EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., 12 Sept. 2008.BAE Systems has demonstrated a system that provides combat pilots a previously unavailable view of friendly forces on the battlefield, and one that could significantly reduce "friendly fire" events during combat operations. The solution combines existing communications, combat identification, and target identification systems and gives pilots access to information about friendly forces in the area.
With the Combat Identification (CID) System, pilots can inquire about friendly forces within a specified area. The system queries sources of ground situational-awareness data and reports the five most-relevant results to the pilot in less than 10 seconds. The capability, intended for use by close-air-support aircraft such as F-15s, F-16s, F/A-18s, CF-18s, and A-10s, was demonstrated at the U.S. Joint Forces Command's Exercise Bold Quest Plus at Eglin Air Force Base.
"The CID server is a perfect example of how we can improve combat identification capabilities and combat effectiveness and save lives," says Bob Summitt, senior analyst for the Joint Forces Command's Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team, which evaluated the capability. "It gives pilots a view of friendlies in the area that they've never had before."
BAE Systems developed the capability in cooperation with the Joint Forces Command's J85 Joint Fires Division to fill a gap in air-to-ground combat identification.
"The sharing of information from multiple systems is the essence of net-centric operations," says Eric Hansen, business development manager for BAE Systems in Greenlawn, N.Y. "This is an affordable option because it uses existing equipment and requires no modifications to the aircraft's existing software or radios, which can take years and millions of dollars to coordinate and certify."
