The phrase "brigade and below" in the name refers to the fact that operations and communications within these smaller Army units are shifting to a digital integration.

As a result of lessons learned in OIF, OEF and JROCMs, the Army, Marine Corps and other stakeholders teamed up to develop the requirements for the follow-on to FBCB2 called Joint Battle Command-Platform (JBC-P).

Initial fielding of JBC-P Type 1 systems (called Joint Capabilities Release, or JCR) has begun for both Army and Marine Corps units and organizations.

The goal for UBC is to achieve an affordable, interoperable battle command capability across all of the Army's formations—maneuver, functional, and multi-functional brigades.

FBCB2 leverages the Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS) tactical radio network in 15 Brigades (approximately 20% of our Army units).

Within the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade & Below program, BFT-AVN is a system with varied configurations that allow integration into various Army, joint, and coalition rotary and fixed-wing aircraft types.

The system provides commanders, staffs, and other key personnel with Situational Awareness of Aviation assets, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

Another key capability of BFT-AVN is the ability to send and receive data and messages beyond line-of-sight overcoming the communication challenges of distance and terrain.

I was able to look on my screen and see where my friendly units were to my left, to my right, to my front, to my rear and able to pass that information immediately down to my platoons, so fratricide was basically eliminated."

– CPT Stewart James, Team Assassin Commander, 2–69 Armor "We could look at that thing, call the boss next door and say, 'Okay I'm tracking third brigade.

– MAJ John Keith, Executive Officer, 3rd Squadron 7th Cavalry Regiment[citation needed] The primary difference between FBCB2 and Blue Force Tracking (BFT) is in the communications path for the data.