FBLP CoN as of 13 JAN 2025 for public comments.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

HEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES ARMY FUTURES COMMAND

210 West 7th Street, Austin TX 78701

FCCG 13 January 2025

MEMORANDUM FROM Commander, U.S. Army Futures Command

MEMORANDUM THRU Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Army

FOR Chief of Staff, U.S. Army

SUBJECT: Formation Based Layered Protection (FBLP) Characteristics of Need

1. Situation. To accomplish its mission the Joint force must maintain freedom of maneuver and the ability to extend its operational reach. The expansion and diversification of threats across all the warfighting domains necessitates an integrated and layered multi-dimensional system to protect the force from adversaries that are developing technologies and tactics at a comparatively faster pace. Advancing cyber and information technologies as well as the widespread use of drones have created an unprecedented situation of constant observation and contact in the battlespace. The threat to the force will grow increasingly acute during close combat with the enemy.

2. Problem. To deter conflict and protect the force during war, the Army needs a layered formation-based approach that creates a converged system of sensors, weapons systems, information, and Soldiers across the domains and formations, from the division to squad level. Given their different compositions, divisions invariably have different protection requirements to operate in and from the land domain, ranging from operating on (and under) the ground, in the air, and extending into the sea, cyberspace, and space. Avoiding adversary sensors and kinetic and non-kinetic fires while coordinating one’s own at a faster pace requires a seamlessly integrated protection system at echelon. The pace and potential scale of the threat will require the integration of autonomy and unmanned systems as components. Unfortunately, the force’s current sensor, targeting, command and control, and protection systems were not developed in an integrated, inter-supportive fashion and instead are platform-specific and isolated by product. Since more data will not necessarily enable a deeper understanding or faster decision making, artificial intelligence will be required to support decisions. Unmanned autonomous systems will provide commanders options to offset sensors and launch platforms, concealing protected assets while increasing the capacity without requiring more Soldiers. The solution cannot rely on every echelon organically protecting against every threat. Resource constraints will drive tailoring capabilities to address threats specific to type and employment of each formation. We must also build efficiencies by designing protection as a unit-based system rather than outfitting each platform to defeat all anticipated threats.

3. Objective. A characteristic of need statement is the Army’s primary means to initiate a requirements dialogue with industry by providing an overarching description of a

FCCG

SUBJECT: Formation Based Layered Protection (FBLP) Capability Characteristics of Need complex transformation challenge and desired characteristics without prescribing a solution. FBLP represents an ambitious and holistic approach to battlefield protection, encompassing a wide array of technologies and capabilities. By leveraging the synergy created by fully interoperable manned and unmanned sensor systems, layered defenses, and command structures, it aims to meet the evolving threats posed by modern warfare. FBLP provides protection from multiple threats at echelon from Soldier to division in the defense and in the offense. At the division level, capabilities will be organized around designed layered defense units while the brigade and below level will be integrated into existing formations. Desired capabilities include, but are not limited to, Electronic Warfare including electronic protect, sense, and attack, Counter-UAS, air and missile defense, air and ground Active Protection Systems, deception, and obscuration for fixed, short-halt, and mobile formations and formation elements. The Army needs to develop a comprehensive and cooperative mix of protection capabilities across all forms of contact to create freedom of maneuver for joint and coalition forces, enhance the survivability of Soldiers, and increase the effectiveness of Army formations in a contested multi-domain environment. This capability will enable the Army to operate in a degraded, disrupted, and denied environment, while maintaining the ability to conduct decisive action and achieve operational objectives.

4. Key Characteristics. FBLP will employ a protection architecture that incorporates the following components, common characteristics, and specific characteristics to provide a comprehensive and cooperative mix of protection capabilities across all forms of contact.

Components:

a) Sensors (Sense and Counter-Sense). Real-time processed and filtered sensor data on enemy disposition; increased Counter-UAS (CUAS), air, and missile detection, recognition, and identification (DRI) ranges to decrease adversaries' ability to detect and target the formation. A breath of sensors is required, to include space, air, ground, passive, active, remote operated, and all-weather capabilities. Counter-Sense includes advanced camouflage in both IR and visible spectrums, electronic protect/low signature RF, obscuration and deception.

b) Automation and Decision Support (Decide). Automated risk logic that evaluates threats and recommends solutions to reduce the greatest threat in descending order; advanced filtering algorithms, AI, and ML technologies that process sensor data, convert information to understanding, and provide recommended actions to reduce the cognitive load on the Soldier. The solution for FBLP must integrate into the Army’s overarching approach for autonomy as articulated in the “Autonomy Capability Characteristics of Need to Support Human Machine Integrated Formations” paper as outlined in paragraph four.

c) Effectors (Act). An integrated range of kinetic and non-kinetic defeat mechanisms integrated into common fire control to engage with proactive as well as reactive effects.

