The integration of Situational Awareness Beacon with Reply (SABER) with the Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS)

Abstract

In 1992, The Joint Requirements Oversight Council validated a combat identification mission need statement. In support of the requirement for system interoperability, this thesis proposes a concept of operations for integrating two systems, Situational Awareness Beacon with Reply (SABER) and the Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS). Naval Space Command to provide real time combat identification (CID) to the tactical user. It uses UHF satellite communications technology in conjunction with the Global Positioning System (GPS) to provide positioning information for up to 500 users. EPLRS is a situational awareness program used extensively by the U.S. Army to support tactical battlefield operations. In addition to providing automatic friendly identification of EPLRS-equipped units, it has a communications capability that allows for the passage of intelligence and targeting data, messages, and status reports. However, EPLRS operates in a line of sight mode only and uses military grid reference coordinates vice OPS for positional information. The integration of SABER and EPLRS has the potential to serve a major role in the armed services' common goal of reduced fratricide. This thesis gives a detailed description of both systems, examines their individual capabilities and limitations, discusses the ways in which the two systems complement each other, and provides a recommended integrated concept of operations.