Support Equipment

Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2)

Also known as
  • NGC2
  • Next Generation Command & Control
  • Next Generation C2
  • Lockheed Martin NGC2

Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) is a U.S. Army digital mission-command modernization effort represented here by Lockheed Martin's 25th Infantry Division prototype. Public Army and Lockheed Martin material describes operational training, live-fire experimentation, common-data-layer work, and Balikatan 2026 validation, but does not document combat employment.

Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2), Data-centric command-and-control prototype, Support Equipment
Image source: Lockheed Martin NGC2 product page
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
Data-centric command-and-control prototype
Service note
2025-present
Produced
2025-present

Specifications

System type
U.S. Army data-centric digital mission-command prototype
Core architecture
Common data layer and mission-command applications intended to produce a shared operational picture
25th Infantry Division lead
Lockheed Martin full-stack operational implementation for the 25th Infantry Division
Common data baseline
Army announced the NGC2 common data layer baseline on 2026-06-22
Reported software stack
Raft Data Platform, Accelint Neo mission-command interface, and Rune TyrOS sustainment platform in the Lockheed Martin Lightning Surge 2 prototype description
Live-fire connected systems
HIMARS rockets and M777 howitzers during Lightning Surge 2 experimentation
Exercise context
25th Infantry Division Lightning Surge events and 4th Infantry Division Ivy Sting / Ivy Mass operational validations
Prototype Stack

The NGC2 material available publicly describes a software and data stack built for training and operational validation rather than a fielded combat weapon.

LayerDocumented role
Common data layerThe Army's June 2026 announcement says Anduril leads the common data baseline initiative with Palantir for an edge-to-cloud data mesh and Raft for registries, transformation tools, and federation.
25th Infantry Division implementationThe same Army release says Lockheed Martin continues as the full-stack operational implementation lead for the 25th Infantry Division.
Mission applicationsLockheed Martin's Lightning Surge 2 release describes Accelint Neo as a mission-command interface and Raft Data Platform as the foundational data layer for the prototype demonstration.
Sustainment dataThe Lightning Surge 2 release says ammunition levels were linked to Rune's TyrOS Platform to demonstrate logistics and sustainment forecasting.

Sources: U.S. Army NGC2 common data baseline announcement; Lockheed Martin Team's Next Generation Command and Control prototype enables live fires execution.

Variants

Public releases describe NGC2 as an evolving prototype and implementation effort rather than a family of production variants.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Lightning Surge 1 prototypeFirst demonstrated 25th Infantry Division iteration

Lockheed Martin reported delivery and demonstration of the first NGC2 prototype iteration with 25th Infantry Division experimentation in January 2026.

Sources: Lockheed Martin Accelerates Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) Capabilities and Real-Time Decision Making at Lightning Surge 1

Lightning Surge 2 live-fire prototypeSensor-to-shooter live-fire iteration

Lockheed Martin described this iteration as linking targeting information, drone feeds, fires systems, and sustainment data during live fires with HIMARS and M777 systems.

Sources: Lockheed Martin Team’s Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) Prototype Enables Live Fires Execution for Mission Success at Lightning Surge 2

Live-Fire Connected Systems

Lockheed Martin's Lightning Surge 2 release connects the NGC2 prototype to live-fire sensor-to-shooter experimentation with 25th Infantry Division fires systems.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
M142 HIMARS, Wheeled multiple rocket launcher and tactical missile launcher, ArtilleryM142 HIMARSWheeled rocket-artillery launcher

During Lightning Surge 2, 25th Infantry Division soldiers used the NGC2 prototype to assess sensor-to-shooter connections and fire HIMARS rockets in real time.

Sources: Lockheed Martin Team’s Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) Prototype Enables Live Fires Execution for Mission Success at Lightning Surge 2

M777, 155 mm towed howitzer, ArtilleryM777155 mm towed howitzer

The same Lightning Surge 2 release says 25th Infantry Division soldiers used the NGC2 prototype while firing M777 howitzers in real time.

Sources: Lockheed Martin Team’s Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) Prototype Enables Live Fires Execution for Mission Success at Lightning Surge 2

Exercise-only status

The connected fires claims are based on Army and contractor experimentation releases, not documented combat use.

Sources: U.S. Army NGC2 common data baseline announcement, Lockheed Martin Team’s Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) Prototype Enables Live Fires Execution for Mission Success at Lightning Surge 2

Operational Validation

The strongest public evidence for this record is exercise validation: 25th Infantry Division Lightning Surge events, 4th Infantry Division Ivy Sting / Ivy Mass work, and Balikatan 2026 integration.

