ESC playing key role in major joint exercise

  • Published
  • By Patty Welsh
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Ever since there have been conflicts, warfighters have had to face an ongoing opponent: fratricide, or friendly fire.

The Electronics Systems Center's 630th Electronic Systems Squadron, in conjunction with the other services and allied partners, is working to combat that opponent by participating in the Bold Quest (BQ) 09 exercise, Oct. 27 through Nov. 5 at Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C.

The 630 ELSS Combat Identification Capabilities Flight is the lead for integration, testing and demonstration of fixed wing radio-based combat identification (RBCI) for Bold Quest 09.

"Being able to participate in this exercise gives us the opportunity to demonstrate the technology in an operationally relevant environment," said Maj. Abdiel Peart, flight commander, Combat ID Capabilities. "By allowing aircrew to identify appropriately equipped friendly ground forces in real time, we are working to reduce fratricide while improving situational awareness for both crews and supported ground elements."

Complementing the fixed wing RBCI initiative, the flight will also be demonstrating the capability of the Laser Target Imaging Program and forward-looking infrared, electro-optical technologies to image and identify targets among friendly RBCI-equipped forces at significant distances.

"We aim to enhance combat efficiency while improving mission effectiveness for the warfighter," said Major Peart.

According to a U.S. Joint Forces Command news release, Bold Quest 09 focuses on testing air and ground units' ability to exchange information and improve coalition warfighters' ability to identify friendly forces on the ground.

BQ09 includes military units and technical teams from all four services, U.S. Special Operations Command, and representatives from United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.