Advanced Communications Systems

Abstract

The TACP-Modernization (TACP-M) program is acquiring new equipment to give TACPs the capability to detect targets and compute precise target coordinates for employment of GPS aided weapons, reduce the potential for fratricide, and reduce the potential for collateral damage in civilian-occupied areas. This new equipment reduces the kill chain by reducing the time required to submit air support requests, provide target information to aircraft, and ensure pilots are tracking the correct target. By reducing the time required to execute close air support missions in "troops-in-contact" situations, the TACP-M program helps reduce the number of U.S and coalition casualties due to enemy action. TACPs deploy with Army maneuver units and provide a Command and Control (C2) link for Close Air Support (CAS), airlift and AF surveillance/reconnaissance missions. TACPs are equipped with various targeting and communications equipment needed to interface with ground maneuver forces, aircraft conducting CAS operations, aerospace C2 aircraft/agencies, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms/agencies. The TACP-M program provides TACP and Air Support Operations Centers (ASOCs) personnel with the capability to precisely locate and target enemy ground forces by integrating various Laser Targeting Devices (LTD) and ultra high frequency satellite communications (UHF SATCOM) for beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) Air Force Air Request Net operations. The purpose of the TACP-M program is to reduce reliance on voice transmission and replace analog equipment with the latest digital, data link and streaming video (e.g. Remote Operations Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER)) technology. Upgraded digital communications enable machine-to machine interface between TACPs and Close Air Support (CAS) aircraft, Army units and other TACP units. Machine-to-Machine communication provides reliable, high speed digital communications, ultimately supports joint and multinational interoperability, improves battlefield Situational Awareness (SA), increases targeting accuracy, reduces kill chain decision time, improves data flows/information exchange, and reduces potential fratricide. The TACP-M program supports the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) and significantly increased the mission effectiveness of the TACPs and ASOCs during Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. The TACP-M program continues to be instrumental in providing ground communications for TACPs during federal emergency relief operations and Homeland Defense initiatives. TACP-M is divided into three segments: Dismounted, mounted, and software. The dismounted TACP provides a modernized/modular capability via a streamlined acquisition using non-developmental, off-the-shelf (OTS) Manpack Radios (MPR) or Handheld Radios (HHR), laser targeting devices (LTDs) that include Laser Range Finder (LRFs), Joint Effects Targeting System (JETS), and laser designators, and imagers), tactical computers for dismounted and Tactical Operations Center use, and ancillary equipment combined with TACP Close Air Support System (CASS) software. The mounted TACP Vehicular Communications System (VCS) is an upgrade of the existing TACP communications systems with new Software Communication Architecture (SCA)-CERTIFIED, Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) or available software programmable radios and some legacy radios and ancillary components, which provides reliable communications for CAS operations. TACP-M will integrate Internet Protocol (IP)-capable, SCA radios for voice & data UHF SATCOM and LOS UHF / VHF communications. TACP-M funds will continue to develop systems integration software (for dismounted and mounted) for multiple air/ground platforms (e.g. JETS (TECS software development), Small Diameter Bomb II (SDBII), F-35, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, Gateway Lite, and ASOC Gateway vehicle) and will provide interoperability datalinks such as Situational Awareness Data Link (SADL), Link-16 and other transformational communications capabilities Mounted operations in overseas contingency operations also require new digital communications/network enabled capabilities for armored High Mobility, Multi-Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV)s and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) and other support vehicle platforms used in times of conflict. Vehicle Communications System (VCS) is a vital modular solution that provides network enabled communications to the aircraft and C2 nodes throughout the area of operations. Joint Tactical Radio Systems (JTRS) will link the power of the Global Information Grid (GIG) to the warfighter in applying fire effects and achieving overall battlefield superiority. By developing and implementing an open architecture of cutting-edge radio waveform technology, multiple radio types (e.g., handheld, ground-mobile, airborne, maritime, etc.) are now allowed to communicate with one another. The ultimate goal is to produce a family of interoperable, modular, software-defined radios that operate as nodes in a network to ensure secure wireless communication and networking services for mobile and fixed forces. These goals extend to U.S. allies, joint and coalition partners, and, in time, disaster response personnel. JTRS is critical to serving as the "last tactical mile" connecting the warfighter on the ground into the networking capabilities that are delivered through the GIG. As a critical component of the DoD network-centric transformation effort, JTRS provides: Ad-hoc networked communications on-the-move and at the tactical edge to support information sharing and combat readiness - the most challenging requirement, representing the highest capability payoff; Interoperability through a common set of shared open system standards and applications, including the Software Communications Architecture; Cost savings via an 'open' Enterprise Business Model promoting competition; Tactical voice, video, and data battlefield communications when reach back is not possible. JTRS will make the Air Force more effective in Joint warfighting through a series of new, joint networking waveforms. JTRS radios are software defined, digital radios capable of running software defined legacy waveforms. JTRS will provide next generation SATCOM beyond-line-of-sight communication capability, to replace UHF DAMA SATCOM, which is nearing the end of its life cycle, through the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) waveform. It will also provide the Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW) and Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW) which, in combination, provide interoperability with the Army, from the brigade level, down to the dismounted soldier, enabling Joint Close Air Support (JCAS), Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) and other Joint missions. To successfully integrate these digital radios on Air Force platforms, displaying information received and transmitted over these radios for operator use, and integrating JTRS information with information from other aircraft systems, non-recurring engineering investment in JTRS "A-Kit" items is required. The JTRS A-Kit includes racks, cabling, digital processors and data displays necessary to integrate JTRS radio sets, or B-Kits, onto multiple Air Force platforms. Air Force will continue looking for solutions for the Joint Aerial Networking-Tactical Edge (JAN-TE) requirement. This program is in budget activity 7, Operational System Development, since it examines appropriate emerging technologies for the continuing incremental development of Off-The-Shelf (OTS) equipment, provides software development, and determines and resolves integration issues pertaining to OTS.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2011
• Source ID: 0207423F_7_3600_PB_2011
• Change Summary Explanation: FY10 increase to support Command & Control, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconaissance (C2ISR) platform installation kit development and radio integration to meet FY11 projected platform installation schedule. FY10-13 increase to support AF share of Joint Effects Targeting System (JETS) for laser designators development. FY10 funding for ROVER FMV encryption ($9.375M) inadvertently reported in this PE, but will be moved to PE 0207277F.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• C4I
• Human Systems
• Space
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Air Force
• Command And Control
• Contingency Operations (Military)
• Contractors
• Cost Analysis
• Digital Communications
• Engineering
• Information Exchange
• Line Of Sight
• Network Protocols
• Radio Equipment
• Software Development
• Standards
• Tactical Air Support
• Tactical Radios
• Test And Evaluation
• Voice Communications

Fields of Study

• Computer science
• Engineering

Readers

• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Geochemistry
• Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

• Directed Energy
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Space