AFATDS: The Fire Support Window to the 21st Century

Abstract : A Joint Resource Advances in weaponry and targeting have increased the burden of managing fire support operations, always a complex and exacting process. This difficulty, however, is being lessened greatly by automation. The Army advanced field artillery tactical data system (AFATDS) is about to make its third wave warfare debut. This state-of- the-art system supports the need for horizontal and vertical interoperability distribution of situational awareness information, and automation in the process of matching fire support weapons systems against high-payoff targets. From the field artillery digital automated computer of the 196Os to the tactical fire direction system (TACFIRE) of the 198Os and the initial fire support automated system of today, the field artillery community has been in the forefront in automated support for commanders in combat.