Command and control (C2) systems enable military commanders and personnel with sufficient authority to make decisions and utilize information, assets and resources at their disposal in order to successfully carry out missions and achieve objectives.
Software systems play a large part in effective C2, allowing users to create, disseminate and make use of information in a wide range of scenarios including defense, homeland security and peacekeeping.
Military C2 Software
C2 software is essential for enhancing situational awareness and creating a common operational picture for all personnel concerned. It may be specific to particular domains such as ground, air or naval forces, or provide a wider multi-domain scope, and may provide interoperability between different allied forces.
Intelligence & Information
Command and control software may handle a wide range of sources of data and intelligence. These can include feeds from radar systems, cameras on board manned aircraft, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), ground vehicles, and vessels, as well as satellite imagery. Intelligence may also be gained from sources such as electronic warfare and SIGINT (signals intelligence), as well as cyber warfare.
Connectivity & Dissemination
C2 software can provide a variety of methods for disseminating information. It may utilize a mapping platform with a GIS engine to display real-time battlefield information. Connectivity may be established with military communications networks such as combat radios, and information may be fed to forces in the field, including vehicles and dismounted soldier systems.
Additional Terms
A number of additional terms are relevant to C2 and C2 software, encompassing related capabilities or emphasizing certain sub-concepts. These include but are not limited to:
C2I – command, control and intelligence C2ISTAR – command, control, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance C3 – command, control and communication C4 – command, control, communication and computers C5I – command, control, communications, computers, cyber (or collaboration) and intelligence
AFWERX has awarded Picogrid and MIT’s Mission Innovation X an STTR Phase II contract to enhance military wildfire response with portable sensor technology for real-time situational awareness
L3Harris introduces AMORPHOUS™, a new software that enables seamless control of thousands of autonomous assets across domains, enhancing military operations with advanced, collaborative autonomy.
PDW CORE is the latest software package from PDW featuring a user-friendly touch interface, a PDW flight simulator, mission planning tools, an ATAK plug-in, and a laptop-compatible C100 updater
At Desert Guardian 1.0, BlueHalo demonstrated its C-UAS sensors across modalities, all tracked and integrated through VigilantHalo, a software-driven platform for live airspace C2
MilDef is set to deliver command-and-control (C2) systems to the Swedish Navy, enhancing NATO interoperability and secure communication with its OneCIS software and integration services
Lockheed Martin integrated the Q-53 multi-mission radar (MMR) with Anduril's Lattice C2 software during the U.S. Central Command Desert Guardian exercise, enabling advanced drone detection and tracking
Saab’s Autonomous Ocean Core is an autonomous control system suitable for military applications, aiding uncrewed naval vessels in mine detection and clearance, ISR, and EW
Lattice, the open and extensible software platform for command and control from Anduril, will be integrated into global infrastructure through a new partnership with Oracle
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