News From USJFCOM: JBAIIC hits ground running at EC 10


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JBAIIC hits ground running at EC 10

New ISR technologies are being demonstrated by Joint Battlespace Awareness ISR Integration Capability (JBAIIC) at Empire Challenge 10 at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.

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By Army Sgt. Josh LeCappelain
USJFCOM Public Affairs

(SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. – Aug. 6, 2010) – An adaptable mobile test bed to evaluate intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) technologies is supporting operations here as part of Empire Challenge 10 (EC 10).

EC 10 is an annual U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM)-led multinational ISR demonstration that showcases emerging capabilities and provides lessons learned to improve joint and combined ISR interoperability.

One tool that assists EC 10 functions is the Joint Battlespace Awareness ISR Integration Capability (JBAIIC), a USJFCOM Joint Intelligence Directorate (J2) Joint Intelligence Operations Center (JIOC) program managed and executed in partnership with the Naval Postgraduate School’s (NPS) Information Sciences Department. JBAIIC ensures ISR data collected, regardless of sensor, source or communications transport – is processed and exploited making it available immediately to joint and coalition warfighters.

Brian Wood, NPS JBAIIC deputy officer-in-charge and Task Force (TF) Rock Steady battalion commander for EC 10, described JBAIIC as a way to push ISR capabilities.

“JBAIIC has been coming to EC for several years to promote ISR technologies that can be used out on the front lines,” Wood said. “We’re taking these capabilities, demonstrating what they are, and showing what can be further advanced and redefined. Some will be fast tracked to the front.”

Technologies being demonstrated by JBAIIC at EC 10 include:

The Joint Reconfigurable Vehicle (JRV), that uses networking and communications equipment to receive, integrate and transmit tactical ISR and combat data to warfighters on the ground.
The Tacticomp device, that Wood described as a portable computing system with an embedded mesh radio that can be dismounted from a vehicle to coordinate information back to the JRV and the team at the JBAIIC tactical operations center (TOC).
The PRC-117G Falcon III radiothat yields increased data transfer capacity and interoperability with a broad range of communications. It provides an automated shift from short range line-of-sight communications to extended range, satellite-based, beyond line-of-sight communications.

JBAIIC’s trailers are flexible and can be reconfigured to meet requirements of the team. They have two operations centers at Fort Huachuca this year, a TOC and a network operations center. In years past the two were combined, this year, they are separated.

Wood stressed that JBAIIC had two goals for EC 10.

“First, JBAIIC has been able to present an environment for technologies to operate and exist. Being here gives us the ability to make tweaks so that things work better,” said Wood, who gathers his team at the end of every day to conduct an after-action review of what worked and what needs to be improved.

“We also allow each technology to have a chance to show the capabilities and full value to the decision makers,” he continued. “That’s why days (here) such as Industry Day or the Distinguished Visitor’s Day are so important, because the people that make the decisions and can get these technologies to the warfighters in theater can see them firsthand.”

Technologies fielded at JBAIIC during past ECs adopted into DOD service programs include the ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system, Shot Spotter, the Ground Situational Awareness Toolkit, and the Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar base defense system.

Wood added that other EC 10 capabilities like the Base Expeditionary Targeting and Surveillance System – Combined (BETSS-C) fall under TF Rock Steady. BETSS-C provides careful coordination of target tracking while giving higher headquarters improved situational awareness and a better view of the common operating picture.

JBAIIC team members can view imagery gathered by BETSS-C in real-time, providing an instant picture of events on the ground in the area near BETSS-C’s Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment tower. The tower is 80 feet tall and is equipped with various cameras and sensors to scan surrounding areas for suspicious activities.