Tactical Electronic Reconnaissance Processing And Evaluation System AUTHOR Major J. A. Kilbourn CSC 1988 SUBJECT AREA C4 TACTICAL ELECTRONIC RECONNAISSANCE PROCESSING AND EVALUATION SYSTEM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Marine tactical commander's primary source of electronic order of battle information and only active duty source of airborne electronic countermeasures is the EA-6B Prowler. To be a completely effective weapon platform the Prowler is supported by the AN/TSQ-90 Tactical Electronic Reconnaissance Processing and Evaluation System (TERPES). TERPES is an intelligence processing system which has undergone a series of planned product improvements since its entrance into service with the Marines in 1967. A key piece in the intelligence processing and disseminating cycle, TERPES receives information from various sources in real-time or near-real-time and has the capability to re-transmit data to users in the Marine Air Combat Element or to higher level intelligence processors. In addition to Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) information, TERPES can provide flight planning data for all fixed-wing, tactical aircraft in the Marine inventory. This data includes known threat positions with corresponding engagement ranges adjusted for surrounding terrain and ingress altitude of the strike aircraft. Designed primarily for use with the EA-6B, improvements in the capabilities of TERPES allow support for all Marine aviation and ground commanders. This reflects a growing understanding of the importance of proper utilization of the electro-magnetic spectrum. Using this single intelligence source, no Marine commander need be at a loss for accurate, timely electronic intelligence. With this intelligence he can readily handle the toughest situations and emerge victorious time after time. TACTICAL ELECTRONIC RECONNAISSANCE PROCESSING AND EVALUATION SYSTEM OUTLINE Thesis Statement. Evolutionary improvements to USMC Tactical Electronic Reconnaissance Processing and Evaluation System (TERPES) insure the MAGTF commander will continue to have the right intelligence to fight and win tomorrow's battle today. I. TSQ-90 (TERPES) HISTORY A. TSQ-90 supports the EA-6A in Viet Nam B. TERPES Phase I C. TERPES Phase II II. TERPES INTEGRATION INT0 THE INTELLIGENCE NETWORK A. The Joint Intelligence Center B. MAGIS described C. Outside sources available to TERPES D. TERPES intelligence products III. TERPES INTEGRATION WITH USMC FIGHTER AND ATTACK SQUADRONS A. Tactical EA-6B Mission Planning System (TEAMS) B. Tactical Area Mission Planning System (TAMPS) IV. TERPES INTEGRATION WITH THE WING COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM A. Signals Intelligence/Electronic Warfare Center (S/EWCC) B. Link with Tactical Air Command Center/Tactical Air Direction Center V. TERPES PHASE III A. Description of EA-6B (ADVCAP) and Weapons System Capabilities B. Increase real-time intelligence products to users. LIST OF TABLES Table Page I. INTELLIGENCE REQUIREMENT FOR THE ACE 8 II. AN AIR DEFENSE EXAMPLE 9 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. TERPES MONITORING REAL-TIME ADVCAP MISSION 13 TACTICAL ELECTRONIC RECONNAISSANCE PROCESSING AND EVALUATION SYSTEM Today's battlefields extend from up close and in person to over the horizon. Weapons ranges and targeting accuracy have improved significantly, especially since the introduction of surface-to-air missiles during the Viet Nam conflict. The successful commander not only looks at, but understands, his enemy in depth. Regardless of what uniform he wears, today's commander manages his forces and is managed electronically. Electronic management tools can be very useful, however, if mismanaged they can become a weak link in a force's armor. Military leaders in both the United States and the USSR fully appreciate the need to control the electromagnetic spectrum and deny its use to opposing forces. In the Soviet Union this electronic battle is called REC (Radio Electronic Combat) in the United States its name is EW (Electronic Warfare). Regardless of what it is called (I will use the terms to differentiate between actions of friendly forces (EW) and Opfor (REC)) control of the electronic battlefield requires domination in three sub-categories; ESM (Electronic Surveillence Measures) the gathering of electronic intelligence, ECM (Electronic Countermeasures) the denial of use of the electro-magnetic spectrum to your opponent, and ECCM (Electronic Counter-countermeasures) your actions to maintain the use of the electro-magnetic spectrum. Within the United States Marine Corps, EW is apportioned to the MAGTF (Marine Air Ground Task Force) commander