EventSource-backed context
Lightning Surge 1Lockheed Martin described a first prototype iteration demonstrated with the 25th Infantry Division, including data-layer and cloud-to-edge transport and compute context.
Lightning Surge 2Lockheed Martin said the prototype supported live-fire sensor-to-shooter workflows with HIMARS rockets and M777 howitzers.
Balikatan 2026 / Lightning Surge 3The Army said the 25th Infantry Division demonstrated sensor, fires, and airspace-management integration from Hawaii, the continental United States, and the Philippines.
Common-data baselineThe Army said feedback from 4th Infantry Division and 25th Infantry Division operational training events informed the common data layer baseline.

Sources: Lockheed Martin Lightning Surge 1 release; Lockheed Martin Lightning Surge 2 release; U.S. Army NGC2 common data baseline announcement.

Timeline

Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) Key Events

  1. Lockheed Martin wins the Army prototype agreement

    Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems said it was awarded a prototype agreement to serve as team lead for a data-centric NGC2 prototype and to help the Army scale partner capabilities into the program.

    Sources: Lockheed Martin Awarded Prototype Agreement by the US Army for Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2)

  2. Lightning Surge 1 demonstration

    Lockheed Martin said it delivered and demonstrated the first NGC2 prototype iteration at Lightning Surge 1 with 25th Infantry Division experimentation.

    Sources: Lockheed Martin Accelerates Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) Capabilities and Real-Time Decision Making at Lightning Surge 1

  3. Lightning Surge 2 live-fire execution

    Lockheed Martin said the NGC2 prototype enabled sensor-to-shooter connections during live fires at Lightning Surge 2, including real-time use with HIMARS rockets and M777 howitzers.

    Sources: Lockheed Martin Team’s Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) Prototype Enables Live Fires Execution for Mission Success at Lightning Surge 2

  4. Balikatan 2026 Lightning Surge 3 validation

    The U.S. Army said the 25th Infantry Division used Lightning Surge 3 during Exercise Balikatan 2026 to integrate sensors, fires systems, and airspace management across Hawaii, the continental United States, and the Philippines.

    Sources: U.S. Army NGC2 common data baseline announcement

  5. Army announces common data layer baseline

    The Army announced an NGC2 common data layer baseline informed by 4th Infantry Division Ivy Sting / Ivy Mass events and 25th Infantry Division Lightning Surge validations.

    Sources: U.S. Army NGC2 common data baseline announcement

Media

Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) Images

Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2), Data-centric command-and-control prototype, Support Equipment - view 1
Source: Lockheed Martin NGC2 product page
Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2), Data-centric command-and-control prototype, Support Equipment - view 2
Source: Lockheed Martin NGC2 product page
Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2), Data-centric command-and-control prototype, Support Equipment - view 3
Source: Lockheed Martin NGC2 product page
Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2), Data-centric command-and-control prototype, Support Equipment - view 4
Source: Lockheed Martin NGC2 product page
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Sources

Lockheed Martin NGC2 product pagePublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports the official NGC2 product description, mission-command framing, Lightning Surge FAQ context, and image provenance for the main product-page and gallery images. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Lockheed Martin Awarded Prototype Agreement by the US Army for Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2)Publisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports the prototype-agreement award, Lockheed Martin team-lead role, Army-wide data-centric C2 framing, common operating picture description, and MOSA/API integration context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Lockheed Martin Accelerates Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) Capabilities and Real-Time Decision Making at Lightning Surge 1Publisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports the January 2026 Lightning Surge 1 demonstration, 25th Infantry Division experimentation, cloud-to-edge transport and compute environment, AI tool context, and data-layer architecture. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Lockheed Martin Team’s Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) Prototype Enables Live Fires Execution for Mission Success at Lightning Surge 2Publisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports the February 2026 live-fire exercise context, sensor-to-shooter workflow, HIMARS and M777 live-fire demonstration, Raft/Accelint/Rune stack details, and integrated data/mission application framing. | Accessed: 2026-06-29U.S. Army NGC2 common data baseline announcementPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the June 2026 common data layer baseline, Anduril/Palantir/Raft common-baseline roles, Lockheed Martin's 25th Infantry Division full-stack implementation lead role, 4th Infantry Division and 25th Infantry Division operational-validation context, and Balikatan 2026 Lightning Surge 3 integration. | Accessed: 2026-06-29