Kinetic capabilities include air and missile defense, UAS/missile interceptors (ATGMs, SAMs, MANPADs), enhanced direct fire, and offensive fires. Non-kinetic effects include EW, directed energy, microwave, deception, obscuration, spoofing, and other cyber effects. Effectors will be employed as human-machine integrated formations consisting of manned and unmanned systems.

Common Characteristics:

d) Command and Control (C2). Must be fully converged with the Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) architecture that ensures robust, real-time secure, and automatic data sharing across platform and unit boundaries. Data must flow between systems with minimal human intervention. FBLP requires a standardized C2 architecture that connects sensors, accelerates decision making, and selects the optimal effector by leveraging emerging technology in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). The solution for FBLP must integrate into the Army’s overarching approach for command and control as articulated in “Update #1 Next Generation Command and Control Characteristics of Need.”

e) Open and Standardized Solutions. FBLP components must adhere to the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA). MOSA will provide a baseline foundation for FBLP solutions where incremental additions, system replacement and components maintenance are streamlined.

f) Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) Considerations. Systems that maintain a size and weight that is not burdensome to its intended user; power maximized by the use of current and emerging standardized energy storage and generation capabilities; and cost-effective solutions that support desegregated maneuver in a contested sustainment environment. Capabilities must be cost effective (effectors equal or less than the cost of the threat) and support disaggregated maneuver in a contested environment.

g) Ability to Scale. The ability of industry to build components at scale is an important consideration, as the Army will require mass production of sensors, decision support tools, and effectors in time of war. A solution that can be quickly and cheaply produced but does not fill all desired capabilities is preferable to an exquisite solution that can only be produced in limited qualities due to cost, supply chain, or expertise.

Specific Characteristics:

h) Threat Defeat - Layered Protection. FBLP will incorporate advanced threat defeat mechanisms and effectors providing both lethal and non-lethal capabilities to Commanders with options to counter threats across the spectrum of conflict in fixed sites, at the short-halt, and on the move. These threat defeat mechanisms will also protect unequipped elements to the left and right using a layered and cooperative protection methodology. FBLP will transform the mentality of “my capability protects me, and your capability protects you” to include “we protect each other, and we can rely on protection from systems we don’t own.”

i) Avoid being seen/understood. An adversary's enhanced ability to sense, detect, and engage friendly formations will define both the current and future battlefield.

As technologies evolve and become integrated at lower echelons, our formations' signature will correspondingly increase. To effectively counter enemy sensors, and slow enemy kill chains, FBLP must prioritize the use of signature management - obscuration, decoys, obfuscation, to minimize visual, and electromagnetic detection.

ii) Avoid being hit. If seen and understood, FBLP will disrupt the adversary’s ability to effectively target using the full range of effector kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities. FBLP must integrate advanced air and ground Active Protection Systems (APS), counter-UAS systems, and air and missile defense to detect, track, and neutralize incoming threats.

iii) Survive if hit. FBLP must incorporate advanced survivability features to minimize damage and ensure the continued operation of the formation, even in the event of a successful attack.

i) DOTMLPF-P. FBLP capabilities require more than delivery of materiel solutions.

The Army must build the skills, knowledge, and attributes required for leaders to employ multiple types of defensive systems in concert, which will require new methods of training and leader development. Implementing FBLP will have organizational design implications that industry can help optimize. The Army will need to identify and advocate for policy changes that will facilitate the air-space control to exercise kinetic and non-kinetic effects in training. There may be other non-materiel solutions industry can deliver through simulations, training, or leader development on fundamental fieldcraft skills to reduce exposure to the threat.

5. Amendments. This Characteristics of Need statement is a living document and will be updated as required based on technological observations and lessons learned through experimentation. At a minimum it will be reviewed every 90 days by the Commanding General, Army Futures Command.

JAMES E. RAINEY

GEN, USA

Commanding