2008.08.13
On Blue Force Tracker -- 12 AUG 08
If you’ve ever seen a humvee with a flat screen monitor on the driver’s side dash, it is not a DVD player. The display is part of a system called blue force tracker (U.S. forces are blue forces). My team just finished training on blue force tracker (BFT). Not that the system is new, but it is much more prevalent and updated than just a few years ago.
BFT displays a graphical representation of the area, displaying all obstacles, routes, friendly units, and known enemy units with icons with the aid of GPS. The key to BFT is that it is in semi-real time, which means that there is a delay in units that are in motion as computers process and satellites feed information. Hence, the display will show a vehicles icon where it was a few minutes ago. Therefore, Soldiers cannot rely on the system alone to tell them exactly where to turn. The system is also capable of sending reports and free text messages to other vehicles and units, such as the one-button-touch IED report.
BFT is limited only in its requirement to connect with a satellite feed and in its special requirements. On more cramped vehicles, like the humvee, the BFT takes up quite a bit of dash space, which obstructs the driver’s vision.
Rich Connaroe
Captain, U.S. Army
RICHARD.CONNAROE@US.ARMY.MIL
The thoughts and opinions in this article are that of the author alone and are not meant to represent the U.S. military. Any errors contained therein are that of the author.
