Forward Area Air Defense

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Template:TOC-right Included in the U.S. Army Forward Area Air Defense Command, Control and Intelligence (FAAD, or FAAD C2I), a Battle Management/Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (BM/C4I) system system are the radios, computers, radars, and surface-to-air missiles to cover an Army tactical areas.[1]

FAAD is the tactical engagement part of the Air and Missile Defense Command and Control System (AMDCCS), complementing the operational-level Air and Missile Defense Workstation (AMDWS) planning tool. AMDCCS, in turn, is part of the Army Battle Command System.[2]

With its ability to interoperate with the U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry and U.S. Navy E-2 Hawkeye, it can also get support from fighter aircraft; the E-3, again via JTIDS, can cue the air defenses of Navy ships that are in range.

FAAD implements air defense artillery doctrine, but adds interfaces to systems outside the immediate ADA structure. command posts (CP), tactical operations centers (TOC), and fire direction centers (FDC).

Integral components of the FAAD C3I system include:

  • Air Battle Management Operations Center (ABMOC) that monitors and controls the air defense tactical operations for the ADA battalion.
  • Army Airspace Command and Control (A2C2) system that provides air defense information to the division TOC. 'Is this still the case in the brigade-oriented restructuring?
  • Sensor/Command and Control (Sensor/C2) system that processes and disseminates track data to Stinger firing batteries. Clearly does to Stinger units. What about Patriot, SLAMRAAM, and THAAD?
  • The Sentinel radar that provides early warning and system cueing information. This is the primary intelligence component.
  • Simplified Handheld Terminal Unit (SHTU) or Handheld Terminal Unit (HTU) with the battery command posts and weapon systems.

The ABMOC and A2C2 systems utilize the Army Standard Integrated Command Post System (SICPS) shelter with HMMWV. SINCGARS and EPLRS radios, Mobile Subscriber Equipment (MSE), and Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) terminal provide communications (voice and data)

Communications systems; time and position information

All the ground radios, at least, will be consolidated into the Joint Tactical Radio System

Sensors

Organic

There are two kinds of organic sensor: GBS and LSDIS.

Are there light ADA battalions only with L and heavy battalions with GBS, or is there one kind of FAAD battalion that has both?

The ground-based sensor is the AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar.

The lightweight and special divisions interim sensor (LSDIS) is a man-portable warning radar and electronic warfare platform.Does it have an AN designation? It is man-portable, rugged, EW sensor that provides FAAD units with alerting and other EW information. Six LSDISs are attached to each FAAD battalion.

Organic Sensors
Function Ground-based sensor LSDIS
Range and sensitivity Detects one-square meter targets out to a range of 40 kilometers and from 0 to 4,000 meters above ground level Detects 2-square meter targets out to a range of 20 kilometers and from 0 to 3,000 meters above ground level
Operations All weather, 24-hour operations Limited weather
High-speed, maneuvering fixed-wing aircraft acquisition Acquires up to 40 km away Acquires; range N/A
hovering, running, or pop-up helicopter Acquires up to 20 km away Acquires up to 8 km away
UAV Acquires up to 30 km away Acquires; range N/A
Information sharing Uses EPLRS to ABMOC and A2C2 N/A

Available through joint communications

Weapons

Army

The Army has several levels of air defense weapons, not all in general deployment:

  • THAAD exoatmospheric ballistic missile defense. AN/TPY-2 radar,
  • MIM-104 Patriot endoatmospheric BMD; high to medium antiarcraft
  • SLAMRAAM land-based derivative of AIM-120 AMRAAM; deployed now in National Capital Area; to become low-to-medium range antiaircraft
  • FIM-92 Stinger: low altitude including individual soldier; vehicle mounts to become final defense and helicopter defence when SLAMRAAM is in full production. No dedicated radar but can be cued by FAAD.

Air Force

F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and F-15E Strike Eagle may, depending on upgrade level, have JTIDS; they will otherwise need HAVE QUICK II voice direction. F-22 Raptor has JTIDS, as will the F-35A Lighning II.

Air Force fighters use AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder, as well as final dogfight cannon

Navy

Navy F-18 Hornet, F-18 Super Hornet, and future F-35C Lighting II fighters also use AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder, as well as final dogfight cannon.

In addition, Navy Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Burke-class destroyers have long-range RIM-156 Standard SM-2 and medium-range RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles that may cover part of the land area controlled by FAAD, or approaches to it.

References

  1. , Chapter 5, Command and Control Systems, Air Defense Artillery Reference Handbook, 31 March 2000, FM 44-100-2
  2. {{citation | title = C4 Support to Air and Missile Defense | journal = Army | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3723/is_/ai_n9446277 | date = October 2004