The U.S. Army has launched an ambitious modernization effort aimed at completely replacing the Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS), which has been in use for forty years and is prone to errors. The new artillery software, the Artillery Execution Suite (AXS), developed under the Next-Generation Command and Control (NGC2) system, is being field-tested by soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division (4th ID) in Colorado, even though it is still in the beta phase. This transformation, in line with Army Chief of Staff General Randy George’s priorities of “fixing the network” and “being data-driven,” aims to provide the faster decision-making capability that is vital for success on the future battlefield.
AXS: A “Game-Changing” Improvement for Artillery Units
Major General Patrick Ellis, commander of the 4th ID, noted in an interview with Defense News that troubleshooting the old software (AFATDS) had become a “normal part” of using the system. However, when 4th ID soldiers connected their M777 howitzers to the new AXS system during the Ivy Sting exercise last month, the difference was striking.
Ellis said the tests showed that AXS could significantly shorten the process artillerymen call the “kill chain”—so much so that the gun was ready to fire before the stabilizing shovels had even been fully deployed. “If you talk to these artillery operators, they’ll tell you this is a game-changer for them,” Ellis said. AXS is one of the first modules of the comprehensive NGC2 system, which is intended to support all Army battlefield operations.
NGC2: A Four-Layer Technology Stack
The NGC2 system consists of a four-layer prototype stack—comprising application, data, infrastructure, and transport layers—designed to be developed from scratch in just a few years. The Army has partnered with commercial sector giants such as Google, Palantir, and Anduril to build the system from the ground up.
During the Project Convergence demo in March 2024, the project demonstrated how to reduce the footprint and signature by seamlessly sharing data between command centers. In the next round of testing in early 2025, the system was tested in a live environment with an armored battalion and even against an opposing force (OPFOR).
When the digital tools were shut down and the battalion reverted to its old communications system, the technological advantage became clear. Brigadier General Michael Kaloostian stated that forces using the next-generation C2 have a “decisive advantage,” whereas reverting to traditional systems results in “a true parity” with the opposing force.
Continuous Prototyping and Accelerated Procurement
The 4th Infantry Division continues a series of experimental activities with the NGC2 prototype stack in the form of monthly “building blocks” called Ivy Sting. “We’re no longer in the testing phase. We are the Next-Generation C2 prototype division,” Ellis said, emphasizing his division’s pioneering role. These efforts will focus on advanced technologies such as operational simulations (digital “what-if” tools) that allow commanders to test plans against enemy movements, and artificial intelligence for targeting.
To support this fast pace, the Army has also overhauled its traditional procurement system. Using a mechanism called “Fast Track,” it rapidly approves requirements and deploys capabilities to units. This new partnership model is reshaping the way software is developed by pairing commercial teams with government integrators. The Army is providing a second NGC2 prototype architecture not only to the 4th Infantry Division but also to the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii.
Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army General James Mingus summarizes the ultimate goal of this effort: “What we know is that whoever makes decisions the fastest and moves the fastest will likely win the next conflict, and the network is at the center of all this.” The Army’s goal is to build a future in which soldiers will need only a single end-user device on the battlefield, rather than multiple devices.
