Air Force Combat Identification (AFCID) And Air Force Satellite Control Network

Air Force Combat Identification (AFCID)
Air Force Combat Identification (AFCID) is a family of radar, laser, and beacon systems designed to positively identify friend and foe on the battlefield. The goal of the effort is to accelerate the transition of advanced Combat Identification (CID) technologies into tactical weapons systems (fighter, bomber, Command, Control, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C2ISR) platforms). Technologies include cooperative systems where the target voluntarily identifies itself as a friend and noncooperative systems, where the target has to be identified. A cooperative system under development is the Mark XIIA Mode 5 secure Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) interrogator/ transponder system. In the non-cooperative area, several efforts are pursuing air-to-ground, air-to-air, and ground-to-air identification systems that match radar or laser signatures of suspected enemy equipment with a signature database ofknown equipment to positively identify targets as friend or foe.

Air Force Sa telli te Control Network

Enable deployment, checkout, and flight of operational Air Force, national, allied, and research and development satellites.

The Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) is the Nation’s only high-power, 24/7 global network operating Department of Defense (DoD), national, civil, and allied satellites in any orbit. Capability is provided through a global system of control centers, remote tracking stations, and communications links. The network enables satellite telemetry, tracking and commanding, and provides high-power uplink capability for anomaly resolution and satellite emergencies. The AFSCN is required for all DoD launch and early orbit operations.

 Specifications

Size: Eight remote tracking stations, 15 antennas, three data link terminals, one checkout facility, and two transportable tracking station antennas, as well as two operations control centers, and centralized scheduling and control of the network assets.
Range: Global coverage, all orbits
Coverage: Continuous global coverage
Capacity/Satellite: One satellite per tracking station antenna; more than 150 satellites supported; more than 160,000 contacts per year
Interoperability: Interoperable with Navy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Air and Space Administration (NASA), and national users.