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Blue Force Tracker and Army
Aviation Operations in Afghanistan
Army Aviation has a new technology that enhances battle command, improves
over-the-horizon communications, and assists with airspace deconfliction.
The Blue Force Tracking-Aviation, or “BFT”, component of the Force XXI
Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) system is a novel but efficient
tool to assist the commander with his situational understanding and
command and control and is proving itself over the extended distances in
the vastness of Afghanistan.
2-10 Aviation Regiment, Tenth Mountain Division (Light Infantry) was first
introduced to the BFT system late in its preparation for deployment to
Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan. All deploying aircraft were
equipped with the mounting and wiring - or “A” kits - and operations
personnel as well as UH-60 crew chiefs received initial training on the
system. Other units attached to 2-10 AVN also received their A-kits and
training, so that by the time Task Force Knighthawk assumed the Aviation
Task Force mission in southern Afghanistan, all aircraft - AH-64, UH-60
and CH-47 - were outfitted.
In country, B-kits, consisting of the computer itself and antennas, were
installed and task force personnel underwent further training provided by
on-site DynCorp-Europe and ElmCo contractors. The task force also received
a TOC ground station for mission planning and for monitoring mission
execution. The skepticism of the previous task force was soon replaced
with confidence as operators became familiar with the system and command
emphasized its employment. Among its strengths, BFT enhances situational
understanding, facilitates command and control, and assists with airspace
deconfliction.
As an aid to situational understanding, BFT enables users to monitor the
location of other BFT-equipped aircraft and vehicles. Assault, lift, and
MEDEVAC aircraft are equipped with an 8” x 9” LCD screen while the TF
Knighthawk TOC system is augmented with a 28” x 48” plasma screen
prominently located so the entire battle crew can immediately track
locations of BFT-equipped aircraft, other friendly unit vehicles, and
other ground stations. This is as simple as looking at a unit (or vehicle)
icon on a map, but instead of a map on a wall and some “sticky notes”
being moved by a radio monitor, an electronic icon is displayed on a
scalable Falconview map and positions are automatically updated by
satellite at specific user-defined time intervals. The result is a
near-real time picture of friendly BFT-equipped vehicle locations that
helps with tracking mission progress and could provide a last known point,
should the need arise, to assist with lost or downed aircraft.
Without AWACS, communications over the extended distances in Afghanistan
has been a significant challenge. The size of the TF Knighthawk area of
responsibility, roughly equal to half the size of Texas, easily negates
traditional FM, UHF, and VHF communications. As a C2 tool, Blue Force
Tracking-Aviation allows the commander to track the locations of his
aircraft and provides an alternative means of over-the-horizon
communications to meet this challenge. The best means of communications is
the Tactical Satellite (TACSAT) net, but aside from the MEDEVAC and
command console-equipped aircraft, TF Knighthawk aircraft are not equipped
with this system. Too, TACSAT channel availability is constrained and High
Frequency radio, while available, has proven less than reliable. Blue
Force Tracking-Aviation fills the communications gap by providing the
capability to pass text messages between stations. Code words and similar
short text transmissions are easily passed to supplement, or even replace,
radio calls. MEDEVAC aircraft often use the system to even send patient
vital signs ahead to the awaiting care providing facility.
In planning, BFT enhances command and control by enabling the common
operational picture (COP) to be readily shared between headquarters and
between aircraft. Graphic control measures such as pickup zones, flight
routes, restricted operating zones, landing zones and fire support control
measures can be developed, plotted, and shared with other BFT-equipped
units as a computer-graphics overlay file. These graphics can be
downloaded to each BFT station, whether stationary or aircraft- or
vehicle-mounted, to enable viewing by the crews. This is especially useful
in the command console-equipped aircraft, where the scalable Falconview
map displays aircraft positions in relation to battlefield control
measures and replaces several hard-copy maps.
The display of aircraft locations while in flight is particularly helpful
in deconflicting air traffic. More than a few times, TF Knighthawk
aircraft have been alerted to oncoming traffic in the narrow passes and
valleys throughout the region. BFT displaying positions and relaying
location prowords provides a measure of positive airspace control to
supplement procedural controls such as “rules of the road” flight and
assists with aircraft avoidance.
A recent aerial extraction of US and coalition forces by TF Knighthawk
illustrates the capabilities and utility BFT: As air routes and control
measures were developed during mission planning, battle staff NCOs
constructed an overlay using the TOC base station. During premission brief
back, this overlay was sent as a computer file to the Aviation Brigade,
located over 300 miles away in Bagram, via the BFT messaging function and
was also shared with the Infantry Brigade TOC and all aircraft via the
Mission Data Loader, a small, hand-held device used to transfer BFT data
between systems. During aircraft run-up, BFTs were switched on and began
transmitting location signals, monitored in the Knighthawk, Infantry
Brigade, and Aviation Brigade TOCs. Enroute, aircraft locations were
automatically updated and displayed and, as serials passed predetermined
checkpoints, code words were passed from the command and control aircraft
to the TOCs via both TACSAT and BFT text messaging. At one point, a change
in pickup zone was passed from the Infantry Brigade to TF Knighthawk,
relayed via BFT text messaging to the C2 aircraft, which in turn relayed
the new PZ location to the rest of the flight. Approach to and departure
from the PZ was constrained through a single valley since it was located
in a bowl surrounded by high peaks, but as the first serial departed the
PZ for its egress back down the valley, the C2 aircraft easily monitored
the location of the inbound second serial on BFT and advised the first
serial of the oncoming traffic. Airspace deconfliction was simple,
utilitarian, and effective.
