Information Warfare: January 1, 2001

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Budget and technology problems have forced the US Army to cut its planned purchase of Army Airborne Command and Control System helicopters from 207 to 119, and has delayed service entry from 2000 to 2004. The A2C2S is, basically, a flying command post for Brigade and Division Commanders. Mounted in a UH-60L (earlier models couldn't carry the weight of the A2C2S equipment), the A2C2S has five computer workstations for a commander and his staff. These workstations are compatible with the new ground-based command-and-control systems. The technical problem with the A2C2S was the Joint Communications Information Terminal, which never worked. It has been replaced with existing radios already in service.--Stephen V Cole