A sandstorm at Fort Irwin demonstrated the facility of this. Officials said that at one point during the exercise a wind kicking at up to 60 miles per hour obscured the battlefield. An attack was coming in and all aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles were grounded. Antal said the brigade destroyed roughly 60 percent of the attacking force. Command and control issues are obviously the big plus on the networked battlefield.
Commanders know precisely where their forces are, which helps cut down on friendly fire incidents.
In addition, data such as grid coordinates become a digital transmission rather than having people try to radio in coordinates. A forward observer, for example, can call for fire, give the coordinates and adjust fire using the FBCB2. There need not be a radio call. The FBCB2 has access to the latest maps from the National Imaging and Mapping Agency. Weather information can also be part of the display.