(U) Radiant COAL

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)

Overview: (U)
(U) The purpose of Radiant COAL is to improve the opportunity for tactical forces to react to perishable information collected by Special Operations Forces (SOF) or other reconnaissance teams.

Description: (U)
(U) Radiant COAL is a joint effort, in conjunction with the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command (CINCSOC), to improve methods for disseminating critical "eyes on target" information collected by Special Forces in near-real-time.

(U) The Radiant COAL concept is based on innovative use of the equipment Special Forces teams currently carry into the field, coupled with project-developed software for message translation at a Special Fores advanced operating base (AOB) or Joint Special Operations Task Force (JOSTF) Headquarters.  

(U) Reporting methods are based upon the category assigned to the target:

- (U) FLASH- the team uses existing long range (e.g., satellite) communications and short-hand (brevity) code techniques to report the essential elements of What, Where, When, suing a standard SOF reporting format (BORIS Intel Spot Report). Depending on the organic SOF reporting procedures, these reports may be transmitted via voice or data.  

- (U) ROUTINE- events are reported to the AOB/JSOTF during the team's next scheduled communications break. 

(U) The reported information is received at the forward headquarters supporting the team and is automatically transcribed into message formats for both Tactical Related Applications (TRAP) Data Dissemination System (TDDS) and Tactical Information Broadcast Service (TIBS).  Messages are then injected into TDDS and TIBS using Town Crier software (also know as Radiant BREEZE).  

- (U) Injection methods used to date have included STU III and a TIBS Interface Unit at a Senior Troupe which was co-located with JSOTF.

(U) Radiant COAL utilizes Common Data Translator (CDT) software under development by the TIBS Special Management Office (SMO) and operational concepts required to implement rapid dissemination of SOF-derived data.

- (U) No new requirements are levied on teams in the field.

- (U) Existing SOF communications equipment and message formats are used.

(U) Radiant COAL provides a simple user interface (IBM PC) to enable automatic translation of messages received via data (i.e. with a KL-43 device) or for manual entry (in SOF format/brevity codes) when messages are received via voice.  After translation into TDDS and TIBS formats, data is passed to appropriate broadcast injection nodes.  

User Impact: (U)
(U) None.

Programmatics: (U)
(U) Operational.

Related Initiatives: (U)
(U) None.

Related Requirements: (U)
(U) None.

Related Categories: (U)
(U) Navy TENCAP

Road Map Placements: (U)
(U) ISR.

Lead Office: (U)
(U) Navy.

Date of Information: (U)
04 September 1997

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)