Lockheed Martin demonstrated Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) architecture integration for the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division during Lightning Surge 5 exercise. The system links battlefield data, fires and sustainment to accelerate commander decision-making.
What's happening
- Lockheed Martin leads vertical integration of NGC2 architecture for the 25th Infantry Division, bringing together capabilities from Anduril, Palantir and Raft.
- Lightning Surge 5 exercise tested the architecture across tactical graphics, electronic warfare data, fires and sustainment with operational stressors.
- The system distributed high-resolution terrain information and tactical overlays to dismounted operators and command posts in real time.
- Electronic signals intelligence fed into a common data layer to support rapid threat assessment and cross-domain fires.
Why it matters
- NGC2 creates a persistent, authoritative common operating picture by combining disparate sensor, fires and sustainment data sources across the division.
- Faster commander decision-making through integrated information architecture reduces cycle time between observation and fires.
- Validated operational capabilities from Lightning Surge 5 position the division to deploy NGC2 at scale, addressing Army-wide command and control modernization.
- Integration of commercial vendor products from Anduril, Palantir and Raft demonstrates the Army's reliance on private sector technology for tactical architecture.
Going deeper
- Lockheed Martin personnel made real-time adjustments while working with soldiers in the field and commercial partners in laboratories during the exercise.
- Future milestones will expand the NGC2 architecture beyond the 25th Infantry Division, with aim of delivering validated capabilities ready for operational use.
- The architecture supports greater survivability and dispersion on the battlefield by enabling distributed operations with synchronized information flow.
The intrigue
- Lockheed Martin's role as vertical integrator of competing commercial platforms raises questions about system interoperability and long-term architecture ownership across future Army divisions.
The fine print
- Contract value and obligated funds are undisclosed; no timeline provided for NGC2 expansion beyond the 25th Infantry Division.
- The architecture's operational readiness status and path to formal Army-wide fielding remain undefined.
Source: defence-industry.eu · Oct 10, 2026 · Drafted with Claude, reviewed by Industrial Base Alpha.
