30 Commando Information Exploitation Group RM

Ex Talisman Sabre Intelligence Support to Targeting

by Capt L Barren-Robinson RM

Supporting 29 Cdo Regt RA, elements of 30 Cdo IX Gp RM HQ, SRS, Y Sqn and Comms Sqn deployed to Northern Territory, Australia, on Ex Talisman Sabre 25 in an effort to develop the RN End-T o End Targeting capability. As part of this, four ranks formed a Comms Support Team (CST), helping enable the FIND, FIX, TRACK, TARGET and STRIKE of two targets within Bradshaw Field Training Area, 600km south of Darwin.

The CST used Tactical Communication and Information Systems (TacCIS) in conjunction with Operational Communication and Information Systems (OpCIS) in partnership with Commando Forces Project Team (CFPT) to create a data centric network which allows a Common Operating Picture (COP) between land, sea and air. Through TacCIS using HF, SATvoice and SATdata networks, all source intelligence was gathered from various sensors from the forward deployed SRS Gp and allowed a real time build-up of information in the Tactical Operations Cell (TOC) based out of RAAF Darwin. In partnership with CFPT, OpCIS was achieved within an F-Dev environment using the MPU5 Strike Network alongside LTAC VMF data. Using LTAC and the Strike Network, data is then published back to land, sea and air assets such as the Commando Joint Operations Cell (CJOC) and Royal Navy Operational Advantage Centre (RNOAC) in the UK or HMS Prince of Wales in the Indo-Pacific. The data was then transferred enabling targeting information to be sent to air assets for further intelligence gathering and/or strikes. Data was uploaded for first line intelligence analysis, to enable an intelligence fusion function forward from the UK. This exercise has combined TacCIS and OpCIS to achieve interoperability between data networks and communication systems whilst also enabling communications with multinational partners.