How Do US Air Force Aircraft Identify Each Other? |
How Do US Air Force Aircraft Identify Each Other?
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Aircraft have a number of systems intended to communicate their presence to each other—but these systems are imperfect, as Operation Epic Fury has demonstrated.
Throughout Operation Epic Fury, US forces have lost multiple aircraft. The causes for the losses were varied, ranging from communications breakdowns to mechanical issues to Iranian anti-aircraft missiles to friendly fire.
Some analysts have argued that many of these incidents—particularly those involving friendly fire—could be avoided if the United States and its allies had a better understanding of the crowded battlespace around the Persian Gulf. In response, the Defense Intelligence Unit (DIU) is seeking new “common operating picture” software to help US pilots and ground crews better understand their surroundings.
How Aircraft Get to a “Common Operating Picture”
A common operating picture is a shared, real-time view of the battlefield. This includes friendly aircraft positions, enemy threats, terrain, weather—everything. The goal is to generate unified situational awareness........