Low-Echelon Command and Control for Fire Support. The SMART FO Program.
Abstract
During March, April 1993, the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) conducted a series of successful field tests to determine the feasibility of attacking a moving target with indirect artillery fire. The tests involved an MlO9 howitzer with an on-board ballistic computer, and a forward observer (FO) equipped with a laser range finder and a laptop computer. The forward observer's computer provides the capability for the observer to input a target path, update the position of the moving target along the path, predict the position of the target along the path, and predict fall-of-shot. The computer program, named SMART FO, has the flexibility to change the target path during mission execution, receive observer location from Global Positioning System (GPS) input, and laser data from the Ground/Vehicular Laser Locator Designator (GJVLLD). This report describes the SMART FO program, its user-interface, the mission sequence of the moving target mission, and field test results of the March - April 1993 testing program. The use of a semiautomated howitzer with the SMART FO program provides the field artillery with effective moving target engagement capability, which provides tactical advantages for small-unit, low-intensity conflicts as well as major military compaigns.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA299678
Entities
People
- Mark A. Thomas
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory