Northrop Grumman has announced that its Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2) was used to assess a universal messaging standard for Joint-All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) communications.
The solution was used during a joint field demonstration, called Purple Guardian, at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, the US.
During Purple Guardian, FAAD C2 used the Universal Command and Control (UC2) interface in a counter-uncrewed aircraft system (C-UAS) context to demonstrate joint interoperability.
A US Department of Defense (DoD) initiative, UC2 involves creating a common language that can be used across services.
Assets from different services used UC2 messaging for C-UAS missions during the demonstration.
According to Northrop Grumman, FAAD C2 conducted battle manager roles correlating tracks of incoming threats by leveraging multiple service sensors to provide a single integrated air picture.
It also sent engagement orders and offered joint situational awareness and command and control.
Northrop Grumman combat systems and mission readiness vice-president and general manager Christine Harbison said: “FAAD C2 is a battle-proven, fielded, and trusted system, constantly evolving to meet the warfighter’s needs.
“The system’s open, multi-domain architecture allows for easy and rapid integration of sensors and effectors from across the joint force, which made it the ideal choice for this JADC2 demonstration.”
In 2020, the US DoD selected the FAAD C2 as the C2 system for counter-small uncrewed aerial system (C-sUAS) procurements.
Last month, Northrop Grumman reported its earnings for the first quarter of 2022. Sales dropped 4% year-on-year to $8.8bn.
