Intelligence

Tactical / Theater Airborne Reconnaissance System (TARS)
Podded Reconnaissance System (PRS)

Air Force tactical commanders require organic, survivable, and responsive penetrating tactical reconnaissance systems to collect intelligence information from the second echelon and beyond in adverse weather and all light conditions. Without such systems, tactical commanders may be forced to operate without adequate knowledge of enemy strength, location, disposition, and intentions. Today's tactical film systems cannot meet the reconnaissance needs of tactical commanders due to lack of timeliness and cumbersome support requirements. The TARS sensor package offers improved timeliness, reduced support costs, and improved operational capability over film systems. This system provides the tactical commander with an organic system capable of responding in Near Real time (NRT) (in time) to battlefield requirements.

TARS/PRS consists of 20-podded systems with embedded Electro-Optical (EO) sensor suites, five transportable Squadron Ground Stations, logistics support, and spares. This project includes tasks to develop and integrate the PRS on Air National Guard F-16C Block 30 aircraft. The PRS Initial Configuration Criteria (ICC) system provides a single forward looking EO framing sensor, sensor control, second sensor window, data recording, and internal pod environmental control. The pod interfaces with the F-16 cockpit Electronic Warfare Management System. The ICC system will also provide space and environmental control required to implement the Final Configuration Criteria (FCC) capabilities consisting of a second vertical/oblique EO sensor and provisions for a P3I (Pre-Planned Product Improvement) Common Data Link. FCC capability will be based on the integration of a Navy/Marine production Medium Altitude EO sensor.

Theater Airborne Reconnaissance System [TARS] is a podded reconnaissance sensor suite designed for under-the-weather, medium to high threat, daytime imagery collection. The mid-bay sensor of the TARS pod is a USN/USMC production EO sensor [Medium Altitude Elector Optical (MAEO) sensor] as recommended in the "Report to Congress on Medium Altitude Electro-Optical Sensor Requirements for the Theater Airborne Reconnaissance System (TARS)". The mid-bay sensor is optimized for both the vertical and side/oblique axis. The mid-bay sensor's capability requires National Imagery Interpretation Rating Scale (NIIRS) 5 from 30,000 feet slant range. Power, size, weight and cooling requirements are as follows: 400W power, 4.5 cubic feet volume, 129 lb. weight, cooled by forced air. USAF anticipated requirements are for four (4) each MAEO sensors for installation into GFE TARS pods, modification to the GFE TARS pods to allow for MAEO installation, installation of one (1) GFE MAEO sensor into a TARS pod and associated MAEO spares.

The Podded Reconnaissance System (PRS) provides a responsive "under-the-weather" reconnaissance capability to support intelligence and targeting requirements of military, multinational, and other government agency users. It provides a dedicated, on-demand, day/under-the-weather, selective aspect, literal imagery collection capability. It fills the high-threat, under-the-weather niche that cannot be accomplished by existing collectors such as space systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and the U-2. The PRS supports Combat Air Force (CAF) Mission Need Statement 328-93, Theater Airborne Reconnaissance System.

PRS consists of 20 podded systems with embedded electro-optical (EO) sensor suites, five transportable Squadron Ground Stations, logistics support, and spares. This project includes tasks to develop and integrate the PRS on Air National Guard F-16C Block 30 aircraft. The PRS Initial Configuration Criteria (ICC) system will provide a single forward looking EO framing sensor, sensor control, second sensor window, data recording, and internal pod environmental control. The pod will interface with the F-16 cockpit Electronic Warfare Management System. The ICC system will also provide space and environmental control required to implement the Final Configuration Criteria (FCC) capabilities consisting of a second vertical/oblique EO sensor and provisions for a P3I (Pre-Planned Product Improvement) Common Data Link. FCC capability will be based on the integration of a Navy/Marine production Medium Altitude EO sensor.

The new PRS technology attaches to the rear of the camera, built by Recon Optical, stores images digitally. Advances in digital imaging allow this system to save entire images on a photo-sensitive computer chip. The pod and its related technologies offer high-quality images, enhanced exploitation capabilities and high-speed transmission. The digital imagery also ends the need for time-consuming wet- film development. The camera can take two to three pictures each second, sending single-frame images to a recorder which can store 12,000 images. The Lockheed unit hangs directly off the belly of the 192nd's modified F-16s. Carrying the pod on the aircraft's centerline allows the F-16 to remain fully armed and able to support air-to-air and air-to-ground missions while gathering intelligence imagery.

Associated Units

• 192nd Fighter Wing - Virginia Air National Guard