in two elements each capable of performing each of the three aforementioned tasks within EW. The Ground Combat Element (GCE) commander has access to detachments of the Radio Battalion and the Air Combat Element (ACE) has his detachments from Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron-2 (VMAQ-2). In the past MAGTF commanders had difficulty correlating the data coming from these units and others within the intelligence network, they needed a better way to quickly get processed intelligence, and therefore the MAGIS (Marine Air Ground Intelligence System) was organized with the TERPES (Tactical Electronic Reconnaissance Processing and Evaluation System) as a key segment.1 It is beyond the scope of this paper to fully discuss the MAGIS system, but I will show the importance of the integration of TERPES into the network. Until the introduction of TERPES into Southeast Asia in 1967, Marine ground and air commanders and planners had to rely on electronic intelligence (ELINT) data that came very slowly through US Air Force and US Navy channels. This intelligence was often so sanitized or so old, that it was of little value for day-to-day usage. The Marines introduced the EA-6A to provide the MAF commander and his staff with current ELINT data (ESM), as well as to provide tactical jamming support (ECM) for airstrikes against targets defended by radar guided surface-to-air threats. Marine Electronic Warfare Officers (EWO's) recorded parametric data of hostile radars on analog magnetic tapes and on knee-board cards and were thus able to provide timely updates to the Radar Order of Battle (ROB). These updates made subsequent strikes against targets safer for the aircrews because they were able to avoid known threat areas. The tapes were processed in the TSQ-90 vans and manually checked against the flight logs of the aircrew. This was a tedious task, but it was the best tactical ELINT game in town for many years. During the 1975-1978 period, TERPES received a product immprovement that allowed it to support and use ESM and ECM data recorded from the EA-6B ICAP (Improved Capability). In 1979, a thorough review of TERPES, MAGIS, and other Marine Corps combat systems was conducted. This review identified operational requirements for future EW systems that would be compatable with the EA-6B/TERPES team. A two-phased product improvement plan was determined to be the most economically feasible way to satisfy the required operational capabilities.2 Phase One concentrated on improving the reliability and maintainability of the existing TERPES configurations through replacement of peripheral devices with military standard equipment and refurbishment of the present 16-year old computer.3 It also insured that the TSQ-90/TERPES could continue to use data from both the EA-6A and the EA-6B ICAP 1 aircraft. Phase Two of the upgrade replaces the existing computer and its serial processing executive software with one Navy standard AN/UYK-43 computer and software. Phase Two also provides for future growth from the EA-6B ICAP II to the EA-6B ADVCAP (Advanced Capability) which will be introduced to the Marine Corps during the early 1990's.4 Phase Two of the TERPES product improvement and corresponding increased capabilities of the EA-6B, significantly improve the MAGTF commander's ability to obtain timely ELINT data. TERPES now is fully integrated with the Intelligence Analysis Center (IAC) of MAGIS, the Tactical Air Operations Center (TAOC), All Source Imagery Processor (ASIP) and Tactical Receive Equipment (TRE).5 Though still physically located with VMAQ-2 at home in Cherry Point, NC or while deployed outside Conus in support of Unit Deployment or LF6F (Landing Force 6th Fleet) commitments, data can be transmitted to the IAC via various means including secure teletype or standard naval message. ELINT data is available, on request to other ACE units to assist them in specific mission planning as well as contingency planning. To insure that all data is current, TERPES has several sources from which to update its data base. Primarily, TERPES uses the Naval Intelligence Processing System (NIPS) Phase III Electronic Order of Battle and Naval Intelligence Support Center (NISC) Radar Characteristics List (RCL),6 but also takes input from data collected by the EA-6B and other ELINT platforms to maintain a current picture of the Tactical Area Of Interest (TAOI). At the present time, high priority ELINT information can be processed and transmitted to MAGTF, or national authorities, within 30 minutes after an EA-6B has landed. Other functions of the TERPES system take a back seat until the "flash" reports are finished. This means