BCIS Initial Draft MFP
20 June 98

The following correspondence in attached:

1) SUBJECT: Basis of Issue, Fax, DCSOPS, 31 Mar 98
Transponder Set, AN/VSC-9
Interrogator-Transponder Set, AN/VSX-4

2) SUBJECT: Army's First Digitized Division/Corps, Memo, DCSOPS, 1 Aug 97

A. DESCRIPTION: BATTLEFIELD COMBAT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (BCIS) TRANSPONDER SET, AN/VSC-9, IS A MILLIMETER WAVE QUESTION AND ANSWER SYSTEM. THE AN/VSC-9 RECIEVES AN INTERROGATION FROM BCIS AN/VSX-4 EQUIPPED FRIENDLY COMBAT VEHICLES AND AUTOMATICALLY TRANSMITTS AN ENCRYPTED MESSAGE.

B. CAPABILITIES: THE AN/VSC-9 TRANSPONDER SET WILL BE MOUNTED ON GROUND COMBAT SUPPORT VEHICLES. IT PROVIDES THE VEHICLE THE CAPABILITY TO BE IDENTIFIED AS FRIENDLY BY COMBAT VEHICLES "SHOOTERS" AND THEREBY REDUCES FRATICIDE ON A DIRTY BATTLEFIELD.

C. EMPLOYMENT: THE AN/VSC-9 WILL BE MOUNTED ON GROUND COMBAT SUPPORT VEHICLES. IT WILL BE EMPLOYED ON THE MOST LIKELY VICTIMS OF FRATRICIDE.

D. BASIS OF ISSUE: THE TRANSPONDER WILL BE USED BY GROUND COMBAT SUPPORT VEHICLES THAT NORMALLY OPERATED FORWARD OF THE FIELD TRAINS IN THE MANEUVER BATTALION TASK FORCE AREA.

BASIS OF ISSUE:
1 PER HOWITZER MED SP 155MM M109A6
1 PER HOWITZER MED SP 155MM M109
1 PER LAUNCHER, ARMORED ROCKET (MLRS)
1 PER AMMUNITION TRACK M548
1 PER AMMUNITION TRACK (FAASV)
1 PER HEMTT IN CLASS III/V SUPPORT PLT OF ARMOR BN/MECH BN/CAV SQDN
1 PER BREACHER/GRIZZLY
1 PER RECOVERY VEHICLE FT M88
1 PER AMORED MAINT VEH
1 PER CARRIER CMD POST M577A1
1 PER CARRIER CMD POST C2V/M1068
1 PER RECON SYSTEM NBC XM93 (FOX)
1 PER ARMORED COMBAT EARTHMOVER (ACE)
1 PER LAUNCHER HVY ASLT BRIDGE (M1)
1 PER DEPLOYABLE COMBAT EARTH MOVER (DEUCE)
1 PER M113A3
1 PER CARRIER/SMOKE GEN
1 PER AVENGER
1 PER MORTAR VEHICLE M-1064
1 PER UPARMORED HMMWV (MP)
1 PER HEAVY HMMWV CP
1 PER HMMWV AMBULANCE
1 PER CARRIER (RISE) AMBULANCE
1 PER CONTACT MAINTENANCE HMMWV
1 PER TRAILBLAZER SYSTEM VEHICLE
1 PER TEAMMATE SYSTEM VEHICLE
1 PER TACJAM SYSTEM VEHICLE
1 PER TEAM VEHICLE TRQ-30/PRD-12 REMBASS/PPS-5/PPS-15
1 PER GROUND BASED COMMON SENSOR, HEAVY/LIGHT (ESM)/LIGHT (ECM)

E. POWER REQUIREMENTS: POWER WILL BE SUPPLIED BY THE HOST GROUND COMBAT VEHICLE (28 VDC). STANDARD ARMY BATTERIES WILL PROVIDE A 10 SECOND BACKUP POWER SOURCE AND COMSEC KEEP ALIVE CAPABILITY.
POWER REQUIRED: RUNNING AMPS 3.5, START UP AMPS 6.0, RUNNING KW .098.

F. TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS: MOUNTED ON HOST VEHICLE.

G. PERSONNEL/MAINTENANCE IMPACTS:

(1) OPERATOR: 11M,13F,16R,19D,19K OR COMMANDER

(2) MAINTAINERS: UL-31U,45E,45T

DEPOT - CONTRACTOR LOGISTIC SUPPORT

H. SPECIAL NOTES: THIS ITEM IS APPROPRIATE FOR PUBLICATION IN AR 71-13

A. DESCRIPTION: BATTLEFIELD COMBAT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (BCIS) INTERROGATOR - TRANSPODER SET, AN/VSX-4, WILL BE MOUNTED ON VARIOUS COMBAT VEHICLES. THE BCIS SYSTEM IS A MILLIMETER WAVE QUESTION AND ANSWER SYSTEM. THE INTERROGATOR FUNCTION SENDS A NARROW BEAM INTERROGATION SIGNAL TO A POTENTIAL TARGET AND RECIEVES AN ENCRYPTED RESPONSE FROM TRANSPONDER EQUIPPED VEHICLES AT A RANGE BETWEEN 150 METERS AND 5500 METERS. THE TRANSPONDER FUNCTION RECEIVES, AMPLIFIES, AND TRANSMITS A CODED REPLY TO AN INTERROGATION TO IDENTIFY ITS HOST VEHICLE AS A FRIEND.

B. CAPABILITIES: THE AN/VSX-4, IS A QUESTION AND ANSWER SYSTEM M0NTED ON GROUND COMBAT VEHICLES. IT PROVIDES FRIENDLY ID OF TARGETS AND HAS THE CAPABILITY OF BEING IDENTIFIED AS A FRIEND TO REDUCE FRATRICIDE ON A DIRTY BATTLEFIELD.

C. EMPLOYMENT: BCIS WILL BE EMPLOYED ONLY ON THE MOST LIKELY KILLERS ON THE BATTLEFIELD. BCIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED IN LIEU OF NORMAL ENGAGEMENT DOCTRINE FOR TARGET ID, IT IS INTENDED TO COMPLEMENT EXISTING ENGAGEMENT PROCEDURES TO HELP PREVENT FRIENDLY FIRE INCIDENTS WHICH MAY HAVE OCCURRED UNDER EXISTING RULES OF ENGAGEMENT.

D. BASIS OF ISSUE: DIRECT FIRE AMORED VEHICLES WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH ONE EACH INTERROGATOR/TRANSPONDER. VEHICLES THAT HABITUALLY OPERATE FORWARD OF BATTALION FIELD TRAINS IN THE BATTALION TASK FORCE AREA. THESE PLATFORMS ARE, ABRAMS M1'S, BRADLEY M3&M2'S, FISTV/BFIST DIRECTS INDIRECT FRIENDLY FIRE AND THE ARMY HMMWV SCOUT/COLT. FUTURE SYSTEMS, LINEBACKER, FUTURE SCOUT/CAVALRY SYSTEM LOSAT.

BASIS OF ISSUE:
1 PER TANK, COMBAT FT 105MM M1
1 PER TANK, COMBAT FT 120MM M1A1
1 PER TANK, COMBAT FT 120MM M1A2
1 PER CAVALRY FIGHTING VEHICLE M3A1
1 PER CAVARLY FIGHNING VEHCILE M3A2
1 PER INFANTRY FIGHTING VEH M2A11
1 PER INFANTRY FIGHTING VEH M2A2
1 PER ANTI-TANK MSL SYS (TRK) LOSAT
1 PER ARM FIRE SPT CARRIER FISTV
1 PER HMMWV ARMD 1-1/4, W/O SCOUT
1 PER HMMWV ARMD 1-1/4, W/W SCOUT
1 PER FA FIST HQ/HMMWV MOUNTED
1 PER FA COLT TM/HMMWV MOUNTED
1 PER M6 BRADLEY LINEBACKER
1 PER BFIST
1 PER ARMORED SECURITY VEHICLE (MP)

