NGC2’s Wake‑Up Call — Why the Army’s Modernization Pipeline Needs a DevSecOps Revolution

BLUF: The Army’s internal memo identifying “very high risk” status for the NGC2 communications platform exposes the fissures in rapid modernization. Modernization must not mean “rush then patch.” It must mean “build secure, deliver fast, iterate resiliently.” Let’s get after it. Let’s put ourselves on the hotseat!

The Scoop

In October 2025, the U.S. Army acknowledged through an internal memorandum that its Next Generation Command & Control (NGC2) communications platform carried deep flaws. For a program pitched as a leap forward—connecting soldiers, sensors and platforms in a networked environment—this designation is more than embarrassing: it’s strategic risk. The memo illuminates how even high‑profile programs are struggling when modernization outpaces assurance. The consequence is clear: to gain real advantage, the Army (and by extension any organization modernizing in a contested domain) must integrate DevSecOps practices not as an afterthought but as the backbone of transformation.

The Stakes

NGC2 is envisioned as transformational: it aspires to deliver integrated C2 across echelons, domains, and systems. It promises to collapse silos, flow data at speed, and enable decision‑dominance. If NGC2 succeeds, it could reshape how the Army fights. If it fails or worse, is compromised, it provides the adversary a vantage point.

This isn’t just about connectivity. It’s about trustworthiness at every layer: firmware, software, networks, transport, user‑interfaces, data flows, user access, adversarial intrusion, red‑team robustness. When an internal memo flags “hundreds of high‑severity vulnerabilities” and weak activity tracking, the clock starts ticking not just for the program, but for organizational credibility.

Why Deployment Speed Without Assurance Is Dangerous

In a commercial sector you might iterate, roll back, accept some defect. In defense you cannot. Vulnerabilities in battlefield systems can translate directly into loss of advantage… or worse, loss of lives. The pressure to deliver fast is real (and necessary), but speed without embedded security and operations is a false economy.

Here is where DevSecOps comes in: Development, Security and Operations united—not sequentially, but continuously. The lifecycle isn’t “build → secure → deliver” but “develop ↔ secure ↔ operate,” looping constantly. Without that loop, you get “deliver → patch → regret.”

What the NGC2 Memo Exposes

The memo’s language matters: “very high risk,” “inability to control data access,” “lack of audit trails,” “hundreds of high‑severity vulnerabilities.” These aren’t minor issues—they are foundational. They show that even at this scale, development may have outpaced architectural hygiene, operational monitoring, vendor management, supply chain assurance, third‑party app vetting and continuous integration of security controls.

It also shows the tension between modern agile/DevSecOps methods and the legacy mindset still prevalent in many acquisition systems. The rapid‑fielding ethos (“move fast, on‑ramp/ off‑ramp”) must be tempered by robust governance, data instrumentation, and observability.

The DevSecOps Path Forward

Here are the key elements any modernization program (especially within the Army or similar enterprise) must adopt:

1. Modular Architecture + Observability

Build in modular layers (data, transport, apps) with defined contracts. Instrument telemetry at every layer so you can observe flows, detect deviation, measure performance, spot anomalies in real time. NGC2’s critique shows that without this you are blind if something goes sideways.

2. Continuous Security & Certification

Security cannot be a gate at the end—it must be part of the pipeline. Continuous Authority to Operate (cATO) processes, automated vulnerability scanning, threat‑modeling, red‑teaming—all must run in parallel with functional development. The memo’s “lack of audit trails” shows what happens when you skip this.

3. Agile Contracting + On‑Ramp/Off‑Ramp

The tech ecosystem is evolving fast. Your vendors will change, your modules will change, your threat environment will change. The Army’s earlier shift toward faster acquisition (e.g., via OTAs) is the right direction—but risk assurance must accompany it. Contracts must require SBOMs (software bill of materials), vendor telemetry support, sandboxing and rapid patch capability.

4. Test Under Realistic, Contested Conditions

Prototype in benign environments won’t suffice. As one expert noted, NGC2 “must be tested in realistic, contested environments—with jamming, EW, adversarial access.” You must push your systems under adversity to surface systemic flaws. Testing only in benign labs is a false signal.

5. Shared Stakeholder Visibility

Development teams, operators, certifiers, leadership must share a dashboard of system health: vulnerabilities, drift, residual risk, patch status, performance metrics. Transparency breeds accountability. If leadership isn’t viewing the same telemetry as dev teams, risk hides.

Applying the Lessons

If you are building or managing a modernization effort:

• Start with a “minimal viable module” with real instrumentation and red‑team support, then iterate.

• Require vendor telemetry/data‑flow visibility from day one.

• Build a “go/no‑go” decision‑gate based on security posture, not just functional completion.

• Simulate adversarial conditions early and often.

• Use contract incentives for modular, patch‑friendly, vendor‑agnostic components.

• Don’t deliver “big bang” systems. Deliver continually, transparently, visibly.

• Culture matters: you must value failure detection as much as feature delivery. Celebrate the “caught before field” not just “delivered fast.”

The Bigger Picture

The Army’s move toward initiative like the “Fuze” program (venture‑capital style prototyping), and software modernization scale‑ups across the Department of Defense underscore an era of disruption. But disruption without discipline is chaos. The NGC2 memo is a pivotal moment: modernize fast, yes—but don’t modernize blind.

For the broader DevSecOps community—both inside defense and commercial enterprises—the lessons apply: modernization velocity must be paired with observability, security, resilience and continuous operations. The integrated lifecycle wins.

What next?

The “very high risk” verdict on NGC2 is not just a warning—it’s a call to action. Modernization isn’t about speed alone; it’s about safe speed. The battlefield tolerates neither slow nor brittle. The goal is fast, fieldable, resilient.

Let’s get after it. Let’s put ourselves on the hotseat. Because the advantage will accrue not just to those who deliver first—but to those who deliver first and deliver right.