Converging at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C., from October 14th– 16th, Persistent Systems joined over 700 exhibitors at the 2024 Association for the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition.
The theme for this year’s event, “Transforming for a Complex World,” resonated as the U.S. Army actively seeks technologies, capabilities, and upgrades to its training operations to prepare for future conflicts.
One area of transformation the Army is examining is its need for data-centric solutions. Leading up to AUSA, the program executive office for command, control, and communications-tactical (PEO C3T) was redesignated as the program executive office for command, control, communications, and network (PEO C3N). The change reflects the Army’s shift from siloed networks to a joint network encompassing all domain theaters and tactical and strategic operation centers. It also follows the Next-Generation Command and Control Industry Day, where officials sought industry feedback on their new data-centric C2 architecture approach.

As a world leader in mobile ad hoc networking (MANET), our mission at AUSA was to highlight our diverse solution sets, bringing tactical and strategic operations across all theaters onto one common network.
The solutions we showcased that align with this vision include distributed mission command, dismount solution, and the Wave Relay® Ecosystem.
- Distributed Mission Command enables the extension of our Wave Relay (MANET) to wherever the mission requires. This is made possible through Cloud Relay™, a firmware-based capability that connects disparate MANET bubbles across dispersed geographic locations. Recently, we simplified extending MANET connectivity by introducing our Amazon Web Services (AWS) One-Touch, allowing units to establish a virtual Cloud Relay Hub without elaborate configuration. With security as a top concern of the military, we employ a validated, standards-based security architecture that combines two layers of encryption. This ensures that tactical teams and strategic operation centers can securely share and access information, forming a global communications fabric for command and control (C2).

- Dismount Solution is our ability to provide soldiers on the ground with a MANET that allows them to have uninterrupted connectivity and real-time situational awareness. Our fundamental dismount solution encompasses the MPU5, our handheld networking device, and its interchangeable radio frequency modules. The MPU5 connects to the Dual PTT, allowing users to communicate with two teams simultaneously through two different talk groups on the Wave Relay network. Additionally, Persistent offers Advanced Radio over IP (ROIP) capabilities their tactical radios onto the MANET with a single cable that supports modernization efforts. Advanced RoIP is part of our company’s larger effort to bring various systems, platforms, and machines onto the Wave Relay network.
- The Wave Relay® Ecosystem is an industry alliance of uncrewed systems and sensor producers that use the Wave Relay® MANET as their network for command and control. With 19 ecosystem partners, we integrate multiple assets such as UGVs, UAVs, sensors, software, and cameras onto the same Wave Relay MANET as dismounted soldiers, C2 centers, and mounted vehicles.
By prioritizing the advancement of our network, we are designing it to support the volume of data that must be shared, processed, and received in real-time. This data-centric approach enables seamless communication between tactical teams, C2 centers, different branches, and international forces. The goal is to foster a well-informed, efficient force capable of making timely decisions and executing coordinated operations.

Other insights from AUSA included:
- As the Army edges closer to its Next-Generation Command and Control (Next-Gen C2) initiative, Project Convergence 25 will take place in the Pacific region. We have previously participated in Project Convergence 24 and Valiant Shield 24. During Valiant Shield, also held in the Pacific region, we successfully demonstrated our networking capabilities across vast distances as part of the Air Force’s MANET-Cloud High Mobility Radio (MCHMR).
- The Army’s Next-Gen C2 initiative will involve ‘teams of vendors, each contributing a critical component to the force’s modern warfighting efforts. Key features this initiative must support include user-friendly technology and an intelligent, adaptive network capable of maintaining connectivity even under threat.
- Autonomous systems were a major focus of this year’s event, with the vendor selection for the Army’s robotic combat vehicle scheduled for Spring 2025. Two of our Wave Relay Ecosystem partners, Textron Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems, are among those competing for selection. As uncrewed ground and aerial systems continue to expand on the battlefield, their presence is expected to grow significantly in future operations.
These announcements align with the Army’s need for data-centric solutions, where multiple vendors collaborate to transmit data from dismounted soldiers and autonomous systems from the tactical edge in real-world operational environments. Achieving this goal will require close cooperation between industry and the military to enable Next-Gen C2 effectively.
As AUSA marks a critical moment where the industry can hear directly from the Army, we are eager to return to work and continue advancing our capabilities to network the battlefield.
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