[DSII] [Tech] Battlefield Awareness (Was: [GZG] [HIST] Military Ha...

In a message dated 10/28/98 9:42:32 AM Pacific Standard Time, jiji@my-
> dejanews.com writes:

> Actually (to bring up Clancy again) in Executive Orders, he wrote

> vehicles equipped with the system, allowing something very like a

::DROPPING LURKER-CLOAK::

Yes, the Inter-Vehicular Information System (IVIS) is being fielded on
the latest versions of US fighting vehicles. While I've been light
infantry/airborne for my career, from what I hear it is an impressive
system, so long as one insures they don't let it lead them to the temptation
of micromanagement. It will be even more impressive when the newest generation
of "smart rounds" come out for the Abrams. Now a firing unit will not have to
see it's target, just know where on the map it is, even if behind frontal
cover.  This is also to be of great use for the AH-64D Longbow Apaches
and the
RAH-66 Commanches.  One chopper unmasks its' millimetric-wave radar and
peeks for targets. This info is squirted to the other choppers to include
location,
target type (ie., tank, IFV, flak-panzer, command track, etc) and
priorities of fire. Each designates their targets on the screen, the IVIS's
squawk back and forth to insure no one is "doubling up" on the juicy targets,
and then they fire from behind cover. This same information can also be sent
back to fire control centers to bring down arty and air strikes.

It's an impressive addition and has led to the decision by the US Army to
reduce the combat companies in Armor and Mech Infantry battalions from 4 to 3.
You can be subject to info overload, and a desire to fiddle with what others
are doing, but that can be overcome in training. While jamming is possible,
the system sends info by frequency hop and encrypted so this is rather
impractical unless you wish to do without comms yourself, and this is assuming
you have a jammer powerful enough and close enough to pull it off. More info
can be found in the IVIS in Armored Cav, also by Clancy. It's a
non-fiction
overview of US armored cavalry (and US mech forces in general).