MI Ground-Based Systems:
TROJAN SPIRIT II and IEWCS
by Lieutenant Colonel Gary W. Parker and Sergeant First
Class Dan O. Stephens II
The Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) System Manager (TSM)
Ground is the Army Proponent for the Intelligence Electronic
Warfare Common Sensor (IEWCS) and the TROJAN Special Purpose
Integrated Remote Intelligence Terminal (SPIRIT) II. This article
provides an overview of these systems and their current status.
TROJAN SPIRIT II Update
The TROJAN SPIRIT II, or TS II, is the linchpin system for
providing information connectivity to the military intelligence
(MI) battlefield operating system. The following information is a
general update on what the system does, its physical configuration,
basis of issue, and current program status. By understanding this
system, the MI professional can add another piece of technology to
the tool kit that provides the required timely intelligence to the
tactical commander in the field.
The TS II uses secure commercial and military satellite
communications (SATCOMs) to provide national- to tactical-level
connectivity in support of the warfighter's intelligence needs. The
system supports force projection by enabling split-based operations
between intelligence operating bases in sanctuary and forward
deployed units, and helps achieve information dominance by
providing the means for rapid, secure, and seamless sharing of
critical information in voice, data, or video formats across all
echelons.
A TS II system consists of two heavy high mobility multipurpose
wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs) with shelters, and a 2.4-meter diameter
SATCOM antenna mounted on a tactical trailer. Only one HMMWV (with
the SATCOM antenna trailer) is required to operate the system; the
other HMMWV is a spare equipment and maintenance vehicle. TS IIs
assigned to echelons-above-corps MI units have an additional
6.1-meter SATCOM antenna. A TS II is capable of aggregate data
rates of 1.544 megabytes per second (or T-1 ). Operating personnel
for the system is nominally four 98 career management field
soldiers. The basis of issue is two TS IIs per Force Package 1
(FP1) division; two per corps; one per FP2 division, ACR, and
separate brigade; and four per MI force projection brigade.
The TS II program is currently in the production, deployment, and
operational support phase of development. TROJAN SPIRIT II fielding
to date is
- Twenty-three Army TS IIs fielded to Army MI units to date, with
most units receiving at least one during FY95.
- Two TS IIs fielded to the Defense Airborne Reconnaissance
Office.
- Two TS IIs fielded to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC).
- The materiel developer has acquired the additional six USMC
systems to be fielded later this year.
The Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Advanced Concept
Technology Demonstration has ordered one system.
- The U.S. Air Force has indicated a desire to buy up to 13
additional TS IIs for their operational Predator UAV squadron.
- Contractor materiel shortages and funding problems have delayed
the FY96 fielding of an additional fifteen systems until the first
quarter of FY97.
The Army has no plans to purchase any more TS IIs after FY97; due
to efforts under way to transition MI long-haul communications
requirements to the Signal Corps' Army Common-User System.
From the continental United States to Bosnia, TS IIs around the
world continue to serve MI units and their supported commanders by
providing secure, mobile, and robust connectivity between
warfighters and the sustaining base. As fielding of the TS II
continues, most MI professionals can expect in the near future to
receive support either directly or indirectly from a TROJAN SPIRIT
II system.
IEWCS Overview
The Intelligence Electronic Warfare Common Sensor (IEWCS) is
the future division-level signals intelligence (SIGINT) electronic
support and electronic attack system. The IEWCS system consists of
the Ground Based Common Sensor-Heavy (GBCS-H), Ground Based Common
Sensor-Light (GBCS-L) and the Advanced QUICKFIX (AQF). A fourth
system called the Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System (MEWSS)
is the U.S. Marine Corps' IEWCS system. For further information
concerning the IEWCS systems see the article, Electronic Battle
Space Domination: The IEWCS System published in the January-March
1996 issue of Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin.
IEWCS Testing
The IEWCS testing sequence is a unique one in that IEWCS is
made up of three systems: GBCS-H, GBCS-L, and AQF. As such, each
of the three systems requires its own Initial Operational Test and
Evaluation (IOT&E) which essentially provides a 3-year time frame
in which to complete evaluation of the IEWCS system as a whole. An
IOT&E is a rigorous evaluation of the system under test. The test
is designed to identify any problems, that the system architecture
may have so that the fielded system is the best that it can be.
IEWCS testing will occur over the next three years:
- The first IEWCS IOT&E for the GBCS-L will be in September 1996.
Due to the requirement to have at least three systems
interoperating, the test will use two each GBCS-Ls, GBCS-Hs and
AQFs for this test. In addition, the U.S. Marine Corps will be
testing their MEWSS; they are using the IOT&E as a customer test
for the MEWSS. Having all the IEWCS systems present during the test
will afford the opportunity to evaluate the performance and
interoperability of all the different IEWCS systems.
- The AQF IOT&E will take place in the third quarter (3Q) fiscal
year 1997 (FY97).
- The final IEWCS IOT&E, testing the GBCS-H, will occur in 3Q
FY98.
Each test will provide input to ensure the fielded system meets or
exceeds the users' requirements.
IEWCS Fielding
- Initial fielding will consist of the GBCS-L (FY97) and the AQF
(FY98) only. In FY02 the GBCS-H will be ready for fielding. At that
time, heavy divisions will replace their GBCS-Ls with GBCS-Hs.
Light divisions will then receive these redistributed GBCS-Ls.
Fielding will continue until all divisions have the full complement
of IEWCS systems as outlined by the current basis-of-issue plan
(BOIP). The current BOIP provides four AQFs per division plus one
of the following: four GBCS-L per light division, four GBCS-H per
Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR), or six GBCS-H per heavy division.
Fielding of the IEWCS systems should be complete in 2010.
Lieutenant Colonel Parker is currently the Deputy TSM GBCS,
located at the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca
(USAIC&FH), Fort Huachuca, Arizona. He has served in numerous
command, operational intelligence, and research and development
assignments. His field experience includes deployment with a TROJAN
SPIRIT system to Somalia during Operation RESTORE HOPE. He has a
bachelor of arts degree in Aerospace Engineering from the
University of Colorado and three master's degrees (from the Naval
Postgraduate School in Systems Engineering for Electronic Warfare
and in Physics, and from Boston University in Business
Administration). Readers can contact Lieutenant Colonel Parker at
(520)533-5850/5579, DSN 821-5850/5579, and via PROFS/E-mail at
parkerg%hua1@ huachuca-emh11 .army. mil.
Sergeant First Class Stephens is the Noncommissioned Officer
in Charge, TSM Ground-Based Common Sensor. He has served in many
tactical SIGINT units. His experience includes an assignment as the
Platoon Sergeant of a QUICKFIX platoon which participated in
Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. You can contact him at
(520) 533-1760/2429 and DSN 821-1760/2429.