ANG TACPs hold first maritime exercise

Airmen from the New York Air National Guard’s 274th Air Support Operations Squadron stationed at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Syracuse, New York use global positioning satellite and other communications equipment aboard a U.S. Coast Guard cutter during a training operation on Lake Ontario on June 18, 2012. (New York Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy M. Call)

by Master Sgt. Kevin Colbert, 274th Air Support Operations Squadron

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. (AFNS) -- Tactical Air Control Party Members (TACP) and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) from the 274th Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS) from Syracuse, New York participated in a first-of-its-kind Joint Maritime Operations exercise recently on Lake Ontario.
The exercise was in conjunction with members from the 152nd Air Operations Group (AOG), the 174th Fighter Wing MQ-9 Formal Training Unit (FTU), the New York Naval Militia, the U.S. Coast Guard Station Oswego, and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The exercise is believed to be the first time that an ASOS unit has conducted joint training operations with a remotely piloted aircraft in a maritime setting. The objective of the 274th was to determine the extent that their communications equipment, well-adapted to land-based interfacing, could maintain functionality over water, and to further define what value-added resources an ASOS could contribute to a maritime operation.

A decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan has demonstrated the versatility of the ASOS community in executing its primary mission of close-air support (CAS) and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). The incorporation of TACPs and JTACs into maritime operations is in keeping with the 274th's commitment to broaden its scope of contributions to joint operations.

Two scenarios were encountered over the three-day exercise. The first involved a simulated counter-piracy operation in which JTACs controlled a MQ-9 Reaper while aboard a Coast Guard vessel, the mission being to find, fix, track, and simulate a precision-guided munition (PGM) attack on hostile targets ashore and afloat. "We met our objectives and soundly demonstrated the advantages of having JTACs integrated into maritime operations," said Staff Sgt. Shane Cutlip, a 274th ASOS JTAC.

The second scenario involved a search-and-rescue of a downed pilot; the JTACs providing the Coast Guard crew with full-motion video of the downed pilot, transmitted from the MQ-9. "The integration of the MQ-9 and Coast Guard search and rescue crews will dramatically reduce the time required to respond to vessels or personnel in distress on Lake Ontario," said Maj. Patrick Cox, 274th ASOS Commander.

The growth of maritime operations will necessitate the further integration of air and naval assets. The 274th ASOS is determined to be fully prepared to participate in that transition.

JTACs keep pilots on target to minimize collateral damage

by Staff Sgt. Andrea Thacker, Air Forces Central News Team

U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets deploy heat flares during a combat patrol over Afghanistan Dec. 15. Trust between joint terminal attack controllers and pilots serves as an important aspect of close-air support. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon)

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ORGUN-E, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- Minimizing collateral damage is at the forefront of military leader's priorities in Afghanistan. Those leaders depend on the teamwork between pilots and Air Force joint terminal attack controllers to ensure innocent civilians and their property aren't put at unnecessary risk.

By combining laser-guided munitions with constant communication between JTACs on the ground and pilots in the sky, collateral damage is kept at the lowest possible level.

"Preventing civilian casualties and [friendly fire] is our primary concern," said Master Sgt. Leigh Bradley, JTAC superintendent from the 19th Expeditionary Air Support Squadron. "The Air Force has gone to great lengths in providing precision strike weaponry that serves this very purpose."

The JTACs serve as liaisons between Army ground commanders and pilots by planning, communicating and coordinating close-air support to eliminate enemy threats.

These Airmen have several tools they use to minimize collateral damage such as published fixed-wing risk estimate distances, accredited collateral damage estimate charts and flight restrictions, according to Sergeant Bradley.

"These efforts provide the ground commander a valid means to neutralize a target while preserving the lives of friendly forces and the civilian populace," the 20-year JTAC added.

While the JTACs rely on their tools, the trust between them and the pilots serves as one of the most important aspects of close-air support.

"One major component of the relationship between the JTAC and the [aircrew] is the trust and understanding of expectations," said Capt. Daniel Wester, 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron weapons system officer. "The JTAC must trust that the aircrew is going to strike precisely when and where needed in order to save friendly lives. The aircrew in turn must trust that the JTAC passed [on] the right coordinates, properly assessed the threat and mitigated collateral damage to the [maximum] extent he can.

"This expectation of professionalism results from the trust that forms from the life-saving interaction between aircrew and JTACs," he said.

The pilots know to trust the JTACs because of the exhausting measures they go through before requesting kinetic weapon support.

