PEO Aviation's Air Traffic Control Product Office recently conducted a demonstration to showcase the Army's system of record for the integration and synchronization of Airspace Control and Air Traffic Services within the Army's Mission Command System of Systems.
The AN/TSQ-221 Tactical Airspace Integration System is a mobile communications and digitized battlefield automated system that can be deployed to support all levels of operation from the brigade through echelons above corps. Primarily operating in the command post computing environment, the TAIS is designed to meet both Airspace Command and Control and Air Traffic Service requirements.
TAIS was developed to address several critical deficiencies identified in its predecessor, the AN/TSC-61B Flight Coordination Central (FCC) system. The FCC, which dates back to Operation Desert Storm, did not allow controllers to display and digitally request, deconflict, and integrate combat airspace and airspace users, or interface with the systems of other services.
TAIS resolved these issues by directly interfacing with the Joint Force Air Component Commander through the Joint Theater Battle Management Core System allowing for real-time automated airspace control and airspace information service capabilities
The demonstration began with Karen Soto, assistant product manager for TAIS, providing an overview of TAIS locations on the battlefield and how it integrates with the Common Operating Environment Command Post Computing Environment. Marius Dockery, a PM ATC senior engineer/analyst, followed by highlighting the software's ability to dynamically create, display deconflict and integrate airspace and airspace users.
The Program Executive Officer for Aviation Brig. Gen. Thomas Todd was among those to view an operational overview of the system conducted by Sgt. 1st Class Eric Drabenstot, PM ATC Force Modernization noncommissioned officer. Drabenstot provided a walkthrough of the TAIS shelter in a field configuration, followed by a demonstration of ATC operations in a tactical environment.
"TAIS's ability to meet command and control and air traffic service requirements is critical to the Combat Aviation Brigade commander's planning and execution of missions in airspace that continues to increase in both density and complexity," Todd said following the demonstration. "Delivering capabilities to the Army and our Aviation Soldiers that ensure the safest operational environment possible is what ultimately drives the PEO Aviation mission."
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