E. POWER REQUIREMENTS: POWER WILL BE SUPPLIED BY HOST VEHICLE (28 VDC). STANDARD ARMY BATTERIES WILL PROVIDE A 10 SECOND POWER SOURCE AND COMSEC KEEP ALIVE CAPABILITY. POWER DATA: RUNNING AMPS 3.5, START UP AMPS 6.0, RUNNING KW .098

F. TRANSPONDER REQUIREMENTS: MOUNTED ON HOST VEHICLE

G. PERSONNEL/MAINTENANCE IMPACTS;

(1) OPERATOR: GENERAL PURPOSE USER

(2) MAINTAINERS: UL-31U
DEPOT - CONTRACTOR LOGISTIC SUPPORT

H. SPECIAL NOTES: THIS ITEM IS APPROPIATE FOR PUBLICATION IN AR 71-13.

MEMORANDUM FOR SEE DISTRIBUTION

SUBJECT: Army's First Digitized Division/Corps

1. The following decisions will be incorporated into the Army Plan:

a. Field the digitized corps by FY04. We define the digitized corps as two divisions (4th Infantry
Division (4th ID) and 1st Cavalry Division (1st Cav) and 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (3rd ACR) plus the appropriate corps slice. The digitized corps will include 3rd Infantry Division (3rd ID), if additional resources become available. Fielding of the first digitized division will be completed by FY 00; the second digitized division will be completed byFY03. Throughout the digital fielding process, all units will maintain the requirement to remain trained and ready for worldwide employment.

b. The 4th ID is designated the Army's first digitized division. Only the 4th ID's Fort Hood elements
will be included in initial fielding. Equipment fielding to the 4th ID(-) will include, as minimum TRADOC's list of priority one systems (enclosed) and associated equipment. The 1st Cav is designated the Army's second digitized division, and will be fielded with TRADOC's list of priority one systems and priority two systems that are available in its fielding window. To the extent possible, these systems will be fielded as a package. DCSOPS will develop new equipment fielding plans based on the digitization priority.

c. Fiscal constraints prohibit full digitization through embedded systems. For affordability, the
minimum requirement is for the division cavalry squadron and one brigade in each division to be digitized with embedded ground maneuver systems (M1A2 SEP, BFVA3); the two remaining brigades will be digitized with appliqued systems. The 3rd ACR will be digitized with embedded maneuver systems.

d. Pending FORSCOM recommendation, it is the Army's intent that only the division cavalry squadron in Army Prepositioned Stock (APS SWA) will be modernized with embedded ground maneuver systems. The remaining APS 5 brigade sets will be modernized with appliqued systems. APS 3 will be digitized with embedded systems. APS 3 digitization will synchronized, and compatible with 3rd ACR fielding.

DAMO-FDT
SUBJECT: Army's First Digitized Division/Corps

e. Request the Commander, TRADOC, evaluate the need for and recommended the appropriate level
of digitization for TRADOC schools, and the Commander, FORSCOM, provide similar action with respect to the National Training Center.

f. Digitization will be conducted in the following priority:

(1) 4th Infantry Division (-) (Ft Hood)

(2) 1st Cavalry Division, III Corps Headquarters and Corps Troops

(3) APS 5

(4) 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment

(5) APS 3

(6) 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, (Ft. Carson)

g. III Corps is designated the Army's corps level center of digital experimentation and testing.

2. The following related issues are still being developed and will be incorporated into TAP as appropriate:

a. Light Force digitization.

b. Schedule for digitizing of the remainder of the Army.

c. Corps Troops digitization

d. Heavy division and corps redesign.

3. ODCSOPS will coordinate fielding and resource changes necessary to implement these decisions.

Original Signed

Encl

THOMAS N. BURNETTE, JR
Lieutenant General, GS
Deputy Chief of Staff
For Operations and Plans