"We do not act on a sole source of intelligence; we collect as much data as we can gather before employing anything," said Tech. Sgt. Harvey Wagenmaker, 2-506th Battalion Air liaison officer. "We have to have enough evidence to determine the [targets] to be hostile."

The JTACs also estimate the potential collateral damage to ensure there are no structures, such as schools or mosques that can be affected by the bombs impact.

"A common misconception is that bombs create a lot of uncontrolled damage," said Sergeant Wagenmaker, the 13-year JTAC deployed from Fort Campbell, Ky. "But with precision-guided munitions, our risk-estimated distances and the information we have on the munition's blast radius, unless something goes severely wrong, the bomb will hit it's intended point of impact."

It's that sort of confidence in their profession that gives military leaders the trust in their Airmen to accomplish their mission while minimizing collateral damage.

"It's a priority every time we drop [munitions]," Sergeant Wagenmaker said. "The bottom line is we go through extraordinary measures to ensure there are no civilian casualties."

B-2s train with JTACs, drop bombs on target

by Tech. Sgt. Steven Wilson, 36th Operations Group Public Affairs
Airman 1st Class Robert Gaines calls in an air strike Oct. 23 during the Koa Lightning exercise at the Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii. Airman Gaines is a tactical air controller from the 25th Air Support Operations Squadron, Wheeler Army Air Field, Hawaii. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFPN) -- The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber deployed here practiced weapons drops in the Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii Oct. 23 without using built in state of the art targeting system.

This time, the fliers were conducting operations with joint terminal attack controllers on the ground to allow the specially trained Airmen an opportunity to hone their skills with a bomber platform.

JTACs say the difference in what the B-2 brings to the battlefield is dramatic.

"Strategic bombers in and of themselves are huge force multipliers," said Tech. Sgt. Richard Setlock, a JTAC from the 25th Air Support Operations Squadron. "Fighter
attack aircraft can stay on station for 45-minutes and provide six to eight bombs. We can have a bomber overhead for two to four hours and provide four times the firepower that a fighter attack aircraft could."

The global reach and long loiter time over a target is a unique capability of America's bomber force. This makes the B-2 especially lethal to America's enemies.

"Our aerial refueling capability means we're only limited by the human factor of aircrew fatigue," said Col. Damian McCarthy, 36th Operations Group commander. "Having the ability to stay over a target for extended periods, especially in a stealth airframe, gives the combatant commander the option to strike the bad guys at a time and place of their choosing."

This capability can be put to good use by the Airmen on the ground.

"(Bombers) can strike several targets at one time, where a fighter attack aircraft is basically doing one at a time. With accurate coordinates pulled up by a JTAC, we can hit up to fourteen targets at once," Sergeant Setlock said.

For this series of exercises, the B-2s were dropping 2,000-lb bombs on targets in the training area. They did it the old fashioned way too. No laser designating the target and no joint direct attack munitions with global positioning system guidance. It was just the aviators, their instruments, a deadly airframe and some Airmen on the mock battlefield calling in the coordinates.

"This is the first time I've worked with the B-2, and I was actually kind of amazed by the accuracy, considering we weren't using precision weapons," Sergeant Setlock said.

The B-2 deployment to Guam demonstrates the commitment of the U.S. to regional and global security. Alaska, Hawaii and Guam create a strategic triangle in this area of the world and allows the Air Force to project its capabilities from U.S. soil.
A lone crew chief launches a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber for a training combat sortie Oct. 24 on the Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii. They practiced combat operations while working with joint terminal attack controllers on the ground that were calling in coordinates. (Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brian Kimball)

Attack controllers receive 2,000th remote receiver

Joint terminal attack controller Master Sgt. Chris Thompson communicates via a remotely operated video enhanced receiver Sept. 21in Southwest Asia. The ROVER, a small laptop with an external antenna, allows the JTAC to see from the eyes of the pilot, ensuring minimal collateral damage. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Angelique Perez)

Officials from U.S. Central Command Air Forces recently received the 2,000th remotely operated video enhanced receiver, a small laptop with an external antenna that allows joint terminal attack controllers on the ground to coordinate more accurate air strikes.

The device is rapidly gaining popularity among military units throughout Iraq and Afghanistan, officials said.

"A picture is truly worth 1,000 words," said Lt. Col. Matthew Bannon, the CENTAF Combined Air and Space Operations Center chief of reconnaissance. "With the ROVER, a JTAC can see a real-time video feed from the aircraft's targeting pod on his laptop allowing him to be right on target."

