The newest spirals of the Theater Battle Management Core Systems (TBMCS) enhance the technology used by commanders, pilots and air crews from joint air battle management centers and flying wings around the world.

First deployed in October of 2000, TBMCS is the primary system for planning and executing the joint air campaign, coordinating and directing flying operations from units as diverse as F-16 fighters, refueling tankers, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and even cruise missiles.

The system is resident at five Air Operations Centers (AOCs) and more than 20 joint command centers and Navy ships around the globe.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, TBMCS enabled the military to orchestrate some 41,000 air sorties with unprecedented speed, precision and accuracy.

"TBMCS is a great example of the Air Force's vision of performing while transforming," said John Mengucci, Lockheed Martin's vice president and general manager, Department of Defense systems.

"Since its deployment, the system has evolved from a large client-server system to a much more streamlined, web-based enterprise. We've integrated cutting-edge technology and implemented true net-centric services into the system, all while it was supporting 24x7 operations at locations around the world.

"These latest enhancements are another step forward in that evolutionary approach to a revolutionary capability."

The first upgrade, which is currently being fielded worldwide, is focused on the Unit Level component of TBMCS, which is used by staffs at airbases and on aircraft carriers to coordinate tactical mission planning, command and control, maintenance and repair operations, and takeoff and landing schedules.

The new software and hardware establishes a better connection between air crews and the Air Operations Center (AOC) - the command center for the entire air campaign - giving AOC operators instant, real-time access to the status of air operations at airfields across the theater.

This spiral also includes enhanced security features and upgraded maintenance applications that allow operations and maintenance personnel to more efficiently track and manage aircraft repairs.

The Unit Level enhancements to TBMCS are already operational at many air stations, and will continue to deploy worldwide through June of this year.

While this latest enhancement is being fielded, another major spiral has also passed operational testing.

The second upgrade enhances the AOC component of TBMCS, providing enhanced applications for intelligence, targeting and mission planning for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.

The second upgrade moves an additional 25 percent of TBMCS applications from a client-server configuration to a net-centric, web-based architecture.

The web architecture gives authorized users anywhere, anytime access to TBMCS via a standard web browser and a secure connection.

This upgrade also improves the tactical operations of the Air Support Operations Center, the Air Force element in the field with the Army to coordinate close air support, by reducing required equipment and expanding web-based capabilities, which improves responsiveness.

With this upgrade, more than three-quarters of the system's applications will be available on-line, giving Army, Navy, Marine Corps and coalition users greatly enhanced access to air battle management information.

The second spiral moves six key battle management applications to the web, including:

- The Global Command and Control System Integrated Imagery and Intelligence System, which displays a complete picture of enemy units, installations and targets.

- The Joint Targeting Toolkit, which integrates numerous targeting sub- systems with the AOC.

- The Joint Munitions Effectiveness Manual, a weapon-target pairing application that allows operators to select and task the right munitions for a wide range of targets.

- The Joint Defensive Planner, which integrates data from joint defense systems (such as Patriot missile batteries) to show the full scope of air, sea and ground defense coverage.

- The Master Air Attack Plan Toolkit, a battle planning toolkit that coordinates sorties, missions and targets for combat units.

- The Airspace De-confliction Tool, which analyzes the battlespace and de-conflicts flight paths of friendly units.

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