Air-to-ground targeting - UAVs, data links and interoperability (project Extendor)

摘要

Time-critical targets will generally be observed or 'sensed' by personnel inadequately equipped to shoot at them. Since time may be a critical parameter, the passage of information from the 'sensor' to the 'shooter' must be rapid and accurate. QinetiQ has developed and integrated airborne and ground equipment to facilitate the passage of targeting data digitally over standard air and ground radios. The UK and Holland have selected an integrated rugged PC, internal modem card and purpose-designed software to equip Forward Air Controllers (FACs) to enable digital forward air control. This gives direct interoperability with UK and NATO assets equipped with Improved Data Modem (IDM) technology. A large, and growing, number of air, land and sea assets employ Link-16. This entails entirely different frequency, data rate and, generally, protocol, from the IDM. The UK MoD's recently-ended applied research EXTENDOR programme was a three-year operational concept demonstrator for the purpose of translating in near-real-time between selected key Link-16 and IDM-based messages. The intention was to demonstrate the viability and utility of translation between disparate data links. This staged programme centred around a translation engine designed to be flown in a Predator UAV. The programme was entirely successful, demonstrating the capability to translate both own position and nine-line target data. Thus the position of a non-Link-16-equipped asset could be seen in real time in the Link-16 recognised air picture (RAP). Also, a Link-16 asset was shown to be able to task an IDM-equipped asset with a nine-line brief via the translation engine. The high equipment readiness level offers considerable potential for near-to-medium term operational exploitation.