JETTS EFFECTS CHANGE
By Adam Baddeley, Deputy Editor, BATTLESPACE
The UK’s Joint Effects Tactical Target System (JETTS) BISA (Battlefield Information Systems Application) programme will provide an overarching solution for the network integration and collaborative management of both indirect fire and airborne sensor to shooter relationships. JETTS concept of employment sees its use in divisional, brigade and Battlegroup HQs along with HQ Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps. JETTS Requirements Manager, Major Paul Willcock said that together with the G2 ISTAR BISA, it will be one of the first BISAs to contribute to the UK’s nascent Network Enabled Capability (NEC). JETTS and the G2 ISTAR BISA are central to sensor to shooter concepts in NEC, enabling the co-ordination, synchronisation and integration of allocated joint strike and ISTAR assets. The goal is to fuse sensors, decision makers and weapon systems to allow the rapid and controlled delivery of precise effects.
The JETTS BISA is due to enter service in 2007. A Full Operating Capability will be achieved in four incremental packages until the last is declared operational in March 2015. Three consortia: LogicaCMG, AMS and Raytheon: received concept development phase contracts. A single team will be selected to enter the next phase. LogicaCMG was the prime contractor for the Fire Control (FC) BISA awarded in 2002.
JETTS requirements
The programme will enable joint effect delivery, providing a greater capability over a larger area with less manpower and resources. It will support a maneuverist approach to operations that exploits information age opportunities in the land battle.
“The timetable to complete land tactical targeting will be reduced [with JETTS]” explained Major Willcock, addressing industry at WBR’s Network Transformation conference. “A reduced delivery system and weapon utilization to service more targets will contribute further. [JETTS will] increase the combat effects by fusing the functions of a number of Land CBM applications [such as] ComBAT, G2 ISTAR and other land BISAs thus reducing response times, getting inside the enemies decision cycle and achieving surprise – all good things.”
JETTS will impact upon and optimise a number of battlefield functions via better synchronisation, enabling optimal effects to be achieved within a given timeframe. These functions include air manoeuvre, indirect fire, naval fires, air interdiction, CAS, information operations, offensive Electronic Warfare and air defence.
Embedded training is an integral part of JETTS. As an intuitive, role based HCI (Human Computer Interface), it will be used to improve resource management and lead to a consequent reduction in manpower and staffing requirements. “JETTS requires an embedded individual, team and collective training capability incorporating system validation, mission rehearsal and wargaming. It will have a training mode and the capability to toggle backwards and forwards from the training mode to the operational mode – which will be running behind it.” Collective synthetic training facilities will also support and represent JETTS and its effects.
In supporting indirect fires, JETTS will arguably become the Offensive Support Group (OSG) commander’s function-specific BMS. Funding has not yet been allocated to extend JETTS to the joint level. Until this funding is in place JETTS is limited to interconnection through a standard joint targeting interface.
A number of C4I systems will host JETTS over its lifetime. The programme will utilise communications provided by these systems. Initial integration will be on to Land CBM (Command and Battlespace Management) infrastructure, but after 2010 JETTS will operate over an enhanced, network enabled system.
JETTS and the BISAs
The UK battlefield architecture consists of BISAs. The Land CBM infrastructure and Platform specific BISAs: Bowman, ComBAT and PBISA: are known as the Common Infrastructure Pr