Army, industry set common data baseline as next-gen command and control transitions from prototyping to delivery

The U.S. Army says it has established a baseline for the Next Generation Command and Control common data layer, marking a step toward unifying data and applications across its formations after operational validations with the 4th Infantry Division and 25th Infantry Division.

Anduril Industries will lead the common data baseline effort. The company remains partnered with Palantir to deliver an edge-to-cloud data mesh using Anduril’s Lattice and Palantir’s Foundry, along with associated software deployment tools. Anduril will also partner with Raft for NGC2 data and services registries, data transformation tools, and data federation via the Raft Data Platform.

The Army said the 4th Infantry Division and 25th Infantry Division will begin implementing common NGC2 components quickly through their operational implementation leads as they train and campaign through Project Convergence-Capstone 6 and Lightning Surge events.

“We are already moving out with the converged data layer architecture,” said Joseph Welch, portfolio acquisition executive for Command and Control (C2)/Counter C2. “Our vendor partners have demonstrated great teamwork and flexibility in helping us establish this baseline and set the groundwork for rapid scaling.”

Under a “vendor teaming” construct, Anduril will continue to serve as lead for full-stack NGC2 hardware and software implementation at the 4th Infantry Division, while Lockheed Martin will lead the full-stack effort at the 25th Infantry Division. The teams draw on multiple companies to tailor ecosystems of C2 applications, data, infrastructure, and network and transport solutions designed to keep soldiers connected in contested and denied environments.

Operational implementation leads are also tasked with partnering directly with units to match commander priorities. That includes tailoring specific applications, algorithms, and hardware to missions and theaters—ranging from new app development and edge compute devices to integrating private 5G and other communications solutions and fusing electromagnetic spectrum effectors.

The Army said the common data layer decision reflects 10 months of feedback and data from division-level training. In May, the 4th Infantry Division’s Ivy Mass exercise at Fort Carson and the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site stressed NGC2 across a division’s battlespace, including fighting through cyber and electromagnetic attacks modeled on real-world threats. Also in May, the 25th Infantry Division’s Lightning Surge 3 during Exercise Balikatan 2026 demonstrated integration of sensors, fires systems, and airspace management—linking Hawaii, the continental United States, and the Philippines—through a unified data platform with a real-time operational picture across the Indo-Pacific.

Project Convergence-Capstone 6 in July 2026 will serve as a culminating division-scale, force-on-force validation at the National Training Center, a venue the Army says will help it move from prototyping to scaled product delivery.

“This is a major step forward as NGC2 evolves into a phase of continuous delivery and we provide this capability at the speed of relevance,” said Brig. Gen. Shane Taylor, capability program executive for Command and Control Information Network, or CPE C2IN. “We continue to encourage industry self-teaming and collaboration to adjust capabilities to commander priorities, operational needs and emerging technologies.”