Targeting Applications Relevant to the Military GPS Handhelds

J.T. Kelly

Abstract:	The importance of extending the precision reach of the warfighter in an economical and lightweight manner is becoming more valid every day [1]. The military handheld GPS receiver is a unique platform from which many opportunities to accomplish this may be derived. The ability to create a precise position of a remote target from an observer's position in a rapid and simple fashion provides a significant force multiplier over open and urban terrain. Current methods of achieving said target locations may utilize GPS but only in conjunction with simple distance estimation methods to extend a point geometrically, retaining error and limiting applicability to different environments. The use of a multi-input balancing filter allows not only improvements in single shot error reduction but significant improvement by accommodating multiple shots on target, while the provision of this capability within a lightweight military GPS handheld creates a potent and compact forward observer system when combined with any of several laser range finders. Similarly, current methods of summarizing relevant data prior to a call for fire are somewhat archaic and prone to human error in data entry, relying on paper or wipeable pads that additionally cannot hold more than 3 entries at a time and are time consuming in their development and use. The ability to exploit the use of existing equipment (such as a handheld GPS receiver) to augment the development of a call for fire message allows automatic field entry and storage of pre-planned messages to reduce time required for use and thus increase offensive attack tempo and effectiveness. The function can also link to an internalized targeting application, resulting in automatically produced (and thus faster) messages upon lazing of targets by the handheld user. While systems have been developed to address these issues in some fashion, none exploit existing equipment to provide this capability. This paper presents an overview of the innovative applications developed by RCI to extend the efficiency of the ground warfighter by including (among other capabilities) an advanced and novel targeting function and a flexible call for fire message creation capability within the PLGR, PLGRII, and DAGR military GPS handheld receivers. An overview of the specific problems existing in the targeting and application of ordnance is first presented, as well as technical descriptions of the RCI targeting filter, the close air support (CAS) 9 line message implementation, and their relevant applications and performance capabilities. Further improvements and extensions of these force extending capabilities are additionally discussed.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS/GNSS 2003) September 9 - 12, 2003 Oregon Convention Center Portland, OR
Pages:	1074 - 1084
Cite this article:	Kelly, J.T., "Targeting Applications Relevant to the Military GPS Handhelds," Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS/GNSS 2003), Portland, OR, September 2003, pp. 1074-1084.
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