and software applications, Internet Protocol convergence and wireless networking.
The core of the DJC2 system consists of a linked group of self-powered and climate controlled tents that house computer network servers, operator workstations, equipment for satellite communications and voice and data encryption, a video teleconferencing system, video display screens, printers, fax machines and other equipment. The on-scene commander and his staff can securely communicate across the world, send and receive information across five computer networks (including secure networks and the Internet), participate in video teleconferences with remote locations, and use a fully integrated command and control/collaboration software tool suite to plan and execute missions. The baseline command and control software capability is provided by Global Command and Control-Joint.
DJC2 includes two primary tented configurations that share assets and two standalone, special-purpose configurations tailored to specific operational needs. The modular and scalable design can support military operations ranging from a small, early entry forward-deployed element to full-scale joint task force operations. They can be fully operational within hours of arriving at a designated location.
The tented configurations are a 60-seat core, which provides the full suite of DJC2 capabilities, including the five networks, and an early-entry configuration, which provides 20 to 40 seats and a subset of the core capabilities, including three networks. The special-purpose configurations are an en-route configuration, which provides six to12 operator seats mounted on aircraft pallets for executing command and control while airborne on a C-17 or C-130 aircraft, and a rapid-response kit, which provides two to 15 operator seats. The kit can be transported by two people on a commercial or military airplane, and is designed for use by small control teams/first responders. The DJC2 system is operationally tested, having deployed to support Joint Task Force Katrina hurricane relief in New Orleans in 2005, and most recently in Thailand supporting Joint Task Force Caring Response’s typhoon relief efforts in Myanmar (formerly Burma).
“DJC2 has been used in three major exercises, and supported two real-world actions and commanders,” said the deputy commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command, Army Lieutenant General John R. Wood. “All commanders, all services, are very enthusiastic in their acceptance and appreciation of this new capability.”
The DJC2 program recently partnered with Commander, Second Fleet to prototype and demonstrate a maritime joint task force afloat configuration. The prototype repackages DJC2 system capabilities into containers that can be easily installed on any ship of opportunity. The capability provides a totally self-contained joint task force headquarters command and control suite that only requires physical space on the ship, electrical power and living quarters for its command staff. Commander, Second Fleet is also leveraging DJC2’s command and control architecture as the baseline for its maritime headquarters facility.
For its innovative acquisition approach, the program was awarded the David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award in 2005. It is now continuing to improve and upgrade the delivered systems through a robust technology refresh and insertion program.
“DJC2’s successes are directly attributable to the energetic and highly talented engineering resources readily available at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division,” said Stephen Hunt, the DJC2 program manager. “With their dedication and expertise, we were able to deliver a badly needed new capability into the hands of the joint warfighter in record time.”
• U.S. Pacifi c Command, Honolulu, Hawaii
• U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany
• U.S. Army South, San Antonio, Texas
• U.S. Army Southern European Task Force (Airborne), Vicenza, Italy
• III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan
This article was provided by the Media Relations Office of Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command.
