HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. — Air Combat Command recently declared Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Mobile Communications System (MCS) Block 2, a program managed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Battlespace Communications Branch at Hanscom Air Force Base.
MCS Block 2 integrates multichannel communications equipment into M1165 high-mobility, multipurpose, wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs), better known as Humvees, providing voice, data, and video capabilities to TACP Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) while on-the-move with Army maneuver forces and at-the-halt in tactical operations centers.
JTACs will use MCS Block 2 to perform their close air support and command and control missions.
To achieve IOC, the MCS Block 2 system demonstrated the necessary combat capability for voice and video communications and had sufficient required assets available (RAA) for fielding and logistics support.