FCS Network The FCS Network - ( Future Combat Systems ) Brigade Combat Team ( BCT ) Network consists of 5 layers that combine to provide seamless delivery of data to forward - deployed Army units . When fully adopted by the Army over the next two decades , the FCS ( BCT ) Network will possess the adaptability and management functionality required to maintain pertinent services , while the assigned FCS Brigade Combat Team fights on a rapidly shifting battlespace . The FCS ( BCT ) network will provide the FCS Family of Systems ( FoS ) the advantage to see first , understand first , act first , and finish decisively in the battlespace against both conventional and non - conventional enemy forces . The FCS ( BCT ) network will also dispatch targeting and other coordinating data to Navy and Air Force components for total force integration in the battlespace . Sensors and Platforms Layer . Sensors are the hardware and software that will provide FCS with the ability to " see first " and achieve situational awareness and understanding of the battlefield . Sensor layer allows soldiers to detect , identify , and track both enemy and friendly systems and to survey the terrain around them . The intelligence , surveillance and reconnaissance sensors will be integrated onto all manned and unmanned ground vehicles , and will be capable of accomplishing a variety of missions . The unmanned aerial vehicles will be able to maneuver to an area of attack and the onboard sensors will provide surveillance of targets and terrain , among other functions . In addition , FCS has two types of unattended ground sensor systems , Tactical - Unattended Ground Sensors ( T - UGS ) and Urban - Unattended Ground Sensors ( U - UGS ) . T - UGS provide intelligence , surveillance , and reconnaissance awareness to the BCTs , while U - UGS support clearing operations in confined spaces or urban chokepoints . All sensors are connected to the Common Operational Picture . The Common Operational Picture ( COP ) gives the Soldier a good overview and understanding of their battlespace . Applications Layer . The applications layer is responsible for providing the integrated ability to assess , plan , and execute network - centric mission operations using a common interface . It consists of 10 software packages known as Battle Command applications . The combined capabilities of the Battle Command software packages enable full interaction among the FCS ( BCTs ) , and provide the ability to understand the battle situation first . Understanding first is the ability to see the patterns , understand the enemy ’ s concept of operations , his scheme of maneuver , and then exploit his decisive points and vulnerabilities . The applications layer provides the ability for cross Battlefield Functional Area ( BFA ) problem solving and decision aiding capability for all brigades and below echelons . Services Layer . The services layer is commonly referred to as System - of - Systems Common Operating Environment ( SoSCOE ) . SoSCOE provides interoperability with existing systems , intra and inter platform networking ( including e - mail and web services ) , data services and information assurance , and search capabilities . The Services Layer also contains administrative applications that provide capabilities including login service , startup , logoff , erase , alert / emergency restart and monitoring control . It enables straightforward integration of separate software packages , independent of their location , connectivity mechanism and the technology used to develop them . SoSCOE has three different variants : Micro Edition , Realtime Edition , Standard Edition . Multiple editions allow SoSCOE to meet performance , scalability , portability , and interoperability requirements of FCS platforms . Transport Layer . The transport layer is the telecommunications layer . It provides the radios and computers to process information . It improves current force communication limitations because it is primarily embedded in the mobile platforms and moves with the combat formations . The transport layer provides ground , aerial , and space communications across the battlefield . It allows information to move seamlessly between FCS variants and Soldiers . The FCS communications network consists of a three tiered transport layer ; terrestrial , airborne , and space . The terrestrial tier is based on the Joint Tactical Radio System ( JTRS ) Ground Mobile Radio ( GMR ) and Handheld , Manpackable , Small Form Factor ( HMS ) radios running two transformational waveforms , the Soldier Radio Waveform ( SRW ) , and the Wideband Networking Waveform ( WNW ) . Both radios will also run select legacy waveforms to provide current force and Joint interoperability . Standards Layer . The standards layer is the foundation of the FCS ( BCT ) network . This layer provides the governance for the implementation of the network ( i . e . rules the soldier has to accommodate ) . It also describes how sensor data from non - FCS sources can be used by the FCS network . This ensures that FCS components will work together properly . Conformance to these standards permits seamless interoperability with combined and coalition forces for all National Security Systems ( NSS ) and Information Technology ( IT ) systems .