Biggerhammer.net - Aircraft, Vehicles and Equipment Factfile > Marine Corps Combat Identification Program (MCBIP)

Marine Corps Combat Identification Program (MCBIP)


Primary function: To identify "friend or foe" for armor units in order to reduce/prevent fratricide.
Manufacturer: TRW/Magnavox
Battlefield Combat Identification System (BCIS) Criteria:
Probability of Correct Target ID 90% (threshold)
(under all battlefield conditions) 99% (objective)
Target Engagement Time <1 second
Multiple Interrogations/Reponses >/= 3 Simultaneous
Maximum Effective Range (Min-Max)
Ground-to-Ground 150 meters - 5500 meters
Air-to-Ground 150 meters - 8000 meters
Discrimination Between Targets >+/- 22.5 mils in azimuth or
> 250 meters in range
Reliability 1242 hours (threshold)
2760 hours (objective)
Unit Replacement Cost: Information not available.

Features: A potential mid-term solution, the MCBIP - BCIS is an active millimeter wave (MMW) question and answer system for target interrogation, validation, and identification prior to engagement. The ground-to-ground system consists of an installation kit (A-Kit), and the BCIS equipment set (B-kit). Six major functional elements exist at the Line Replaceable Unit level: Interrogator Antenna, Transponder Antenna, Ballistic Armor Housing, Comm Unit Display Interface, and the Display/Interface Mount. The narrow-beam directional Interrogator Antenna will be bore sighted to the main weapon system on long range, direct fire armored platforms. The omni directional Transponder Antenna will be mounted on all high fratricide-risk armored platforms deployed forward of the battle area. The air-to-ground system consists of a BCIS pod mounted to the AIM-9 of rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft. The mid-term Combat Identification (CID)CID solution will be capable of providing platform Gunners and Commanders with a visual and/or audio signal identifying potential targets during 24 hour operations under all climatic conditions.

Inventory:

Background: A Joint/multi-Service program under the oversight of the Joint Combat Identification Office (JCIDO), MCBIP will provide ground-to-ground and air-to-ground identification of friendly and unknown (hostile or neutral/non-combatant) forces in the battle space. MCBIP seeks to reduce/prevent fratricide by capitalizing on complementary near-, mid-, and far-term technologies which improve CID and/or enhance situational awareness.


Date last modified: 01/16/96


Last Modified on June 17, 1999
aalbert@biggerhammer.net