Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)
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 shortens 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, other Joint Fires assets, aerospace C2 aircraft/agencies, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms/agencies. The TACP-M program provides TACP, Air Support Operations Centers (ASOCs), and Tactical Operations Center (TOCs) 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. Streaming Video Receiver) 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 Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn. 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 TACP provides modernized, modular, re-locatable and man portable capabilities via streamlined acquisition using non-developmental, off-the-shelf (OTS) Manpack Radios (MPR) or Handheld Radios (HHR), laser targeting devices (LTDs) (including Laser Range Finder (LRFs), Joint Effects Targeting System (JETS)laser designators and imagers), tactical computers, and ancillary equipment combined with Close Air Support System (CASS) software for dismounted, ASOC, and TOC use. TACP mounted segment upgrades existing TACP communications systems with new Software Communication Architecture (SCA)-CERTIFIED, Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) or available software programmable radios, legacy radios, and ancillary components, which provide reliable communications for CAS and other air support 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 overseas contingency operations also require new digital communications/network enabled capabilities integrated in armored vehicle platforms including High Mobility, Multi-Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV), Stryker, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) and other vehicle platforms used in times of conflict. The Air Force has requested acceleration of a vehicular communications capability into TACP Stryker Light Armored Vehicles (LAV) and other tactical vehicles. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have recieved approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2012
- Source ID
- 674934_0207423F_7_3600_PB_2012
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