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The Automated Deep Operations Coordination System (ADOCS)
is one example of a joint mission management software application. The
concept originated as a DARPA Program and evolved into the "go to war"
automated support system for deep operations in several theaters. The
US Army is using over 5,000 such systems worldwide.
ADOCS is also a major segment of the intelligence application package
for Theater Battle Management Core System (TBMCS) functionality at
wing and squadron level. Deployed to the smallest detachments and all
the way up to the Combined Joint Task Force Headquarters, ADOCS shares
a Common Operational Picture through all users. The system enables
joint planning, coordinating, and executing with horizontal and
vertical integration across the joint battle space.
Enabling the service level commander and staff to
allocate critical air resources in an efficient way, the Air Tasking
Order (ATO) planning and execution tools are optimizing the employment
air assets, improving the flow of information for identification,
assignment, and nomination of targets. The process provides early
assessment of potential and planned missions. The center monitors ATO
execution through all phases and provides immediate visibility into
air nominations throughout the targeting process, including
distributed 8- and 4-hour updates to allow for detailed target
validation prior to strike. ADOCS also supports analysis to assess the
changes and movements of the Fire Support Coordination Line (FSCL) on
current and planned missions in the ATO. It provides immediate
visibility of targets exposed or covered by movements in the FSCL.
Situational awareness is provided by battlespace visualization
functions to support faster, accurate deep attack planning, and battle
space assessment. Tools provide visualization of coordination
measures, ingress and egress routes, and air defense threats. Friendly
fires are shown in 3D space over any area to effectively deconflict
dangerous situations. Battlefield geometries can also be overlaid with
imagery and terrain data to improve situation awareness and planning.
No Strike List (NSL) and Restricted Targets List (RTL) are constantly
referenced in all phases of mission development to eliminate potential
to collateral damage and fratricide.
Key integration functions within ADOCS are Joint Time Sensitive Target
management, The Joint Time Sensitive Targets Manager (JTSTM) in ADOCS
allows for target creation, vetting, coordination, and execution
across the Joint Command structure. It is tailored to allow the Region
Combatant Commander to use all of the weapons systems in the joint
battle space to engage time sensitive targets. Another feature of
ADOCS is the Intra-Air Operations Center Targets Management (ITM),
provides a tool for the Air Operations Center (AOC) to coordinate and
engage those targets which have a significant impact on the conduct of
the air battle. The ITM allows the users to coordinate, deconflict,
match aircraft to the target, and submit to Theater Battle Management
Core System (TBMCS) the request for a change to the Air Tasking Order
(ATO). The digital coordination and deconfliction features of this
manager greatly reduce detect to destroy times for AOC critical
targets. The ITM is also capable of linking its mission data to the
Joint Time Sensitive Target (JTST), Intelligence Surveillance and
Reconnaissance (ISR), and Fires managers in ADOCS for joint visibility
and engagement.
ADOCS supports coordination of certain air space through it is
Airspace Coordination Request (ACR) manager. The ACR Manager can
conduct time and altitude, zone and corridor deconfliction. ADOCS also
allows air space requests to be modified and coordinated across
boundary lines and through the echelons. The ACR manager is also
seamlessly integrated with the Tactical Airspace Integration System (TAIS)
for airspace management and visibility. ADOCS can display the Airspace
Control Order (ACO) from both TAIS and TBMCS and constantly compares
missions against the protected airspace to alert the users of
potentially dangerous conflicts. The Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR)
manager in ADOCS allows the local rescue coordination center to plan,
coordinate, and execute search and rescue operations across the joint
battlefield. By consolidating all of the critical information elements
into an in-depth mission roll-up, the agencies involved in Personnel
Recovery are able to view and track the progress of the recovery
operation. ADOCS uses the ATO to automatically recommend recovery
assets for direct pairing with a particular mission. The CSAR manager
also allows dynamic tasking of other assets to assist in the recovery
operation.
ADOCS contains mission managers that allow the user to
coordinate and execute indirect fires including tube artillery,
multiple launch rocket systems, ship fired missiles, and coordinated
engagements on seaborne Special Operations Forces. Not only does ADOCS
have the ability to weapon-target pair and begin the engagement
process, it always performs conflicts checks against the targets to
ensure there is no unnecessary collateral damage or fratricide. The
system supports Counterfire Common Operational Picture (CF-COP)
functions providing a near real-time picture of the artillery battle.
It allocates tube and rocket counter-battery resources for more
efficient counterfire operations through digital integration at
multi-echelons; from joint/combined level down to tactical firing
units. CF-COP also includes munitions allocation and weapon system
status. Weapon-target pairing provides improved use of available
munitions to maximize lethality while conserving time and munitions
for follow-on engagements.
The Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Manager in ADOCS
allows the intelligence community to coordinate multiple collection
platforms in a synchronized collection effort on the target. Following
the cross-queue collection effort, ADOCS has the ability to pass the
mission to its other target execution managers. Similarly, the JTST
and ITM managers in ADOCS can send missions to the ISR Manager for
detailed collection prior to determining the execution course of
action.
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