ICE and Tactical Network Modernization
NOTES FROM THE FIELD
The U.S. Military is aggressively modernizing its tactical communications networks and capabilities. ICE is an important part of the mix.
The U.S Military is updating its tactical network modernization strategy, pursuing a range of technology initiatives designed to validate and deploy next-gen tactical edge communications that can provide coalition warfighters with information dominance, mission agility, and other battlefield advantages.
Under the U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC), exploratory programs such as Project Convergence Capstone 5 (PC-C5) are paving the way for new capabilities at the tactical edge.
PC-C5: A proving ground for tactical network modernization
PC-C5 is a multi-stage experimental initiative involving all 5 branches of the U.S. Military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Space Force) as well as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France, Japan, and other U.S. allies. PC-C5 is designed to help decision-makers assess next-gen information technologies for field deployment. This includes testing smaller form factors for network technology in realistic mission scenarios and conditions, with the aim of reducing electronic signatures and lightening the load for forces in the field.
The PC-C5 program is taking place in March and April 2025 at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California, and extends to the Indo-Pacific region, including Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia.
As a proud partner of the U.S. Military and its global allies, Instant Connect is using this unique opportunity to validate how its Instant Connect Enterprise™ (ICE) tactical communications platform performs in operationally-relevant environments.
ICE tactical communications: a key component in the PC-C5 experiment
The ICE push-to-talk communications platform is helping the U.S. Military and its allies integrate and modernize interoperable IP-based communications across radio networks, SatCom, LTE, 5G, WiFi, and mission-command capabilities. ICE’s lightweight configurations, scalability, and agility at the tactical edge promise to give coalition warfighters improved mobility and collaboration when it counts, directly supporting the modernization effort:
- Agile: Everyone can stay connected in a unified IP-based push-to-talk ecosystem across the C2 chain of command, no matter the shifting mission requirements or devices used.
- Collaborative: ICE’s real-time language translation – powered by AI – provides seamless communication for multilingual coalition forces. No translators are needed. Automatic voice-to-voice translation of 70+ languages is supported.
- ATAK friendly: ICE’s voice plug-in for the popular ATAK app lets warfighters on the front lines use a single screen for both situational awareness and push-to-talk.
“I fully believe that you cannot win any war without communications. I don’t care if it’s bullets, logistics — if you can’t talk to whoever you’re trying to, to get whatever you need, you’re not going to be able to do it. At every echelon, everybody (must be) able to talk and sync and be on the same page so we can continue moving forward and completing our missions successfully.”
— Sgt. 1st Class / Communications Section Chief, Armor Battalion, U.S. Army