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LESSON 1

REMBASS CONCEPT, MANAGEMENT, CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS

OVERVIEW

TASK DESCRIPTION:

In this lesson you will learn the concept, management, capabilities and limitations of the REMBASS system.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

INTRODUCTION

Armies that concentrate superior combat power at decisive times and places win battles. While there are no simple solutions to winning, there are certain key factors for success on the modern AirLand Battlefield. One factor is the support provided to the combined arms team through the Remotely Monitored Battlefield Sensor System (REMBASS).

In a tactical environment, REMBASS provides the airborne, air assault and light divisions, separate brigades, and armored calvary regiments (ACRs) with a situation and target development capability. This capability is necessary for the timely allocation of resources and combat power. With REMBASS, commanders have the capability to detect enemy forces and their exact location in real-time.

PART A - CONCEPT

REMBASS is integrated into the overall battlefield reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) plans at each echelon. In turn, each RSTA plan is incorporated into the entire intelligence network, thereby using its full value along with other information gathering methods. In this manner, information from multiple sources can be checked to provide rapid and reliable analysis to confirm an enemy's presence or detect intrusions.

Once the information has been, confirmed and its urgency established the commander may act on it immediately. The information is passed as target acquisition data and, at the same time, passed on to higher, lower and adjacent echelons. While this may seem lengthy and time consuming, the time from the first detection, through confirmation, to reaction, is only a matter of minutes.

There are other situations which need a system to detect and classify movement of personnel and equipment. The equipment can come from the rear area or security zones as well as depots, storage facilities, airports, demilitarized zones, and other restricted areas.

The REMBASS system is organic to airborne, air assault and light divisions, separate brigades and ACRs (see Figure 1-1). Personnel from assigned military intelligence (MI) units provide maintenance support to the system. REMBASS supports offensive, defensive, rear areas, special operations such as military operations on urban terrain (MOUT), rear security, and border surveillance.

Operationally, REMBASS can remain under division control in general support (GS). It can also be attached in direct support (DS) to division support headquarters, maneuver brigades and battalions, and ACRs.

The system is tasked by the division collection management and dissemination (CM&D) section. REMBASS teams report directly to the Intelligence Officer (S2) of the supported unit. The S2 plans the sensor employment with the assistance of the ground surveillance systems (GSS) team leader. The intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB) requirements guide REMBASS planning and employment.

Figure 1-1. Units that use REMBASS.

The sensor monitoring set (SMS) serves as the sensor output display and provides target identification and classification data. In most cases the SMS is located at the supported unit's tactical operations center (TOC).

Trained REMBASS personnel come from the MI battalion (division) and the MI company (separate brigades and ACRs) to deploy and monitor sensors and repeaters. Specialized training is required to effectively employ the system and analyze sensor data. REMBASS supported units are not required to provide personnel to operate the monitoring device, however; they may be required to provide security for the implanting team.

PART B - MANAGEMENT

The command is responsible for REMBASS management and general employment guidance. REMBASS must provide timely and accurate information at each echelon where combat forces move to take full advantage of the information. Because of its flexibility, REMBASS is employed by units from battalions to divisions.

Coordinating REMBASS operations is normally accomplished by the CM&D section at each command as part of their overall surveillance plan. A trained GSS (96R) noncommissioned officer (NCO) assists and advises on the technical aspects and employment of REMBASS. At brigade and battalion, close coordination is needed between the commander, S2, operations and training officer (S3), fire direction center (FDC) officer, and the GSS NCO to get the maximum benefit from REMBASS operations.

Possible sensor locations are determined by a study of the terrain, the enemy's past movements, and their suspected course of action. The decision process for employment normally begins at the lowest level, consistent with the requirement for centralized control. This reduces reaction time and permits screening of REMBASS information into the intelligence system.

A request for REMBASS support by subordinate units is forwarded from the battalion S2 to the brigade S2, who checks for duplication of effort and determines if the request meets the brigade's own requirements. The brigade S2 then submits the request through the division tactical surveillance officer (TSO) to the division CM&D, who will check it for division requirements. If confirmed, the division CM&D tasks the MI battalion, which then tasks the intelligence and surveillance (I&S) company. This is the normal process, but is subject to change based on unit structure in the intelligence chain.

A secure communication capability is critical because of the type and amount of traffic that a surveillance network generates. A secure communication system must be established to support the surveillance platoon in order to reduce the reaction time between detection and response. The support organization provides for a communication network organic to the platoon. The surveillance platoon network is tied into the intelligence communication network and automatically disseminates the information gained from REMBASS to stations monitoring the net.

Field wire communication is used with the TOC or FDC located within the immediate locale. This provides a fairly secure communication system while reducing radio traffic. Unsecure communications from the monitoring sites can compromise the intentions of friendly forces. Additionally, poor communication security (COMSEC) could provide the enemy with insight into our knowledge of their locations and actions, enabling them to take countermeasures.

Frequency control and management are command responsibilities which are discharged at theater or equivalent staff level. In addition, each major command (MACOM) organization (for example, division headquarters) that employs REMBASS must regulate and control the channels and identification (ID) codes used by each subordinate unit. Adjacent units within a command must not communicate on the same channel or use similar ID codes within the same battlefield area. Poor frequency management and control decreases the system's effectiveness and may render it useless. Centralized control is vital to restrict and manage limited equipment and to ensure maximum use.

PART C - CAPABILITIES

REMBASS provides a real-time detection capability. Sensors are portable, movement activated, and data transmitting. REMBASS provides surveillance in near all-weather and terrain, day, offensive, defensive, rear area, or special operations environment. Employed sensors are activated by magnetic, seismic, acoustic, or infrared (temperature) changes. This disturbance or movement is transmitted to a repeater or monitoring site. The sensors are passive in that they will only transmit when they detect movement/disturbances. The transmission is digitally encoded and sent in a micro-burst. Operators analyze the data and report information on--

• Target type.

• Target direction.

• Target location.

• Approximate number of targets.

• Length of column (FLOC).

• Target speed.

REMBASS sensors and repeaters can transmit 15 kilometers ground-to-ground or 100 kilometers ground-to-air. Because the transmission is micro-bursted, REMBASS transmissions are extremely difficult to locate with direction finding (DF) equipment. Because of the flexibility of the equipment and range of applications, various REMBASS equipment (see Figure 1-2) combinations can be selected to suit any mission. REMBASS equipment will be further discussed in lesson two.

PART D - LIMITATIONS

REMBASS does have limitations. The sensors and repeaters must be emplaced by hand. This increases response time to employ the system, and in hostile areas, exposes the implant team. The equipment requires radio line of sight (RLOS) to transmit data to the monitoring site. The equipment size and weight may limit the amount and distance it may be carried for emplacement (This is especially true for man-packing). Operator proficiency greatly affects the results. REMBASS cannot discriminate between friendly, enemy or indigenous personnel or vehicles.

Figure 1-2. REMBASS Sensors.