The US Army is accelerating its digital transformation through Project Convergence Capstone, a recent experimentation exercise at Fort Irwin, California, where soldiers tested nearly 100 new technologies, including digital mapping and communications systems. However, troops participating in the exercise emphasized the continued necessity of physical, analog backups for critical operations.
During the urban assault scenario, soldiers utilized the Next Generation Command and Control system (NGC2), a prototype digital platform that provides real-time situational awareness. The system, deployed on Samsung phones worn in chest carriers, allowed soldiers to track friendly forces and receive precise targeting feedback. Capt. Mohamed Elmaola of the 4th Infantry Division noted the advantages of digital tools, stating, 'Digital enables me to get real-time, precise targeting feedback, which has been critical to the fight.'
Despite the benefits of digital systems, Elmaola and other soldiers retained physical maps as a redundancy measure. Elmaola explained, 'My analog copy is what I fight and live off because this gives me the totality of the story of what the enemy is doing, especially in a degraded environment.' The hybrid approach reflects concerns about potential network disconnections and the reliability of digital systems in high-stakes combat scenarios.
The exercise also showcased other emerging technologies, such as aerial and ground drones and electronic warfare capabilities, all integrated into the NGC2 framework. The Army’s commercial, off-the-shelf procurement strategy for NGC2 aims to streamline decision-making and enhance operational efficiency. However, the persistent reliance on analog backups underscores the practical limitations of digital transformation in military environments where connectivity and system failures remain critical risks.
Military leaders view the digital shift as a major leap forward in modernizing battlefield command structures, but the exercise highlighted the ongoing need for hybrid solutions that balance innovation with operational resilience. The findings from Project Convergence Capstone will inform future iterations of NGC2 and other digital tools, ensuring they meet the demands of soldiers in real-world conditions.