Trunked land mobile radio in tactical applications

In 1993, DARPA and CECOM embarked on a program called Commercial Communications Technology Testbed (C2T2). The goal of C2T2 was to systematically evaluate the applicability of commercial communication systems to tactical users, specifically the dismounted infantry. After a 6 month study phase, the first commercial system to be evaluated was chosen. This system was a trunked land mobile radio system. The systematic evaluations quickly evolved into a less systematic field use of a C3 system in an advanced warfighting experiment (AWE). This paper describes the communication system, effort required experiences, lessons learned, problems and some of the data provided by the insertion of this radio system into two AWEs: Warrior Focus for the Army Infantry and then Hunter Warrior for the Marine Corps.