Land Flashcards
Basic Search - GODBEE
Get Information Orientate Discuss Brief Execute Evaluate
Get Information
ATO/RSTA J2 8-Line JTAC AO Update Aircraft handover
Orientate
Identify key features Roads Rivers Tree lines Buildings Relate to a map Funnel navigation - Big to Small, use 9 keypads to progressively zoom in Use a standard unit of measure
Discuss
Important considerations during the discussion
Essential Elements of Information (EEI)
Aircraft positioning
Camera requirements vs. Airspace restrictions
Counter detection
Weather
Brief
EEI considerations
Specific objective that needs to be met during the mission
Usually based on intelligence requirements e.g.
Identify number of missiles
Observe personnel activity
Sensor performance, which camera is best suited to the task?
Electro-optical (EO) is not useful at night
IR is better for detecting activity or movement
Aircraft Positioning
Turn Radius
Weather considerations
EEI satisfaction
Airspace & Deconfliction
Other Aircraft (Manned vs. Unmanned)
ROZs
Weather
Nadir
Detection concerns
Execute
Conduct your search
2 basic search techniques…
Rolling Box
RASTER Search (creeping line ahead
Rolling Box:
Search of a small area surrounding a point target
Designated point is placed at any corner of screen
Slew image so that designated point will touch all corners of the screen, making a box
The chosen point should stay on the screen at all times
Gives better SA around a point target.
RASTER Scan:
Search of large open areas or built-up areas
Useful for Lines of Communication (LOC) where a search of swaths of land either side are required
Can take a long time to conduct search
Easy to become disorientated as aircraft orbits
Integrity of search vs. speed of search
Evaluate
How is it going? Are the EEIs being met? Could anything be done to make it better? Got any new information? Re-Orientate Re-Discuss Re-Brief Re-Execute
Evaluate again!
CLEWS
Clever little enemy Cover LOS Escape Weapons Spotters
Cover
Enemy forces will need cover. They will not want to stand in the open and risk being killed. Though not a hard and fast rule, it is unlikely that enemy forces will be in open fields. Look for true lines, ditches, and of course built up areas. Always could be used to give cover to attacking or defending enemy forces.
LOS
For the enemy to attack friendly forces they will need line of sight. You would want to prioritise your search so that the initial areas that give cover and line of sight are searched first. Consideration should then be given to the other areas.
Escape routes
The EF will need an escape route. That could be a physical escape route such as a bridge across a river. Or it could be as simple as blending in to rest of the village with the indigenous population. Identify possible escape routes and think about looking at them later.
Weapons
Look for weapons. A sure-fire indication of nefarious activity and hostile intent. Look also for weapons that may have been disguised by wrapping rags or rugs around them. It is unlikely that the enemy forces would be carrying shovels on their shoulders that are covered in rags or a new carpet through a field!
Spotters
Look for people potentially using comms devices. It could be an enemy commander directing enemy forces. Or it could be an individual making a radio call when he sees FF. All of this has a hostile intent. Think where you would be to spy on the enemy? Road junctions, behind buildings, up high.
IRCAGE
IR Chokepoint/ channeling Aiming Markers Ground Disturbance Enviromental
7 Principle Elements
Turret – Houses the sensors
Gimbal – Steering and stabilisation
Master Control Unit – Brains of the system
Controls – Control the camera (usually a Joystick or Hand Controller)
Displays – For the operator and/or other crew members
Recorders – For Post flight Analysis
Downlink – To provide a picture to the SU or to CAOC
Gimbal:
Performs the function of stabilisation, steering and pointing.
360º in azimuth
Limited in elevation - Camera housing a top and NADIR at bottom
Housing for the camera to ‘stow’
Snow plough - When the camera gimbals get stuck in a downward position and the camera is ‘dragged’ by the a/c across the ground
Master Control Unit (MCU)
Controls, manipulates and processes the data from the sensor payload
Interfaces with other aircraft systems
Interfaces with operator control unit (OCU)
The brains of the system as well as the interface with all the other components
Controls:
Operator Control Unit (OCU)
Controls the turret functions (except steering).
Joystick
Controls the steering.
Hand Control Unit (HCU)
A HCU can be described as having the functions an OCU and the functions of a Joystick.
Instead of a separate OCU the main functions are on the HCU.
Instead of a Joystick the steering is accomplished by means of a thumb transducer.
Displays:
Master Monitor Shows the video in command (VIC) Operator selectable overlays Can include a moving map which will help to identify ground locations that the camera is looking at Repeater screens Display a repeat of the master monitor
Recorders:
Either built in to the MCU and will automatically record specific screens and overlays, much like an aircraft black box recorder or maybe a separate recorder which is operator controlled. Used for debrief and Process, Exploitation and Dissemination (PED).
Downlink:
Video is encrypted and streamed to ground stations to provide increased SA for:
CAOC/Tasking Authority
Ground Commander
SU on the ground
Turret
Modular payload containing multiple sensors
IR camera
EO wide camera
EO narrow camera
LTM - sparkle/illuminator
LRD - Primarily for weapons guidance but can also provide target elevation and coordinates
2 main bands used for EO/IR sensors
IR and Visible Light
2 main IR bands used for IR sensors
3-5 (mid IR) and 8-14 microns (far IR)
