yasin_khan
New Member
The US Army and US Marine Corps (USMC) have worked out a plan to merge the two services' systems for tracking their forces over the next two years and to speed efforts to translate between the 20-plus such systems in use by the US and its allies.
The systems, known as Blue Force Tracking, were unveiled during Operation 'Iraqi Freedom' and were praised by commanders in the field. However, the army and marines, which served side-by-side in Iraq, could not use their systems with each other without ad hoc translation capabilities - "bubble gum and baling wire", said USMC Lt Col Mike Sweeney, who is leading the marines' programmes.
Under an agreement worked out in June, the army will lead development of the system for commanders at the brigade level and below and for vehicles. The marines, meanwhile, will develop the system for commanders at the battalion level and above and for command posts.
The lower-level solution will be based on the army's Force XXI Battle Command Brigade-and-Below (FBCB2) blue force tracking (BFT) system, but will incorporate some demands from the marines. The marines' Data Automated Control Terminal (DACT) and Command and Control Personal Computer (C2PC) will form the foundation of the commanders' system, which will be called the Joint Tactical Common Operating Picture Workstation for Command Posts.
The US Navy and Air Force, which will eventually use the system, are providing their input as it evolves. The air force is particularly concerned that old information should be tagged as such, especially if it is used for targeting. "If they think five minutes ago is good enough, I have to tell them that it isn't," said Col Lou Durkac, assistant director of requirements for the Headquarters Air Combat Command.
US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is also providing input. Its main concerns are data security, so that an enemy cannot intercept or detect the network, as well as low weight and long battery life, said Col Edward Brasher, deputy chief of the Readiness Division at USSOCOM's Center for Operations and Plans.
Admin: Enter the links for your articles in future or they will be deleted! People have been told numerous times about this. :mad
The systems, known as Blue Force Tracking, were unveiled during Operation 'Iraqi Freedom' and were praised by commanders in the field. However, the army and marines, which served side-by-side in Iraq, could not use their systems with each other without ad hoc translation capabilities - "bubble gum and baling wire", said USMC Lt Col Mike Sweeney, who is leading the marines' programmes.
Under an agreement worked out in June, the army will lead development of the system for commanders at the brigade level and below and for vehicles. The marines, meanwhile, will develop the system for commanders at the battalion level and above and for command posts.
The lower-level solution will be based on the army's Force XXI Battle Command Brigade-and-Below (FBCB2) blue force tracking (BFT) system, but will incorporate some demands from the marines. The marines' Data Automated Control Terminal (DACT) and Command and Control Personal Computer (C2PC) will form the foundation of the commanders' system, which will be called the Joint Tactical Common Operating Picture Workstation for Command Posts.
The US Navy and Air Force, which will eventually use the system, are providing their input as it evolves. The air force is particularly concerned that old information should be tagged as such, especially if it is used for targeting. "If they think five minutes ago is good enough, I have to tell them that it isn't," said Col Lou Durkac, assistant director of requirements for the Headquarters Air Combat Command.
US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is also providing input. Its main concerns are data security, so that an enemy cannot intercept or detect the network, as well as low weight and long battery life, said Col Edward Brasher, deputy chief of the Readiness Division at USSOCOM's Center for Operations and Plans.
Admin: Enter the links for your articles in future or they will be deleted! People have been told numerous times about this. :mad