Tactical Reconnaissance: Opportunities through Integration
Abstract
US tactical reconnaissance is currently a hodgepodge of systems unable to meet the requirements of modern high intensity warfare. We find ourselves in this situation largely as a result of uncommitted leadership, budget constraints, mission rivalries, and uncoordinated development and acquisition. Three tactical reconnaissance programs are under development which should significantly improve our capability to provide intelligence and surveillance information to tactical commanders. These are the Follow-On Tactical Reconnaissance System (FOTRS), the Tactical Reconnaissance System (TRS) , and the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS). Their integration as a complementary, interoperable reconnaissance team would add to their overall capabilities, improve their flexibility and survivability and enhance the quality of the resulting intelligence and targeting information. Yet as with others in the past, these systems have for the most part been developed with little consideration for how they might be integrated as a team. An examination of the three common categories of components--sensors, data links and ground processors--suggests areas where interoperability might be most easily achieved.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA241233
Entities
People
- Richard J. L'heureux
Organizations
- Air War College