A second field test of the Army’s next-generation command and control prototype, known as NGC2, will commence on Monday, just three months after the Army awarded Anduril a contract to develop it. The contract was officially awarded in July 2023, and this testing phase is referred to as Ivy Sting 2. The tests will be held at Fort Carson, Colorado, where soldiers will evaluate the system’s effectiveness in managing airspace and coordinating weapon deployment.

Zach Kramer, head of Anduril’s mission command office, emphasized the importance of refining commanders’ operational updates and planning processes. He stated, “How can we have the commanders doing their updates, doing their planning, but more importantly, how can we then enact that plan and shorten the time it takes to conduct fires?” The Army aims to expedite the development of the NGC2 system, instead of waiting for a perfect solution before deployment.

Prior to the Ivy Sting 2 event, the initial Ivy Sting in late September tested the fundamental capabilities of the system, including planning and command updates. Kramer noted that the current iteration incorporates commercial technologies to facilitate better integration and data governance.

As part of the development process, Anduril is partnering with companies like Govini for logistics awareness and Strive Works for AI integration. The goal is to create a continuously updateable system that can adapt with evolving technologies from private firms. Kramer stated, “We want to be able to onboard lots of different partners, make sure there’s a choice of different types of technology and that the best solution to the problem can bubble to the surface.”

Anduril’s existing prototype contract spans the next 11 months, after which a new contract will be awarded for subsequent development phases. The approach being taken for NGC2 contrasts with traditional Army practices, which often involved developing systems from the ground up and securing all vendors before testing. Instead, NGC2 seeks to emulate the Army’s Transformation-in-Contact program, which focuses on rapid deployment, soldier feedback, and quick iterations of systems.

However, the rapid development has been met with some challenges. Earlier this month, an internal Army memo surfaced criticizing the prototype’s security protocols. Both Anduril and the Army responded, clarifying that the concerns had already been addressed. Anduril’s founder, Palmer Luckey, claimed the memo was leaked in bad faith, suggesting that the new features had been activated.

In a recent statement, Army Under Secretary Mike Obadal acknowledged the need for better communication concerning such issues in the future, advocating for discussions over written memos regarding grievances.

Anduril views its role as critical not only in facilitating the development of the Army’s NGC2 system but also in establishing a new model for system development within the Army. Kramer remarked, “If we can create this process that allows that constant innovation, that will be the big thing that I think actually helps the Army stay ahead.”