that subsequent EA-6B mission planning routines, and those for other ACE units who may desire to utilize TERPES products, will be delayed some what. TERPES Phase II is good, but it needs to get better in order to provide the commander with the best, most timely intelligence available. A task, among the several assigned to TERPES, of providing mission planning services is of primary interest to aircrews of VMAQ-2. This service is available to aircrew of all Marine Corps fixed wing squadrons and includes chart preparation, and fuel planning considerations as well as threat awareness though few aircrew outside VMAQ-2 are aware that they can use TERPES too. The EA-6B ICAP II currently requires mission data to be entered to the Central Mission Computer (CMC) on a Raymond Recorder Reproducer Set (RRS) cassette.7 The RRS can only be uploaded from a US Navy developed system designated TEAMS (Tactical EA-6B Mission Planning System). TERPES is being retrofitted to accomodate differences in software to allow data transfer from the TERPES data base to the TEAMS data base. This will allow the VMAQ-2 aircrew to constantly have current data in their onboard system. It follows, then, that subsequent ESM and ECM missions will make penetration of threat zones more survivable to friendly aircrew involved. Like TEAMS is used to input data into the EA-6B CMC, future Marine Corps jets will use a system called TAMPS (Tactical Area Mission Planning System) to load their onboard computers with navigation, communication and weaponeering data. TERPES will be able to interface directly with the TAMPS data bases at the squadron ready room, eliminating the need for aircrews to be briefed at the TERPES van complex. TERPES will be able to provide data relative to current threat locations, by placing known threats on a three dimensional digital map. This allows aircrew to see exactly how terrain and ingress altitudes may affect the engagement ranges of surface-to-air missiles and radar controlled anti-aircraft artillery.8 This aspect of TERPES will also pay huge dividends to the MAGTF commander by reducing the casualty and aircraft loss rates of his air combat element. VMAQ-2 is currently testing a UHF (Ultra-High Frequency) data link between and airborne EA-6B and the TERPES van complex.9 This down-link provides the TERPES analysts with real-time information that they can evaluate and pass along to other users as processed intelligence. Utilizing existing communications networks, a commander and even certain air controllers can have access to real-time intelligence that locates hostile surface-to-air threats and can also assist in locating hostile air-to-air threats.10 By utilizing Tactical Digital Information Links A, B and C (TADIL A, TADIL B and TADIL C) nets in the EA-6B / TERPES-Command & Control network, interoperability with the Navy, the Air Force and the Army is enhanced during joint operations.11 Accepting that this capability is technologically available and is needed by MAGTF commanders to successfully prosecute their overall battle plan more efficiently, what intelligence can they expect and how will they use it? In their report to The Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, French, Hansen and Yahner noted that Essential Elements of Information (EEI's) will be developed to answer specific questions during three different phases of a campaign. The EEI's will be identified in terms of their usefulness in terms of timeliness; timeliness is dependent upon the degree of lethality of the threat, the potential or actual rate of change in the location of the threat (relative to friendly units), and the time required to counter the threat by destruction, neutralization or avoidance.12 The authors list the three phases as planning, execution and assessment. Table I. illustrates who needs information provided by the EA-6B/TERPES team during each of these phases. Click here to view image Using the Air Defense task of Marine Aviation, TABLE II illustrates the specific EEI as related to both time and the required user. The following codes are used: N - Real time/as fast as possible 5 - Within 5 minutes of collection H - Within 1 hour of collection D - Within 24 hours of collection Click here to view images * TACC - TACTICAL AIR CONTROL CENTER TAOC - TACTICAL AIR OPERATIONS CENTER LAAM BN - LIGHT ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILE BATTALION LAAD TEAMS - LOW ALTITUDE AIR DEFENSE TEAMS DASC - DIRECT AIR SUPPORT CENTER TACP - TACTICAL AIR CONTROL PARTY TAC (A) - TACTICAL AIR CONTROLLER (AIRBORNE) FAC (A) - FORWARD AIR CONTROLLER (AIRBORNE) The prededing figures illustrate the need for near real-time and