|
Joint, coalition warfighters get first-hand look at advanced CID technologies
Warfighters from eleven nations around the globe are evaluating new technologies designed to improve combat identification and decrease friendly fire incidents during Bold Quest 09.
• Comment on this article at USJFCOMLive
By Casey Bain
JFIIT, USJFCOM
(CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Nov. 3, 2009) - Warfighters from around the globe are looking at new technologies designed to decrease friendly fire incidents during an event here.
USJFCOM's Bold Quest (BQ) 09, the coalition combat identification (CCID) advanced concept technology demonstration (ACTD) taking place here and at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., focuses on potential joint and coalition air-to-ground combat identification (CID) solutions to reduce the possibility of fratricide on future battlefields.
"As in the case today, future conflicts will be fought alongside our coalition partners," said John Miller, USJFCOM Joint Capability Integration and Fires Division's BQ 09 operational manager. "Bold Quest provides another superb opportunity for warfighters to come together and work to improve our CID capabilities as a joint and coalition team."
Two of the air-to-ground CID technologies being assessed here are the tactical fixed-wing aircraft pod-mounted Battlefield Target Identification Device (BTID) and the Radio Based Combat Identification (RBCI) system.
BTID identifies a potential target with its onboard weapons targeting system and enables the operator to make near-instantaneous engagement decisions using real-time identification data.
RBCI is a software modification to existing combat radios that provides an interrogation and reply CID capability.
USJFCOM's Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team (JFIIT) is assisting with the military utility assessment on the BTID and RBCI systems. Part of the JFIIT mission includes conducting data collection and analysis of both technologies.
"BTID and RBCI could enhance a pilot's situational awareness by providing another means to detect the presence of friendly forces in a target area before dropping ordnance on a hostile target," said Perry Davis, a contractor supporting JFIIT as its lead BTID and RBCI analyst at BQ. "These technologies could prove to be another important capability to help reduce the potential of fratricide for ground forces during the terminal phase of an air-to-ground attack."
The BTID and RBCI systems were assessed in the ground-to-ground domain during previous CCID ACTD exercises. This year's demonstration will assess these systems in the air-to-ground role.
"This is a win-win for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and our allies," said Air Force Maj. Paul Brenner, JFIIT operational lead at BQ. "Anytime you can bring together a comprehensive group of U.S. and coalition military experts to participate in a well synchronized and orchestrated tactical exercise, progress will be made."
Military members participating in the demonstration appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback on technologies like BTID and RBCI that could play a vital role in future conflicts.
"As someone who has recently served in Iraq, it's refreshing to see the military take such a proactive stance in trying to solve the complex problem of fratricide," said Army 1st Sgt. Joseph Gaskin, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 10th Mountain Division from Fort Polk, La. "Another advantage of this exercise is the opportunity to work with many of our coalition partners just like we do when we're deployed. It's a vital experience, especially for our younger leaders and soldiers."
Coalition partners also see BQ 09 as an important event to assess new CID technologies.
"Bold Quest provides the best opportunity available to test our system in a realistic environment," said German Air Force Lt. Col. Georg Leben, German Air Force Command lead at BQ. "We enjoy working in a live multicultural and multiservice environment that can serve as a catalyst in developing what is needed to achieve a common goal, preventing fratricide.
Addressing the issue of fratricide is a timeless challenge spanning all military conflicts and combat operations.
"Fratricide has historically been a problem facing both our forces and those of our coalition partners," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Jerell Daniels, platoon sergeant, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th BCT, 10th Mountain Division. "This exercise is another important step in trying to solve that CID challenge. It's an absolutely essential mission that we've got to accomplish."
BQ 09 ends Nov. 5
|
