US Air Force Special Operations command (AFSOC) will be testing 8 items for possible use by U.S. forces during Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment (JEFX ’06). One set is called SWIPE, an umbrella term for a package that includes the special operations tactical network via Windows-based software and secure wireless networks, the remote sensor-iridium, the geographic suitability assessment tool and the command and control mission manager. Functions include “daisy chaining” information over the wireless tactical network; whiteboarding incl. shared data, images, et. al.; satellite communications via the low-bandwidth Iridium system, and computer-based information packages that are relevant to the area they’re in. Mission planners can work off-line, and later upload their requests to coordinating authorities as needed.
JEFX is supposed to test these and other components, to see whether they prove useful or overly cumbersome for special operations teams in the combat simulations. If the items pass the tests, they’ll be integrated into the active force. See article for more.
UPDATE: See this USAF article for details regarding 2 more initiatives – TBONE & BACN. TBONE is a theater battle mansagement system. BACN is an airborne communications relay and information server that flies at near-space altitudes, giving it a wide transmission footprint that can reach remote areas.