New Unit Promotes Rapid Comms Deployment Across Army

A new unit is helping the U.S. Army utilize rapid deployment of communications to modernize its tactical network, C4ISRNet reported Wednesday. The Expeditionary Signal Battalion-Enhanced is being deployed worldwide to provide comms systems support to other units in the field. 

The Army launched the ESB-E pilot to introduce more mobile and agile kits to signal brigades in 2018. The unit supports military intelligence, chemical and engineering battalions as well as air defense artillery branches.

ESB-E utilizes commercial products to quickly set up communications, including basebands from DTech, PacStar and Klas, a Tampa Microwave and L3-built satellite terminal dishes. Col. Greg Coile, project manager for tactical networks at Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications-Tactical, said the pilot unit will operate through September. After its completion, the Army plans to select units that will permanently use the ESB-E capabilities by 2021.