Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)

Abstract

The TACP-Modernization (TACP-M) program is developing 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 and collateral damage in civilian occupied areas. 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. The TACP mounted segment upgrades TACP communications systems with Software Communication Architecture (SCA)-certified,available software programmable radios, legacy radios, and ancillary components. These systems 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 air/ground platforms (e.g. JETS (Target Effects Coordination System [TECS]), Small Diameter Bomb II (SDBII), F-35, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, Gateway Lite, and ASOC Gateway) and will provide interoperability data links such as Situational Awareness Data Link (SADL), Link-16 and other transformational communications capabilities. The mounted capabilities used in overseas contingency operations also require new digital communications/network enabled capabilities integrated in armored vehicle platforms such as the High Mobility, Multi-Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV), Stryker, and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP). The Air Force has requested acceleration of a vehicle communications capability into TACP Stryker Light Armored Vehicles (LAV), and other tactical vehicles. Activities also include studies and analysis to support both current program planning and execution and future program planning. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development these budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems currently fielded or has approval for full rate production and anticpate production funding in current or subsequent fiscal year.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2013
• Source ID: 674934_0207423F_7_3600_PB_2013

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