Gunnery Tool Hits the Mark

摘要

Feedback from ongo- ing U.S. military operations in South-west Asia is enhanc-ing a key fire control and battle management system. Designed to help track friendly units and direct available artillery and air platforms against enemy forces, this software-based application is an important command and control asset and a major component for upcoming programs such as the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS). The Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) is an automated command and control, fire support and battle management tool that coordinates land, air and sea-based indirect fire systems to support maneuver operations, explains Lt. Col. James Chapman, USA, AFATDS pro- gram manager, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. It allows comman- ders to plan, coordinate, control and execute requests for fire from a variety of weapons platforms ranging from mortar tubes to naval gunfire and air strikes.