Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below

Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) is a Linux-based communication platform designed for commanders to track friendly and hostile forces on the battlefield. It increases a vehicle commander's situational awareness of the battlefield by gathering information near real-time based on vehicle locations being updated on the battlefield. This information is viewed graphically, and exchanged via both free and fixed text message formats (instead of verbal collection of reports).

The location data for friendly forces is collected through the Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS) line of sight tactical radio network and Blue Force Tracking (BFT) satellite network.

The development of the system is managed by Project Manager, Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below, a component of the U.S. Army's Program Executive Office – Command Control and Communications Tactical (PEO C3T). PEO C3T is based at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Maryland. The original Army Program Executive Officer was William Campbell (LtG, ret). The original contractor program manager was Neil Siegel.

FBCB2 was tested under the First Digitized Division 4th Infantry Division based in Fort Hood, Texas, and 1/25 infantry out of ft lewis, Wa. series of what were called "Advanced Warfighting Experiments" at the National Training Center near Barstow, California, starting in 1997. The division conducted Limited User Test on the equipment in 1998, and the system was approved for production.

FBCB2 was then tested and implemented under the Force XXI concept that stemmed from Operation Desert Storm/Shield.

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