HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Nov. 4 (UPI) —Northrop Grumman has delivered four prototype engagement operations center shelters to the U.S. Army, the company announced on Wednesday.
The prototypes were designed for the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS) using earlier models from air and missile defense and incorporating improvements. The shelters were developed following exercises conducted by Northrop Grumman, which received “hands-on” experience and feedback from soldiers. The company says the new shelters improve upon mobility, protection and time to engagement.
“These new shelters will offer significantly more speed and flexibility to conduct IBCS operations, and better protection of our soldiers,” Northrop Grumman Information Systems Integrated air and missile defense division vice president and general manager Dan Verwiel said in a statement.
A single shelter can be set up by two people. The IBCS was designed to be compatable with any Army loading-handling system vehicle to improve transportation, and have been integrated with an active system to protect soldiers from chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats.
The IBCS replaces seven legacy command-and-control systems, and also provides a wider area of surveillance and a larger area of protection.
The prototypes were delivered 11 months following their contract agreement with the Army, which Verwiel says demonstrates Northrop Grumman’s close collaboration with the Army.