Before an aircraft can execute an air strike, the pilot receives permission from a JTAC on the ground. The JTACs confirm the location of the air strike to ensure minimal collateral damage and avoid injury to friendly forces.

In the past, the pilot communicated with the controller via radio, describing what he saw from the air. The controller then compared it to his view from the ground, and if everything matched up, the controller gave the pilot permission to "go hot."

"The concept of the ROVER is to allow (JTAC's) to see from the eyes of the pilot," said Staff Sgt. Kenneth Swank, a JTAC assigned to the 25th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron here. "The video feed from an aircraft transmits to the screen below and we are able to guide the pilot to a specified target based on the landmarks seen from the air."

The ROVER is very precise, he said.

"We can even zoom in and see individuals running in and out of buildings and follow them through the entire city. It is also highly effective at tracking vehicles through congested streets," Sergeant Swank said.

Because of this, the ROVER is a major player in the counter improvised explosive devices fight, helping to save numerous lives and thousands of dollars in equipment. Using the aircraft's thermal camera, it can identify hot or cold spots on the ground, and detect whether the ground has been disturbed.

The system also has civilian applications, officials said.

"ROVER has been proven useful not only in combat missions," said Maj. Jon Tinsley, the 704th Expeditionary Support Squadron commander. "It has been used with unmanned aerial vehicles for border surveillance on the U.S.-Mexican border and during Hurricane Katrina and other disaster recoveries. It gives the ground man a chance to see what the aircraft is seeing, without having to actually be in the aircraft."

The first generation ROVER was introduced in 2004. Since then, improvements made it smaller, lighter and more efficient, resulting in the current model, ROVER III.

Within one year, the next two generations will make them even smaller with more upgrades, allowing for two-way encrypted communication, thus making it even easier for JTAC's to complete their mission safely and efficiently.

In theater U.S. armed forces and several coalition partners are using the ROVER. It has become an essential tool in successful mission completion, officials said. This highly praised system has the ability to save time, money and, most importantly, lives.

Battlefield technology key to Atlantic Strike V - Update

Photo: A "Condor" Unmanned Aerial Vehicle without its protective skin sits on top of its carrying case April 17 before flying in Atlantic Strike 5. Atlantic Strike is a joint forces semi-annual training event involving Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, or JTACs, from the Air Force Army and Marines at Avon Park Air Ground Training Complex, Avon Park, FL.(U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Otero)

Editor's Note: Frequencies and callsigns associated with this exercise are at the end of this article. The RF spectrum profile below updated at 0952 EDT 20 April 2007

by By Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah
U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs

4/19/2007 - AVON PARK, Fla. (AFNEWS) -- As the convoy travels down the dusty path, the lead Humvee's Joint Terminal Attack Controller zeroes in on a potential target 1,500 meters in front of him. He sends the coordinates to the waiting aircraft above.

"Target is verified JTAC, expending munitions." The aircraft releases its munitions precisely on target, decreasing collateral damage and allowing the convoy to continue on, unharmed.

Although not an actual account, scenarios like this one would not be possible in theater without technology such as the Remotely Operated Video Enhancement Receiver, or ROVER, and Venom, a remote-controlled, laser designator rangefinder telescoping mast system. Air Force, Marine Corps and Canadian Air Force JTACs are training on these and other battlefield technologies during Atlantic Strike V April 14-20 at the Avon Park Air Ground Training Complex in Avon Park, Fla.

ROVER can receive video and telemetry data from manned aircraft, remote-controlled unmanned aerial vehicles and the Venom system to display on a laptop or television monitor. The receive-only terminal can receive most Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance video from C, L and KU Band frequencies. This capability allows ground commanders to see around corners, over hills or on top of buildings -- providing critical battlefield situational awareness and targeting capability.

"The ROVER terminal gives JTACs the same aerial picture the aircraft sees," said Lisa Diamanti of L3 Communications, the company responsible for designing the ROVER system. "The JTACs on the ground need to see this picture to positively identify targets. This cuts down the talk-on-target time (from hours) to 10 minutes or less."

Before ROVER, JTACs had to have their eyes on the target and relied on verbal communication between themselves, aircraft and the Air Support Operations Center. JTACs would provide the target, which the ASOC then confirmed before the aircrew could execute.

Master Sgt. Craig Hillsman, an Air Force JTAC with the 19th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Campbell, Ky., appreciates how the ROVER system "cuts out the middleman."

