Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)

Abstract

The TACP-Modernization 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-Modernization (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 interfaes between TACPs and Close Air Support (CAS) aircraft, Army units, and other TACP units. Machine-to-Machine communication provides for reliable, high-speed digital communications, that 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 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 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 analog only communications systems with new Software Communications Architecture (SCA)-certified, Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) approved radios and some legacy radios and ancillary components, which provides reliable digital and voice 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 HMMWVs and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) and other support vehicle platforms used in times of conflict. Vehicle Communications System is a vital modular solution that provides mobile TACPs network enabled communications in order to communicate with aircraft and C2 nodes throughout the area of operations. Activities also include studies and analysis to both current program planning and execution future program planning This program is in budget activity 7, Operational System Development, since it examines appropriate emerging technologies for the continuing incremental development of OTS equipment, provides software development, and determines and resolves integration issues pertaining to OTS.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2011
• Source ID: 674934_0207423F_7_3600_PB_2011

Tags

Readers

• Geochemistry
• Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.
• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

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