Army Begins Integrated Tactical Network Tech Acquisition; David Bassett Quoted

The U.S. Army has commenced acquisition procedures for a set of network resiliency technologies to support the service branch’s modernization initiatives for fiscal year 2021, C4ISRnet reported Tuesday.

The toolset, known as Capability Set ‘21, will be used to inform acquisition procedures for Capability Set ‘23 and support the Army’s Stryker and infantry combat teams from FY 2021 through 2023.

According to the Army’s news service, the military branch recently authorized its Program Executive Officer for Command, Control, Communications-Tactical to facilitate mid-tier acquisition and rapid fielding of integrated tactical network parts ahead of the scheduled release of contract actions in the coming days.

The move comes three months after the Army’s network team concluded critical design review activities for CS21, which includes two-channel radios and satellite communications terminals.

“Critical design was as much about making sure that we ended up with a design that we could afford to buy in the quantities we promised as it was exploring specific technical issues,” said Maj. Gen. David Bassett, director of the Defense Contract Management Agency and former PEO C3T.

The Army plans to deploy ITN technologies to four brigade combat teams starting next year. Three expeditionary battalions are also currently slated to receive CS21 enabling capability.

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