"The ability for JTACs to operate without (having to contact) forward (command and control) is great," he said. "It also expands my ability to do my job without putting myself in harm's way, because it gives me a bird's-eye view of the area instead of just line of sight. For example, I can spot a target individual and instead of giving away my position, I can watch (on the ROVER) the receiving aircraft follow him to a point a safe distance from me before engaging."

Northrop Grumman's Venom system will give JTACs even more of a chance for survival.

"With the growing need for up-armored Humvees, the military needed a system that would allow its occupants to stay under that armor while identifying targets," said Bob Raulerson, marketing manager for Northrop Grumman. Venom uses a Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder on a universal, stabilized platform that mounts on top of the vehicle and enables military members to observe targets during the day or night. The versatile system can be mounted on a mast that can be attached to any vehicle, Mr. Raulerson said.

If fitted with a ROVER transmitter, the Venom can send its images to ROVER systems, adding a line-of-sight image to the aerial image a JTAC receives from an aircraft. When in laser tracking mode, Venom also allows units to identify and lock on to a target while moving out of the area before the military members are discovered.

"I have also been told that some forward-operating bases are benefiting from mounting Venom on top of a building while the operator remains inside, out of harm's way," Mr. Raulerson said. "All in all, Venom will do more to ensure warfighters return home safely."

During a scenario involving a high-value target, the Army convoy commander parked the Venom system outside a village, adding another vantage point to his maneuvers. The convoy was able to engage enemy forces on the other side of the village, while monitoring buildings to avoid an unexpected flanking maneuver. The Venom system also allowed the ground commander to find a hidden sniper position -- a position only visible from the reverse angle the Venom system provided.

The mounting platform being tested at Atlantic Strike V is scheduled to be used in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in August.

Aircraft at Atlantic Strike V capable of transmitting full-motion video include the F-16 Fighting Falcons, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, B-52 Stratofortresses, Navy P-3C Orions, the Condor and Swiper UAVs and Cessna aircraft simulating Unmanned Aerial Systems.

Here is a list of freqs/designators/callsigns that have been reported and are associated with Atlantic Strike V.

Atlantic Strike V Frequencies
8971.0 FIDDLE USB

126.150 Avon Park Range Control
131.825 COASTAL
133.475 COASTAL

138.050 FLYER interflight
138.125 Homestead ARB
138.200 FLYER interflight
138.400 Homestead ARB
139.750 Homestead ARB
139.800 Homestead ARB
141.400 NIGHTSTAR wkg ANTIDOTE 57
141.750 BEAR, NIGHTSTAR calling WARHAWK
143.625 WARHAWK
148.825 BUSHMASTER

242.050 BLUE 1
258.100 LIGHTNING 22
264.625 Avon Park Range
269.250 Jax Center – Ocala Low
271.600 "SHERIFF NET" (convoys)
276.600 WARHAWK
279.600 Tampa App
281.500 Miami Center
283.700 MacDill AFB – BEAR CAVE (VAW-124) / BUCCANEER OPS (111th FW)
285.000 ORION / JAGUAR
285.725 Avon Park Range
291.600 Miami Center - Pahokee
292.200 Avon Park Range Control
297.500 FLYER air-air
303.150 Homestead ARB (also being used for air-air on the range)
306.000 P-3
349.000 Miami Center – Avon Park
349.300 BEAR / STARGATE (MOA check in freq)
354.400 STARGATE, BEAR 01, 02 / (STARGATE – DRAGNET VICTOR air-air)
379.400 Barksdale AFB 93rd BS (SCALP air-air)

Freq Designators:
BLUE 1 – 242.050
BLUE 2 – 258.100
BLUE 3 – 349.300
BLUE 5 – 271.600
BLUE 6 – 354.400
GREEN 5/11 – 133.475
GREEN 17
YELLOW 1 – 264.625
YELLOW 2
YELLOW 3 - 285.725
WHITE 5 – 143.625
WHITE 7 – 276.600
WHITE 8 – 349.300 (also passed as BLUE 3)
WHITE 12 – 292.200
Satcom – (BEAR mentioned working WARHAWK on Satcom)

