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 (LCMR), AN/TPQ-54 LCMR, 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. 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 supporting 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. Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Development System (AFATDS) FoS consists of two programs: AFATDS, and Mobile Shelters consisting of the Mobile Tactical Shelter (MTS) and Mobile Command Vehicle (MCV) Shelter. Due to Force Design and the new requirement for a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) mounted shelter, the decision was made to transition from MTS to MCV Shelter in FY21. 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. The MTS is integrated with the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) while the new MCV Shelter is integrated with the JLTV. The MCV Shelter is primarily dedicated to housing AFATDS and other fire support systems. MCV Shelter enhances the capabilities and survivability of the fire support element by enabling rapid emplacement and displacement, and supports communications on the move. The MCV Shelter supports operations in all environmental conditions, day or night. 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, 2022
- Source ID
- 3773_0206313M_7_1319_PB_2022
Related Documents
- Root: Marine Corps Comms Systems
- Child Accomplishment: FTAS
- Child Accomplishment: AFATDS
- Child Accomplishment: THS
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