A radio-based battlefield combat identification system has been demonstrated using a British Army AgustaWestland/Boeing Apache AH1 attack helicopter.
The Apache pilot used a kneetop computer that provided a map with co-ordinates, the rotorcraft’s heading, a target icon and which indicated the position of friendly forces.
The pilot transmitted the global positioning system location of the suspected enemy with the selected engagement weapon’s blast radius information. Friendly forces then reported back their relative position, which was displayed on the map. A joint US Department of Defense/UK Ministry of Defence project, the system was tested during an exercise on Salisbury Plain in October.
Source: Flight International