Callsigns:
AKULA – F-16C+, 93rd FS
ANTIDOTE 07, 57
BEAR 01, 02 – E-2C, VAW-124
BUSHMASTER 17, 19, 20, 66 (20 Convoy JTAC)
COASTAL AIR – Cessna (simulated UAV)
COASTAL GROUND – ground support for UAV
DARK KNIGHT (NIGHT) 01, 02
FIDDLE – Jax NAS TSC
FLYER – A-10A, 111th FW
GOLDFINCH 711 – P-3C
JAGUAR ground support for P-3
HARDROCK 09, 10, 11
HORSEMAN 13, 14, 15
LIGHTNING 22, 23, 35 – JTAC
MAKO – F-16C+, 93rd FS
NIGHTSTAR – E-8C, 12th ACCS
OMEGA 18, 68 (Convoy)
ORION – P-3C
SCALP – B-52H, 93rd BS
SHARK – F-16C+, 93rd FS
SLAYER 03, 04
STARGATE – E-8C; 330th CTS
WARHAWK - ASOC

Data links give Airmen attack controllers 'big picture'

Photo: Staff Sgt Daniel Kovarik, a joint terminal attack controller assigned to the 548th Combat Training Squadron's Detachment 1 at Fort Polk, La., calls in targeting coordinates for a suspected terrorist hideout to nearby A-10 Thunderbolt IIs during urban combat air support training May 16, 2006. The training took place in Deridder, La., where the 548th CTS has an agreement to allow flights over the city for more realistic urban conditions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jack Braden)

by Master Sgt. Tonya Keebaugh
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

3/13/2007 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNEWS) -- A small group of Airmen are having a dramatic effect on the battlefield. They're in demand from everyone from Army squads and platoons to large defense contractors. Everyone wants a joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) on their team -- and with good reason.

They are crucial to putting air force bombs on target by controlling the air strikes the ground commander needs.

With less than 1,100 of them to go around the Air Force, their career field has been forced to come up with better ideas for fighting the war on terrorism. One of those "good ideas" is being tested here at Nellis in the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron and the Joint Datalink Information Combat Execution or JDICE.

"We needed a better way of working in our air support operation centers," said Staff Sgt. Erik Roberts, 422nd JTAC. "In the past, we've marked the positions of friendly forces on a map using tacks and symbols or markers."

That way of tracking troops is archaic in today's information age. The ASOC has been using digital means to track the battlefield but haven't had the capabilities the new system will provide at their fingertips.

Sergeant Roberts is currently testing and developing training plans and tactics for the Ground Mobile Gateway. The GMG is a humvee with a shelter that contains the tactical battlefield command and control functions, in real time, which will be used at the ASOC level. The ASOC is the primary control agency component of the Theater Air Ground System for the execution of close-air support. The ASOC coordinates and directs air support for Army or joint force land component operations. The GMG is an upgrade to the existing ASOC capabilities which incorporates joint-range extension data -- making visible the blue force and the red force assets on the battlefield.

"In a nut shell, it takes all the different tactical data links into one system and spits them out to the right people," said Sergeant Roberts.

It does that by tapping the Link 16 on the F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-15EsStrike Eagles and F/A-18 Hornets and the situational awareness data link on the A-10/OA Thunderbolts. Those two data links provide the friendly aircraft information to the GMG live - combined with the blue force tracker information and GPS coordinates from the ground troops and JTACs -- it provides a live common operating picture of the battlefield.

"I can now see the ground picture and the air picture as it's moving," said the seven-year veteran. "We let the machines do the math and let the warfighters make the decisions."

The "math" the JTACs do could be anything from calculating distance from an IP (initial point of entry for aircraft) to a target to calculating the kill radius for weapons effectiveness.

That takes a lot off the shoulders of a JTAC in the middle of a battle - doing "math in public" is often a challenge for many -- imagine when mortars are raining down and you're under intense small-arms fire. The machines will help eliminate fratricide that human-error played into previously.

Because the math will be more exact, the target area will decrease in size also.
"Using DPSS (Army version of Precision Strike Suite-Special Operations Forces), we're able to sweeten the target," said Sergeant Roberts. "Instead of 'which building' will be targeted, we're talking 'which window' in that building now."

The GMG has been tested in the past three red flag exercises here and at the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment, or JEFX. The GMG is using for tests is "on steroids," and the ASOCs will receive a toned-down version when they start fielding them, Sergeant Roberts said. But, some JTAC units passing through Nellis for training are already gaining valuable insight they can use in combat.

"We used it during the last Red Flag in February with the 5th (Air Support Operations Squadron) and we worked with them on their digital TTPs (training, tactics and procedures), which they will use in their upcoming deployment," said Sergeant Roberts.

As for future deployments, the ground and air communications is continually expanding capabilities. The 1,094 JTACs will only become more valuable to the ground war as advances in the way they do business increases.