Still in its infancy, Blue Force Tracking-Aviation is not a panacea; it
has its shortcomings, from poor ergonometry to the limitations of
satellite systems to its limited fielding and distribution. These problems
can be overcome, or at least tolerated, and the effort will yield
significant results.
Perhaps the biggest drawback of the BFT is its aircraft mounting system.
Hardwired and static mounted inside the AH-64 aft stowage compartment, BFT
is totally inaccessible by the crew during flight. Thus configured, the
AH-64 BFT is a location transmitter only. In the UH-60, the system faces
aft between the two crew chief seats. This location also makes it
inaccessible to the point where it too, is more often just a location
transmitter unless a crew chief repositions himself to access the system or
a fifth crewman is added to operate the system. Although the CH-47 mount
allows easiest access, its use still requires another dedicated operator
or a crewmember to leave his station. Task Force Knighthawk has enjoyed
most of its success with BFT mounted in the command console-equipped
UH-60. Mounted with a flexible cable mount, the BFT laptop can be passed
from person to person or operated on the console itself, supplementing any
mounted maps. A similar setup is what is needed in all aircraft – a
flexible, airworthy mount that allows easy access for the flight crew from
their current stations, whether left seat or right, front seat or back.
Blue Force Tracking-Aviation is a satellite-based system and as such, is
subject to the limitations of a space-based communications system. Because
the system is susceptible to deadspace, blackouts, and solar interference,
current locations are not always updated and messaging functions are
disrupted when BFT signals are blocked from satellite receivers by
terrain, satellite position, or both. Lengthening the duration of the
display and shortening the frequency of updates helps alleviate this
drawback but then presents less timely information. Consequently, users
must still have backup tracking systems, usually a map and graphics, in
the TOC and in the aircraft.
Another drawback of the BFT is that it is only a NEAR-real time feed and
not a 100% accurate picture of where units and aircraft are located. The
lag between the time the signal was sent and the time the signal was
received is negligible, however, the time lag between reception and
display is user-adjustable and may be considerable, to the effect that
when an icon location is updated and displayed, the aircraft may have
already moved several kilometers.
The distribution and fielding of BFT is another drawback to the system. It
is not distributed force-wide, nor is it a joint system. Not until it is
improved and fielded throughout the Army and totally integrated throughout
the joint force will it be a true COP-tool able to assist with fratricide
prevention. Fiscal constraints, interservice rivalry, and parochialism
will unfortunately take their toll on the system before it is widely
fielded.
Despite its drawbacks, Task Force Knighthawk is employing BFT to great
effect and is proving it to be a valuable tool to help provide clear
situational understanding and assist with command and control. Keys to the
successful employment of this system are contractor support, command
emphasis, and a willingness and hunger to experiment.
Dyncorp-Europe and ElmCo’s team of contractors located at Kandahar install
the air Blue Force Tracking system and provide operator training. These
contractors provide outstanding technical advice and assistance to our
uniformed operators and maintainers. They do not operate the system for
us, but advise our crew chiefs and flight operations personnel in the
actual usage of the system. Too, our contractors have often gone the extra
mile to troubleshoot, repair, replace and upgrade systems, sometimes only
minutes before aircraft launch. Until the system is simplified and
hardened to be “soldier proof”, these civilians will continue to be key to
the success of the system.
Well prior to deployment, the decision was made to employ BFT as a
secondary means of communications and aircraft tracking. Upon arrival in
theater, the Task Force Commander reemphasized and directed its use.
Beginning with just being turned on for each and every flight, the use of
the system grew to include premission planning, monitoring, and text
messaging. As command emphasized its employment, both user proficiency and
contractor support improved. While command direction was necessary to
initiate its use, a supportive command climate that allowed for
experimentation and temporary setbacks was just as important in the
employment of the system. Command supported and encouraged its use and
allowed it time to grow and mature. Currently, it is no longer a novelty,
but a routine part of aircraft startup and a relied upon tracking tool in
the TOC.
Another key to success is personnel, from the pilots and crew chiefs who
startup the aircraft systems to the flight operations personnel who labor
to perfect data loading. They have to be willing and technically able to
experiment and work with the system to employ and perfect its use. TF
Knighthawk was fortunate
in having several soldiers who eagerly – and adeptly – waded into the mire
of computer and satellite procedures and jargon to establish a
user-friendly base of training and make the system reliable and fairly
benign. Countless hours were spent developing shortcuts and TTPs to
improve BFT usability and form a core of “BFT Pros” to man the TOC ground
station and the airborne C2 system.
All told, Blue Force Tracking-Aviation is a command and control system and
situational understanding tool still in its infancy but with great
potential. Near-real time position reporting, two-way text messaging, air
traffic avoidance, and friendly graphic sharing are all enhanced through
the capabilities of BFT. Given the right emphasis, this system holds great
promise, and today, here and now, it is an option that provides great
capability over the extended mission distances encountered in Afghanistan.
Given the right command climate and emphasis, and operated within its
limitations, it is a system that adds immensely to Army Aviation
operations.
NOTE From HQ Blue Force
Tracking-Aviation: The system depicted in this article is an early
generation BFT-A system. The latest design is considerably more
advanced. |