real-time information for one segment of the MAGTF. The EA-6B / TERPES collection team has the information but unless the data is requested there are no present means to share it with potential users below the Marine aircraft wing level. Using present systems ELINT reports are transmitted (most frequently) via classified message to national level intelligence agencies. This generally does not allow a free sharing of information with adjacent squadrons within the wing who, as we have previously seen, have a need for this intelligence. Although the Marine Corps is developing the UHF data link capable of providing the TERPES unit with real-time information, there is still the need to distribute the intelligence gathered to the users in near real-time. TERPES needs to have a communications connection into several systems simultaneously. The first link should go into the Intelligence Analysis Center (IAC) or the Signals Intelligence Electronic Warfare Center (S/EWC) located at the MAGTF command post. Of equal importance, on a different command level, are the TACC / TAOC of the Marine aircraft wing. With this simple arrangement both ground and air combat element commanders and the air defense elements will receive a clear picture of the battle field as it really is, rather than as it was. (This information will also be made available to US Navy and US Air Force theater assets to insure interoperability when developing the air defense picture.) This communications gap is expected to be filled in future versions of the EA-6B and TERPES weapon system. The developers of the EA-6B / TERPES system have continued to plan for expansion. The EA-6B ADVCAP (Advanced Capability) aircraft is expected to arrive in the USMC inventory in the early 1990's. TERPES Phase III will enter the inventory at the same time to support ADVCAP real-time missions.13 During real-time mission support, the TERPES operator can monitor the progress of the airborne Prowler and re-transmit the processed intelligence to user agencies within 15 minutes. Figure 1. illustrates this capability as it relates to the MAGTF. Click here to view image The TERPES / Prowler ELINT collection systems of today and of the near future provide some very sophisticated and necessary intelligence capabilities to assist commanders in winning the battle. This combined system provides the commander with a single source of ELINT data in a straight-forward, real-time manner. The system incorporates sufficient evolutionary growth potential to handle any threat today or in the future. It is capable of working effectively with our sister services, as well as other Marine units, in any theater where we may be asked to fight. The bottom line is that no Marine commander need be at a loss for accurate, timely electronic intelligence on the battlefield. With this intelligence he can readily handle the toughest situations and emerge victorious time after time. FOOTNOTES 1 Proposed Required Operational Capability for Pre-Planned Product Improvement (P3I) of the AN/TSQ-90 Tactical Electronic Reconnaissance Processing and Evaluation System. 2 Ibid. 3 Ibid. 4 Ibid. 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid. 7 VEDA REPORT #53030-87U/P4429 TERPES PHASE III FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFICATION of 1 July 1987, 8 Terry W. Carter, CWO-3, USMC, TERPES Development Project Officer, personnal interview about TERPES programs, Quantico, VA, 21 Dec 1987. 9 bid. 10 Near Real Time Intelligence Support for The Tactical Aviation Combat Element Commander by James E. French, Robert P. Hansen and Frank A. Yahner, 1986-1987, The Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University. 11 Ibid. 12 Ibid. 13 VEDA Report Number 53030-87U/P 4429, TERPES PHASE III FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS dtd 1 July 1987. BIBLIOGRAPHY Carter, Terry W., CWO-3, USMC. Personal Interview (21 December 1987) French, James E., Hansen, Robert P., Yahner, Frank A., "Near Real Time Inteligence Support for The Tactical Aviation Combat Element Commander." The Industrial College of the Armed Forces National Defense University, Fort McNair, D.C. (1986-1987) Proposed Required Operational Capability for Pre- Planned Product Improvement (P3I) of the AN/TSQ-90 Tactical Electronic Reconnaissance Processing And Evaluation System Sonnenberg, Steven B., Maj, USMC, "The New Look Prowler," CSC Research Paper (3 April 1986). U. S. Marine Corps. Electronic Warfare Command And Control For The Aviation Combat Elements (August 1985) VEDA INCORPORATED. VEDA Report Number 53030-87U/ P4429 TERPES Phase III Functional Requirements Specification. VEDA INCORPORATED, San Diego, CA, (July 1987)
