August 25, 2017

Senators Reed and Warren Visit General Dynamics

Tour GD Facility, View WIN-T Demonstration, and Meet with Employees

Taunton, MA - United States Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who also serves on the committee, today visited the General Dynamics (GD) facility in Taunton. The senators viewed a demonstration of the U.S. Army's battlefield communications network, the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T), and held a town hall meeting with GD employees from Massachusetts and Rhode Island on the manufacturing floor. 

The WIN-T acts as an internet service provider by delivering secure and reliable voice, data and video transfer capabilities where no commercial communications infrastructure exists. This tactical battlefield network improves the Army's communications systems, and is the only technology that enables American soldiers to more effectively communicate while on the move.

"WIN-T is the backbone of our Army's communications and data system. By connecting commanders to troops by both satellites and radio, it makes a real difference on the ground," said Senator Warren. "I'm proud that it is manufactured right here in Taunton by General Dynamics. It's just one example of the great work being done here in Massachusetts that will directly prepare American soldiers all over the world to meet current and emerging threats."

"It is a pleasure to join Senator Warren and all the General Dynamics Employees here today.  Senator Warren is a tenacious advocate for our troops and Massachusetts' talented defense workers.  I am pleased to get a firsthand look at the innovative communications and technology work being done here in in Taunton," said Senator Reed, a West Point graduate and former Army Ranger who also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense as well as on the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs (Milcon-VA) subcommittee.
 
Senator Warren successfully pushed for the inclusion of the WIN-T in the Fiscal Year 2017 defense appropriations bill, and has previously called on the Department of Defense to fully fund Army Network Modernization programs, including the WIN-T.

 

###