Mobile Decision-Making Tech for the American Military
How Booz Allen is improving battle management
In combat, every second and every decision matters. That’s why America’s joint forces need the ability to coordinate attacks faster than ever before.
The United States Air Force's next-gen tactical operations center light (TOC-L) prototype helps do just that. This lightweight, mobile battle management system supports the U.S. military’s evolution from linear kill chains to matrixed kill webs by connecting sensors, weapons, and warfighters in battlespace environments where reliable 5G and Wi-Fi access isn't guaranteed. More than six times lighter than legacy C2 systems and advanced enough to synchronize attacks across air, land, sea, and space, the TOC-L prototype can easily be assembled and taken apart, and moving it takes a fraction of the time and effort required by traditional command and control solutions.
The Air Force recently awarded Booz Allen a contract to build and deploy more than 70 TOC-L prototypes, leveraging experience from the Modular Detachment Kit (MDK) Edge solution, which is deployed all across the European theater. Here’s a look at how the technology stands to revolutionize battle management.
A Full Tactical Picture
Command and control (C2) systems are the brains of battle management. Military leaders rely on them to coordinate attacks and troop movements. By employing rigorous digital engineering principles and modular design, Booz Allen’s team was able to pack a wealth of advanced technology—including sensor, radio, and datalink modules—into small, transit case-based modules. Each capability (e.g., sensors and radios) is functionally modular, meaning it can be included or removed and tailored depending on the requirements of the mission. For example, the TOC-L prototype can accommodate different radios and datalinks to meet rapidly evolving mission needs.
The result: The TOC-L prototype gives military units a comprehensive tactical picture of the battlespace. This fuller picture leads to a better understanding of potential threats and smarter, faster decision-making. It’s a must-have given DOD’s focus on ensuring connected operations in hot spots around the world.
Smarter and More Mobile
MDK Edge is far more mobile than traditional systems. It is drastically smaller than the current/legacy systems; for example, a full legacy C2 system can require several C-17 loads to move. The TOC-L prototype, by comparison, can fit on a single 463L pallet, the primary air cargo pallet used by the United States Air Force.
The TOC-L prototype’s smaller footprint translates to big savings for the military in transport costs alone. It also lets the military move it around the battlespace so that adversaries can’t easily target it.
Battle Tested and Ready for Delivery
The TOC-L prototype leverages experience from MDK Edge, a highly mobile command and control solution for frontline operations that has demonstrated success in 22 large-scale experiments. In 2023, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) completed the rapid initial deployment of MDK Edge. That success paved the way for the Air Force’s recent decision to award the TOC-L prototypes to Booz Allen.
The early reviews have been positive. At a recent DOD trial, MDK connected the Army and Air Force teams for a fires mission. It also connected Air Force, Navy, Army-Marine Corps, and allied C2 systems in real time to achieve mission outcomes.
Powerful Technology Plus Mission Expertise
Beyond building the hardware, Booz Allen provides extensive training for Air Force operators, maintainers, and other staff. This commitment to the mission highlights Booz Allen’s approach to technology. Designing a solution or product is just the beginning, noted Andrea Inserra, president of Booz Allen’s global defense business.
“We don’t just design it,” says Inserra. “We build it, we deploy it, and then we sustain it.”
