The
Marine Combat Operations Center (COC)
Numerous COC are employed by US Marine Corps Marine Expeditionary
Force (MEF) units deployed in Iraq and more systems are being
delivered to support other units operating worldwide. Of 271
systems ordered, GD has already delivered 102. The COC
is designed for rapid deployment, using trailers mounting a
power and environmental support unit, with another trailer packing
all servers, routers and other communications and networking
support. Outside at the main display at the exhibition grounds
at Quantico, a large tent accommodated a typical Combat Operations
Center (COC) was erected. The display provided a unique insight
into the Marine Corps' current and future command and control
elements comprising the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF)
Command and Control center.
Networking inside the COC utilized high speed Ethernet or wireless
networks, using the Secure Wireless Infrastructure System (SWIS)
developed by General Dynamics (GD) Information Technology. SWIS
operates Secure 802.11 wireless LAN solution to extend wireless
connectivity to high security (NSA Type 1 encryption) applications,
including field deployable military command and control. Further
exploiting this secure wireless connectivity, GD is offering
a number of military oriented computing devices supporting
internet, email, chat, phone video streaming and conferencing.
Typical devices include the GoBook VR mini laptop, GoBook tablet
PC and pocket PC devices.
GD C4S also demonstrated its latest digital radio switching
system at the COC. The Distributed Scalable AccessNet (DSAN)
a Voice over IP (VOIP) softswitch facilitating intercom support
and seamless connectivity through network-connected radios.
DSAN can be implemented on stand-alone access points or as an
overlay on standard workstations, enabling users equipped with
DSAN applications or monitors to control multiple radios transceivers,
conduct phone conversations and conferences (supporting the
H.323 industry standard) contacting local users on the intercom,
from a single
user-interface.
 The
live display also provided an insight into the company's field
deployable command and control solutions. A typical application
for the COC is the Marine Air Ground Task Force Command and
Control (MAGTF-C2) center. Within the MAGTF-C2 environment,
information is integrated, aggregated and distributed from disparate
C2 and ISR systems to users at all echelons - ranging from the
command center to the individual soldier. The MAGTF-C2 concept
allows for visualization of a complete air/ground picture, improving
Marine planning and execution, while supporting joint forces
interoperability. The system utilized General Dynamics C4Systems'
common viewer, facilitating three-dimensional air/ground views
and two-dimensional collaborative environment developed for
the US Army style 'Command Post of the Future" (CPOF) system.
CPOF applications will be introduced in the standard COC in
upcoming months, and are expected to substatianlly improve work
efficiency at the COC through collaboration and maintenance
of constantly updated COP. Such applications could also be shared,
to a limited extent, with command and control of combat elements
on the move, considered for deployment in the upcoming months.
In a different display Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and
the Office of Naval Research introduced a collective display
of their Joint Battlespace Viewerm (JBV) developmental effort,
a 3D visualization program providing a whole-earth representation
on a modern PC. Users can view any spot on the Globe, with image
resolution of up to 10 cm. These images can be integrated with
3D models and layered information. The present demonstration
included live video from UAV embedded in real-time onto satellite
imagery. JBV is already used by the First Marine expeditionary
Force (I MEF) in Iraq.
SelectFocus Tools
In another display associated with the future combat operations
center, GD C4Systems outlined the benefits of advanced image
processing applications for Intelligence Surveillance and
Reconnaissance (ISR) support, using the company's SelectFocus
applications. These include the SelectFocus Mosaic video mosaicking
application, creating a 'panoramic' image in near-real-time
from pre-stored or live video sequence. Through processing,
SelectFocus compensates for camera translation, rotation and
illumination variations generating a coherent image. The system's
output is translated into standard image format, hence dramatically
reducing the amount of data (or bandwidth used).
A different application, called SelecFocus Image conducts smart
compression of high resolution images, facilitating image distribution
over ultra-low-bandwidth communications channels (suitable for
basic Iridium channels bandwidth of 2.4 kbps). This application
uses a modified JPEG 2000 image coder compressing images with
multiple Regions of Interest (ROI). These sections are defined
by the analyst and preserved with optimal detail and resolution
throughout the compression process. To ease collaboration between
analysts the system integrates IP-based transmit and receive
functionality for one-touch image transmission and text messaging
to any
networked user. SelectFocus applications are being considered
for integration in the COC environment by 2008.
Other command and control elements were highlighted by Northrop
Grumman. The
company is offering Windows-based applications designed for
standard PCs, enabling users at different echelons to create
and share a Common Operating Picture (COP) across multiple workstations,
in stationary, moving and dismounted combat environments and
among multiple agencies. The company developed the Command and
Control PC (C2PC) platform enabling USMC users to create and
share tactical information and integrate it with information
accessed through COP from the Global Command and Control System
(GCCS) server. A subset of the system is implemented on Windows
Mobile, the Command and Control Compact Edition (C2CE). This
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)- based device enables mobile
users to share and edit the COP, while supporting local functionality
such as reporting users position, location, navigation and situational
awareness.
Lockheed Martin is developing a fleet of mobile operations
centers called C2AMMO, focused on enabling C2OTM for a variety
of missions and users, including military, federal and commercial
applications. The vehicle can support commanders at all echelons,
facilitating network access, sharing a broad common operating
picture, or used as a self-sustained network node, support local
operations and small units, for example, a platoon leader's
command vehicle supporting dismounted troops with local communications,
cross-unit collaboration and access to higher echelon network.
The system is integrated in a Hummer H1 testbed, integrating
computing, tactical radio,
wireless data (including 802.11 wi-fi, 802.16 WiMAX and secured
802.11 WLAN) and satellite communications systems. The vehicle
carries low-profile on-the-move SATCOM terminals operating in
the Ku and L band. The commander's workstation consists of a
detachable tablet PC, which automatically synchronizes with
the network when dismounted to ensure operational continuity.
Testing and evaluation of C2AMMO systems began in 2006, and
in 2007 the system already participated in several joint-forces
exercises including Joint Fires, and the Air Assault Expeditionary
Force exercise
planned for fall 2007. Different C2 On-The-Move application
integrated in a HMMWV was demonstrated at MDM 07 by DRS.
 500SE-M
GPS Enabled Tactical Camera
In June 2007 Defense Update covered the USMC use of compact
digital cameras on patrols to collect and support generating
HUMINT and IMINT intelligence through routine patrols. At MDM
07 Geo Tactical Solutions introduced a GPS embedded camera offering
many details making reconnaissance and intelligence collection
and report preparation a simple and intuitive process. Offering
a complete geo-tactical solution, the 500SE-M GPS camera  comes
in dust, drop and a waterproof impact resistant package with
a large 2.5" screen showing the images taken with superimposed
grid position. This information is recorded and stored with
every picture taken. After the mission, images are downloaded
and processed on a laptop. The report wizard coming with the
package, tracks all images plotting the mission's trail, from
GPS track-log 'breadcrumb'. Each image automatically provides
a hyperlink viewed on Google Earth or the military equivalent
FalconView. The selected images are imprinted with relevant
metadata and embedded into reports.
Other topics covered in this review:
|
>