| | Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) |
| | Digital Imaging |
| | Primary Purpose | TARPS provides tactical wet film photographs and |
| | TARPS Completely Digital Imagery (CD) to area |
| | commanders. |
| | Sub-Functions | TARPS imagery has proven useful in supporting |
| | crisis relief operations by enabling rescue and |
| | relief personnel to quickly determine the |
| | hardest-hit areas and areas that require |
| | immediate assistance. Integration of new sensors |
| | and control systems by various contract vendors |
| | and other Government agencies continue to improve |
| | TARPS capabilities and expanded functionality |
| | can be expected. |
| | Equipment Requirements | TARPS is housed in a LA-610 pod mounted on |
| | weapons station #5 of the F-14. Equipment mounted |
| | in the TARPS pod consists of the KS-87D Serial |
| | Framing camera, the KS-153/KS-153B Long-range |
| | Standoff framing camera, the KA-99 Low Altitude |
| | Panoramic camera, or the AAD-5 Infrared Line |
| | Scanner system. The complete Digital pod |
| | incorporates the CA-261 Electro-optical camera, |
| | the U2 Interoperable Ground data link, the |
| | CA-2000 Image display system, and the Ampex DCR |
| | 240 digital recorder, allowing for real-time |
| | imagery dissemination. The imagery can be viewed |
| | in the aircraft for frame selection and |
| | transmission. |
| | Connectivity Requirements | Film from the TARPS pod is hand carried to the |
| | EH-38 film processor located in CVIC or the photo |
| | lab on ship. TARPS CD requires a CDL (Common |
| | Data Link) using the CHBDL system. (Common High |
| | Band Data Link) or by using the DCRS |
| | transmit/receive link from/to an FTI equipped |
| | aircraft or it maybe transmitted/received |
| | aircraft to aircraft. The Digital Camera |
| | Receiving Station (DCRS) is located in CVIC, |
| | SWATSLANT, or a Portable Digital Camera Receiving |
| | Station (PDCRS) which is manned by the INTEL |
| | personnel. |
| | Crypto Requirements | Film and CD imagery are classified by their |
| | content. The TARPS DI imagery is encrypted |
| | through the KY-58 encryption device. |
| | Normal Locations | There are normally 4 TARPS pods in a squadron. |
| | This will now vary with the incorporation of CD |
| | pods in the inventory. There are 42 TARPS pods, |
| | plus 6 CD equipped pods and one designated for |
| | use with the SHARPS program as a "Risk |
| | Mitigation" flight test item. |
| | Information Managed | Hard copy imagery and near real time digital |
| | imagery. |
| | Products Created | Film and digital photo imagery. |
| | Lead Service/Contractor | The TARPS system was entirely designed and |
| | manufactured by the U. S. Government. Naval Air |
| | Development Center (NADC Warminster, PA) built |
| | six engineering test models and Naval Aviation |
| | Center Indianapolis built the production units. |
| | Depot level maintenance was transferred from Hill |
| | AFB to Raytheon Inc. Indianapolis and Tricor |
| | inc. Elgin IL. |
| Current Fielding Status | TARPS is scheduled to remain in service until it |
| is replaced by the F-18 E/F SHARPS system or yet |
| unannounced system. |
| Known Problems | The majority of the problems associated with |
| TARPS stem from the failure of older sensors, |
| equipment and the impact of climate extremes on |
| wet film. Aircrew training/operation is also of |
| significant impact. |
| DIICOE Compliance Rating | Not rated. |
| Point of Contact | Mr. Neil Bellamy, TARPS representative, Naval Air |
| Station, Oceana, email TARPSREP@AOL.COM |
| Updated by | Capt Douglas J. Scott, CCSC-01 |
|
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