Basis of Issue Plan - BOIP

A.  DESCRIPTION:  BATTLEFIELD COMBAT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (BCIS)
INTERROGATOR - TRANSPONDER SET, AN/VSX-4,  WILL BE MOUNTED ON VARIOUS
COMBAT VEHICLES. THE BCIS SYSTEM IS A MILIMETER WAVE QUESTION AND
ANSWER SYSTEM. THE INTERROGATOR FUNCTION SENDS A NARROW BEAM
INTERROGATION SIGNAL TO A POTENTIAL TARGET AND RECEIVES AN ENCRYPETED
RESPONSE FROM TRANSPONDER EQUIPPED VEHICLES AT A RANGE BETWEEN 150
METERS AND 5500 METERS. THE TRANSPONDER FUNCTION RECEIVES AMPLIFIES
AND TRANSMITS A CODED REPLY TO AN INTERROGATION TO IDENTIFY ITS
HOST VEHICLE AS A FRIEND. BCIS WILL BE UPDATED DAILY BY THE CYZ-10
FILL DEVICE




   B.  CAPABILITIES: THE AN/VSX-4, IS A QUESTION AND ANSWER SYSTEM
MOUNTED ON GROUND COMBAT VEHICLES. IT PROVIDES FRIENDLY ID OF TARGETS
AND HAS THE CAPABILITY OF BEING IDENTIFIED AS A FRIEND TO REDUCE
FRATRICIDE ON A DIRTY  BATTLEFIELD.




   C.  EMPLOYMENT: THE BCIS INTERROGATOR WILL BE EMPLOYED BY
SELECTED ARMORED COMBAT VEHICLES AND MOUNTED SCOUTS ON THE
BATTLEFIELD. THE BCIS INTERROGATOR IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED IN LIEU
OF NORMAL ENGAGEMENT DOCTRINE FOR TARGET ID.  IT IS INTENDED TO
COMPLEMENT EXISTING ENGAGEMENT PROCEEDURES TO HELP PREVENT FRIENDLY
FIRE INCIDENTS WHICH MAY HAVE OCCURRED UNDER EXISTING RULES OF
ENGAGEMENT.



   D.  BASIS OF ISSUE: DIRECT FIRE ARMORED VEHICLES WILL BE EQUIPPED
WITH ONE EACH INTERROGATOR/TRANSPONDER. VEHICLES THAT HABITUALLY
OPERATE FORWARD OF BATTALION FIELD TRAINS IN THE BATTALION TASK FORCE
AREA.THESE PLATFORMS ARE, ABRAMS M1'S, BRADLEY M3&M2'S,  FISTV/BFIST
DIRECTS INDIRECT FRIENDLY FIRE AND THE ARMY HMMWV SCOUT/COLT.

       BASIS OF ISSUE: 1 PER TANK, COMBAT FT 105MM M1
                       1 PER TANK, COMBAT FT 120MM M1A1
                       1 PER TANK, COMBAT FT 120MM M1A2
                       1 PER CAVALRY FIGHTING VEHICLE M3A1
                       1 PER CAVALRY FIGHTING VEHICLE M3A2
                       1 PER CAVALRY FIGHTING VEHICLE M3A3
                       1 PER INFANTRY FIGHTING VEH M2A11
                       1 PER INFANTRY FIGHTING VEH M2A2
                       1 PER INFANTRY FIGHTING VEH M2A3
                       1 PER ANTI-TANK MSL SYS(TRK)LOSAT
                       1 PER ARM FIRE SPT CARRIER FISTV
                       1 PER HMMWV ARMD 1-1/4, SCOUT
                       1 PER FA FIST HQ/HMMWV MOUNTED
                       1 PER FA COLT TM/HMMWV MOUNTED
                       1 PER M6 BRADLEY LINEBACKER
                       1 PER BFIST
                       1 PER ARMORED SECURITY VEHICLE (MP)



  E.   POWER REQUIREMENTS: POWER WILL BE SUPPLIED BY THE HOST GROUND
COMBAT VEHICLE (28 VDC). STANDARD ARMY BATTERYS WILL PROVIDE A 10
SECOND BACKUP POWER SOURCE AND COMSEC KEEP ALIVE CAPABILITY.
POWER REQUIRED: RUNNING AMPS 3.5, START UP AMPS 6.0, RUNNING KW .098

  F.   TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS:  MOUNTED ON HOST VEHICLE.



  G.   PERSONNEL/MAINTENANCE IMPACTS:


        (1)  OPERATOR: 11M,13F,16R,19D,19K OR COMMANDER


        (2)  MAINTAINERS: UL-31U,45E,45T

                          DEPOT- INTERIM CONTRACTOR DEPOT LEVEL
                          SUPPORT UNTIL ORGANIC DEPOT SUPPORT CAN
                          BE ESTABLISHED.

   H. SPECIAL NOTES: THIS ITEM IS APPROPRIATE FOR PUBLICATION IN
   THE ABOI.