Digital Battlespace
SGA2012: ISAF operations highlight CAS deficiencies
Austrian C2 specialist Frequentis is to demonstrate a C2 application to the German Bundeswehr next week, designed to enable deconfliction between joint fire support cells.
Speaking to Shephard at the Singapore Airshow, company officials said the 'Smart Collaboration @ Joint Fires' software had been designed to tackle problems arising from fire support operations including close air support (CAS), in Afghanistan.
Defence sources, who conducted such operations with NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan during 2010 said a lack of deconfliction between fire missions had caused concern. They admitted that 'mistakes' had been made and called for a software programme to replace 'pen and paper' typically used in Tactical Operations Centres (TOCs) at that time.
Such fire support can be provided from a variety of units ranging from mortars and artillery through to attack helicopters, gunships, UAVs and fast air assets.
The programme has been specifically designed for ISAF operations. However, Frequentis officials described how the company would be required to negotiate with individual nations rather than the organisation as a collective.
'Next week, we have the first presentation for a German customer,' a company spokesman revealed while claiming that the Bundeswehr currently lacked such a capability. He added that the Australian military had also expressed an interest in the system.
Designed for command posts at brigade and division levels, the programme as exhibited at the air show comprised two large touchscreen displays that automatically uploaded data from joint terminal attack controllers and alike on the ground.
Displays include logging of friendly and enemy positions as well as target information; operational assessments including rules of engagement; risk assessment comprising 'danger close' parameters; and a compilation of effects available to complete the tasking.
Information is automatically disseminated to multiple touchscreens- also available in wi-fi tablet form- around an operations room allowing the various specialists involved in a CAS mission to see and verify all the data.
This, Frequentis said, would provide a level of transparency required for what has become a 'surgical' operation for coalition forces operating in Afghanistan, given the nature of missions conducted in and around an indigenous population.
Frequentis' technology based on air traffic management software currently used by US Air Force bases as well as Hong Kong International Airport.
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