Army Advances AI Command and Control with NGC2 Prototype
The U.S. Army recently conducted its first field test of a prototype data layer developed by Lockheed Martin, part of the Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) initiative. This test, held with the 25th Infantry Division in the Pacific, represents a significant step in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into battlefield decision-making processes.
Brig. Gen. Michael Kaloostian, director of the Command and Control Future Capability Directorate at Army Transformation and Training Command, emphasized the importance of accessible and secure data. “Next Gen C2 is the vehicle that’s going to bring artificial intelligence and its capabilities to our commanders in the future,” he said during a media roundtable. He underscored that AI’s value lies in its ability to increase the speed of decision-making—something crucial for maintaining tactical superiority.
Lightning Surge: A New Approach to Prototyping
The test was part of Lightning Surge, a serialized event previously known as Lightning Strike. These events aim to incrementally enhance and validate the NGC2 system before the Army’s major multi-domain exercise, Project Convergence. The initiative mirrors a similar one underway with the 4th Infantry Division, where Anduril is developing another prototype to scale across an entire division.
Last September, Lockheed Martin was awarded a $26 million Other Transaction Authority contract to develop an integrated data layer for the 25th Infantry Division. This software-centric architecture is designed to improve how units manage, share, and act upon critical information.
Testing the Common Data Layer
The primary goal of Lightning Surge 1, conducted at Schofield Barracks, was to establish and validate a common data layer. Operating within the 25th ID’s existing transport and compute environment, this layer allows real-time data synchronization across various platforms and networks. The Army aimed to demonstrate how this system could enhance command and control by visualizing the battlefield and improving situational awareness.
Key focus areas included integrating electromagnetic spectrum data, soldier locations, battlefield graphics, and small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) data. This integration allows for rapid and secure sharing of information, thereby accelerating commanders’ ability to respond effectively to battlefield conditions.
AI Capabilities and Automation
Lockheed Martin’s prototype incorporates AI tools that support voice and chat natural language processing for spot reporting. According to Chandra Marshall, Lockheed’s Vice President and General Manager of Multi-Domain Combat Solutions, the test aimed to prove that the data layer and its architecture meet the Army’s operational needs. “This is really software-centric. From a prototype perspective, the entire system and our vision for it is centered around AI capability,” she noted.
One transformative feature is the ability to automate radio reporting using AI and talk-to-text technologies. Currently, radio reports are manually transcribed and plotted on maps—a time-consuming process. With AI, this information can be automatically updated on a shared operational picture, accessible to all cleared units in real-time.
“Think about what that dynamically changes,” said a participating Army official. “No more repeated radio calls. It shows up on the map and really helps reduce the time and increase the accuracy of battlefield decision-making.”
Future Lightning Surge Events
The Army plans to conduct additional Lightning Surge events roughly every month. Lightning Surge 2, scheduled for February 2026, will focus on digitizing and coordinating both kinetic and non-kinetic battlefield effects. Lockheed Martin noted this event will feature a fire mission thread to further explore AI applications in real-time targeting and effects delivery.
Lightning Surge 3 will delve into airspace management, while Surge 4 will address logistics. “All of these pillars are data focused,” said an Army official. “Once you have those data pillars built, you can begin making solid AI-informed decisions across all four areas—maneuver, fires, airspace, and logistics.”
Expanding the Team and Capabilities
To enhance the logistics component of the NGC2 system, Lockheed has brought on Rune Technologies, joining existing partners Raft and Accelint. Marshall emphasized the flexibility of their development approach. “Part of the process with the Army is getting feedback on capabilities and suppliers, and integrating those into the architecture,” she said. This agile model allows Lockheed to bring in top industry partners—and remove them if needed—ensuring optimal system performance.
The ultimate goal of these iterative events is to deliver a robust, AI-capable command and control system that can dynamically adapt to evolving battlefield requirements. With the integration of real-time data, automated mapping, and AI-assisted decision-making, the Army is laying the groundwork for a new era of military operations.
This article is inspired by content from Original Source. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.