BLUFOR Reconnaissance Assets
The following aircraft will be gamed, but conceptually. That is, rather than use any formulas or rules to determine sightings, the umpire will just notionally guess the probability of detection based on the basic information below. Where appropriate, he will determine the probability of sightings and roll the dice accordingly to see what was spotted, if anything.
National-level Assets
Satellites
See the document Satellites & UAVs for rules and guidelines affecting satellite and UAV deployment.
U-2S
High-altitude, manned reconnaissance aircraft. Unrefueled range is 4,600 nautical miles, ceiling is 90,000 feet. The U-2 carries two high-resolution imaging film cameras as well as SENIOR YEAR high-resolution electro-optical system (range 120 km), an advanced SAR radar system (range 180 kms) and SENIOR GLASS COMINT and ELINT systems range 280 km).
The 9th Reconnaissance Wing is the home of the US fleet of U2s, based at Beale Air Force Base, CA. This wing is made up of the following squadrons, each consisting of 4 aircraft:
A detachment of 2 aircraft may be split off to cover targets in the same theater, but the results will not be as thorough or as accurate.
Theater-level Crewed Reconnaissance Assets
JSTARS
Modified Boeing 707 carrying a 26-foot-long phased-array radar
module under the fuselage. The radar has a 250km range and operates
in two modes:
a) Wide Area Surveillance/Moving Target Indicator (WAS/MTI): This
mode will detect, locate and ID slow-moving targets (between 1.5
and 58 knots), and can differentiate between wheeled and tracked
vehicles.
b) Synthetic Aperture Radar/Fixed Target Indicator (SAR/FTI):
This mode produces a photograph-like image or map of selected
regions. SAR data maps contain precise locations (within 3 meters)
of non-moving targets -- bridges, buildings, airports, stationary
vehicles.
JSTARS has a crew of 4 and onboard staff of 18 Army and USAF personnel.
It typically flies an 8-hour sortie, up to 20 with air refueling.
Data is transmitted near-realtime to a JSTARS Common Ground Station
Module (GSM) which is part of the JTF Joint Intelligence Center
(JIC).
Due to budget cuts, there are only two JSTARS aircraft available with a fully trained crew in 2009. One each is assigned to the Atlantic and the Pacific Commands. The Atlantic command detachment has been deployed to Rhein-Main AB, Germany. The Pacific detachment has not yet been deployed.
E-3 AWACS
Modified Boeing 707 with a rotating radar dome above the fuselage.The APY-2 radar has a detection and tracking range of 592 km vs large air targets, 267 km vs small air targets, 20km vs very small air targets, and 67 km vs stealth targets*. The radar is also effective against naval surface targets. The aircraft is capable of linking its target data to the entire spectrum of ground, air and naval analysis and battle management systems. AWACS has an operational ceiling of 30,000 ft and cruise speed of 422 knots. Operational range is 8,100 km unrefueled. It typically flies an 8-hour sortie and up to 20 hours with air refueling. (Missions involving naval or air contacts will be modelled by H2 computer sim or the H4 miniature rules wherever possible, while ground forces will be detected notionally by the umpires.)
RIVET JOINT
These RC-135 aircraft may be tasked to perform COMINT and ELINT intercept operations at ranges up to 240 kms. Collects, analyzes and reports in near real-time, integrates data with AWACS and JSTARS. Typically flies 11-hour sortie, up to 20 hours with air refueling.
Army/Corps-level Crewed Aircraft Assets
GUARDRAIL
Corps-level SIGINT aircraft has a LOS coverage of up to 450km from the aircraft and a data link range to its ground support station of 150km. Mission endurance is 5 hours and mission altitude is 20,000 to 30,000 feet. The prop-driven aircraft performs both COMINT and ELINT collection and DF; targets are all emitters (including radars and jammers) in the electromagnetic spectrum. There are 6 x RC-12D aircraft plus Ground Station Module (GSM) in the Corps MI Brigade.
CRAZYHAWK
Crazyhawks carry the side scanning MTI radar that scans a 120 degree swath covering 50km - 100km away from the aircraft, a HF/VHF/UHF intercept and direction finding system, infra red line scan, FLIR, and optical cameras. 3rd MI BN [Aerial Exploitation] - 501st MI BDE, Korea, A company operates the 3 RC-7B Crazyhawks.
Land-Based Systems
TRACKWOLF (Enhanced)
Dedicated to COMINT and direction finding in the HF skywave spectrum
(primary
comms spectrum of OPFOR HQ at division, Army and Front levels).
Supports EAC
commanders and supplies data to All-Source Analysis System (ASAS)
within 30
minutes of collection and analysis. TRACKWOLF System consists
of 3 stations each
with 9 operators performing several functions: DF (1), Analysis
(2), Collection
(6). Deployed as part of Military Intelligence Brigade (EAC) in
support of Army
or Theater/JTF operations.
PROPHET
This system was fielded to replace the cancelled GBCS. PROPHET
Ground provides
the principal SIGINT and EW capability of US divisions, ACRs and
IBCTs. The
SIGINT component is capable of detecting and electronically displaying
all enemy
emitters (comms, radars, jammers, etc.) in the division or brigade/regiment1s
operational frontage, up to 120 kms deep. The EW component can
exploit detected
frequencies and/or selectively jam them. PROPHET Ground systems
are deployed
with each of the three DS Companies of the Division MI battalion.
PROPHET
Control is deployed with the division/brigade TAC or TOC and coordinates
deployment of the PROPHET Ground systems for maximum effectiveness.
LRAS3
The Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System is mounted on
scout vehicles
of a division1s Brigade Reconnaissance Troops, the Scout Platoons
of the armor
and infantry (mech) battalions, and of the IBCT RSTA Squadron.
The system
consists of a TV camera with 2nd generation FLIR, a laser designator
and laser
warning system. The FLIR system has a range of 8,000 meters and
can 3see2
through dust, smoke, and fog. The unit also incorporates the STRIKER
system used
by artillery fire support teams for enhanced targeting capability.
LRAS3 imagery
is distributed directly to battalion and brigade commanders and
intelligence
assets for greater situational awareness and analysis.