Fire Coordination and Sensors
Abstract
Project 3773 Fire Coordination and Sensors funds the development of critical United States Marine Corps (USMC) fire support coordination, targeting, and digital interoperability systems required for the employment of air and ground fires. Fire Coordination and Sensors provides the systems needed to develop and integrate a digital networked sensor to shooter kill chain supporting the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). Key systems included are: Family of Target Acquisition Systems (FTAS) - The FTAS provides the MAGTF the capability to locate, identify, and attack enemy indirect fire weapons systems and observe and direct friendly artillery fire. The FTAS consists of the AN/TPQ-46 Firefinder Radar, the AN/TPQ-49 Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar, AN/TPQ-54 Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar, Ground Counter Fire Sensor (GCFS), and the AN/TSQ-267 Target Acquisition System. The GCFS is a passive acoustic sensor enabling the detection of enemy indirect fire weapons in a contested environment. GCFS prototype 1 will tie in up to five sensor nodes and prototype 2 will tie in up to ten sensor nodes. The FTAS is critical in the execution of counterfire and the integration of target acquisition information enabling attack by MAGTF assets. The FTAS also provides artillery firing units the ability to conduct artillery registration and other friendly fire missions. The FTAS encompasses the equipment required to support target acquisition within the target acquisition platoon and is resident in the headquarters battery of each artillery regiment. The program will initiate development of replacement sensor systems and continue to address system issues that arise due to Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortage (DMSMS) items within the FTAS. AFATDS FoS consists of three programs: AFATDS, Back-Up Computer System (BUCS) and Mobile Tactical Shelter (MTS). The AFATDS automates the fire planning, tactical/technical fire direction, and fire support coordination required to facilitate sea control/denial and support maneuver from the sea and subsequent operations ashore. AFATDS integrates all supporting arms assets with the MAGTF, such as mortars, cannon artillery, rockets and missiles, close air support, and naval surface fires support systems. BUCS is a handheld computer system designed to provide a backup to the AFATDS in computing ballistic firing solutions, as well as provide survey and meteorological functions in support of the fires mission. The MTS is an artillery C2 platform dedicated to housing AFATDS and other fire support systems. It is a lightweight multipurpose shelter mounted on a lightweight utility vehicle. MTS enhances the capabilities and survivability of the fire support element by enabling rapid emplacement and displacement, and supports communications on the move. The MTS supports operations in all environmental conditions, day or night, while protecting the AFATDS and BUCS. Target Hand-Off System (THS) - The THS addressed a Marine Corps operational requirement for a lightweight, handheld, and accurate target acquisition engagement coordination system. THS provides MAGTF Commanders with the only man-portable target location and video downlink capability that allows Air Officers and Fire Support Coordinators to prosecute identified targets. The THS' advance interoperability capability provides the MAGTF Commander with the only portable target acquisition system able to interoperate with all target prosecution platforms available on the battlefield. The THS is designed for the Forward Air Controllers (FACs), Forward Observers (FOs), Fire Support Teams (FSTs), Firepower Control Teams (FCTs), Tactical Air Control Parties (TACPs) and Reconnaissance Teams to quickly acquire targets in day, night and near-all-weather visibility conditions, in order to conduct precise, rapid indirect surface fire support, Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) and Close Air Support (CAS).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2021
- Source ID
- 3773_0206313M_7_1319_PB_2021
Related Documents
- Root: Marine Corps Comms Systems
- Child Accomplishment: FTAS: Product Development
- Child Accomplishment: AFATDS: Software Development and Integration
- Child Accomplishment: AFATDS: Test and Evaluation
- Child Accomplishment: AFATDS: Management Services
- Child Accomplishment: THS: Product Development
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