The Future Combat Systems (FCS) program develops network centric concepts for a multi-mission combat system that will be overwhelmingly lethal, strategically deployable, self-sustaining and highly survivable through the use of networked manned and unmanned ground and air platforms, sensors, and weapon systems. The goal of the FCS program is to design such an ensemble that strikes an optimum balance between critical performance factors, including ground platform strategic, operational and tactical mobility; lethality; survivability; and sustainability. This system of systems design will be accomplished by using modeling, simulation and experimentation. The FCS unit will be capable of adjusting to a changing set of missions, ranging from war-fighting to peacekeeping, as the deployment unfolds.

FCS, the Army’s flagship transformation program, is a networked “system of systems” that uses advanced communications and technologies to integrate the soldier with “families” of manned and unmanned platforms and sensors. This highly agile and lethal force will provide the tactical formations required to fulfill the Army's vision for a Future Force.

Boeing/SAIC as the Lead System Integrator (LSI) for the FCS program is using ZeroC’s Internet Communications Engine (Ice) toolkit to develop object middleware solutions for the System of Systems Common Operating Environment (SOSCOE). SOSCOE is a service-based software architecture, which features an infrastructure of clearly defined interfaces, enabling information management, interoperability and integration of new and existing government software. The Ice toolkit’s parser and object adapter are being used to help build remote method invocation (RMI) capability.