US Army to begin SIGINT integration into Terrestrial Layer System

TLS BCT Manpack in the field. (Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors)

US Army's Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEW&S) is on pace to begin integration of signals intelligence (SIGINT) capability aboard the Terrestrial Layer System (TLS) by boreal spring 2026.

The SIGINT capability will be integrated into Stryker-based TLS Brigade Combat Team (TLS BCT) and the TLS Echelons Above Brigade (TLS EAB) version of the system, according to Program Executive Officer IEW&S US Army Brigadier General Ed Barker.

The first of these demonstrations, focused on the TLS BCT platform, have been tentatively slated for the April or May 2026 timeframe, he said during a December roundtable at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

The TLS family of systems is designed as an integrated SIGINT, electronic warfare (EW), and cyber warfare system for army units. The TLS BCT provides combat commanders “with electromagnetic attack and offensive cyber warfare options to deny, degrade, disrupt, or otherwise manipulate the targeted force”, a PEO IEW&S fact sheet stated.

The TLS EAB variant is based on the BCT version of the system but allows TLS operators the ability to “digitally interface with brigade, division, corps, unified action partners, and mission command systems” during combat operations, according to the fact sheet. Once fielded, the TLS EAB will be aligned at the battalion level to “support information superiority, targeting, and long-range precision fires” missions, the fact sheet stated.

As integration work progresses on the SIGINT capability for the TLS BCT and TLS EAB systems, it remains unclear whether the newest platform variant, the TLS BCT Manpack, will receive similar SIGINT capabilities.