Weapons system put to the test

RAAF Base Amberley is to be the site of trials of a new command and control system which, using leading edge technology and information processing, will lift job performance for Air Force people.

Theatre Battle Management Core Systems (TBMCS) is an American-designed system, which runs on ACSS. Training to implement TBMCS Force Level Tools at Amberley's 82 Wing should begin by the end of the month.

According to Group Captain Brent Crowhurst, Director of Doctrine and Development at Headquarters Air Command (HQAC), responsible for implementing TBMCS, the Air Commander, Air Vice-Marshal John Kindler, signed a letter on 24 January, which issued an operational concept for the Air Component Command and Control Weapons System.

'The Weapons System will eventually encompass all aspects of command and control of air operations including combat support,' GPCAPT Crowhurst explained.

'As part of the Weapons System, TBMCS is an initiative which will enable air operations at all levels to be planned and executed in the same manner whether in peacetime or on operations.

'It will allow all our operators to have a better picture, more quickly, of the situation and will also ensure that we are using technology and information systems that are at the leading edge of those available around the world.'

82WG will use TBMCS on Exercise Jabiru in early March, putting the system and operators to the test in the use of the system's applications before its introduction operationally at Amberley by the end of the month.

GPCAPT Crowhurst said TBMCS would primarily be used to create Air Tasking Orders (ATO) and Airspace Control Orders (ACO) as measures to plan and conduct air operations.

It also allows operational and tactical commanders to monitor the air picture while reacting to intelligence feeds.

TBMCS was initially used last year on Exercises Tandem Thrust and Kakadu and provided users with a picture of the broad ranging capabilities and potential of the system.

'The lessons learned at 82WG will be invaluable when implementation is extended to other sites,' GPCAPT Crowhurst said.

In all, 14 bases will run TBMCS by the end of this year, at first using what are termed Force Level Tools.

These applications include planning and replanning tools, execution management and airspace deconfliction capability, targeting and weaponeering for application of air power, and an extremely capable situation awareness tool.

Implementation of unit level tools, including logistics functions, will follow that of force level tools allowing units to schedule their air activities.

'A major bonus with TBMCS is that data entered at the "grass roots" level will only need to be entered once and will be accessible to all approved users, negating or reducing many time-consuming reporting functions,' GPCAPT Crowhurst added.

The TBMCS Coordination Team, which is facilitating the implementation of the system, is located at HQAC. The team has been engaged in assessing the vast suite of TBMCS software in terms of applicability to the Air Force, updating databases, establishing training and support plans and implementing the system.

PAF and Reserve members with a huge spread of expertise, including aircrew, air defence, intelligence, operations and a business analyst, make up the team.

GPCAPT Crowhurst said the diversity and wealth of experience is necessary for many facets of implementation.

As part of the support plan, a TBMCS Cell will be created at most bases and will include JSSA representatives, CISCONs, uniformed 'super users' and Reservists trained in the system. A help desk will be established at HQAC to assist with implementation of the system.