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The U.S. Army has awarded the General Dynamics-Lockheed Martin Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) team contract modifications valued at up to $921 million to continue development of the system and accelerate delivery.

WIN-T is the Army's next-generation battlefield communications network that is expected to provide soldiers with secure, mobile access to the U.S. Defense Department's global information grid.

In June, the Army disclosed that it would restructure and accelerate the WIN-T program, and organized it into four major increments. The $921 million in modifications comprise WIN-T Increment Two and WIN-T Increment Three.

The former Joint Network Node (JNN) is now WIN-T Increment One, which is geared toward improving the existing joint networking and satellite communications capabilities deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. WIN-T Increment Two, valued at $126 million, will deliver an initial on-the-move broadband networking capability using satellite and radio links, with fielding scheduled to begin in 2009.

Increment Three, valued at $795 million, will continue development of WIN-T components to meet network capacity, security and fully on-the-move requirements with limited user testing scheduled to begin in 2011. Increment Three is also expected to address the size, weight, power and cooling requirements for systems to be hosted in future combat systems vehicles.
WIN-T Increment Four, which has not been awarded, is the last of the developmental program elements and is expected to provide technology insertions to enable enhanced satellite communications protection and greater traffic volume afforded by transformational communications satellites.