Blue Force Tracking is a largely US inspired system which allows a military force to see the location of friendly units. At its simplest, it comprises of a screen terminal, GPS and some form of data communications such as a secure radio or satellite link. Each BFT equipped unit, whether it be a soldier, vehicle or aircraft, periodically transmits its location to all the other friendly units on the comms network. Friendly units are displayed on a map screen.
BFT has been in use for around ten years and has proven invaluable in improving communications between units and reducing the incidence of Blue on Blue casualties.
Inspired by this, some enterprising Hungarian individuals developed BattleTac a few years back.
This is effectively simplified BFT for Airsofters.
How Does it Work
BattleTac is designed as an app which will run on iOS or Android devices like tablets and smartphones.
The device to be used needs to have internet connectivity through a SIM card and either a buiilt-in or external Bluetooth connected GPS.
The principle is that all or selected players in your Airsoft force have the app on their smartphones while they are playing. If they each type in a password known only to you and them, they will share secure communications through their data-links. Each BattleTac equipped player types in a user name and chosen icon and this will allow them to see each others location on the map. In the example above, you can see that there is one player (sofsim) located on the parade ground and the commander has identified two key objects; the safe zone (also marked in blue as it is friendly) and the anticipated position of the enemy - the red team.
If you had six equipped players on your team, you would see six blue icons, showing their identification and their location on the map.
Very often, commanders in larger milsims are equipped with a larger screen tablet like an iPad and sit in a command centre bunker or field tent, monitoring their smartphone equipped troops.
Custom maps can be made and uploaded as shown in the example above or players can choose to use default Google mapping or satellite imagery. The later can put a greater data loading on the smartphone as it will try to refresh the digit hungry imagery as the player moves around.
To provide greater realism, the icons represent the NATO APP-6A military symbols for land based units.
An infantryman is a blue square with a cross inside, Special Forces is a blue square with SF inside it and so on.
In all fairness, BattleTac is more suited to a slow paced milsim rather than a skirmish, but it adds an extra level of realism to missions.
It is also possible to have the Head Up Display or HUD selected. This provides the player with a compass and ranging presentation which will show the range and bearing of friendly players by placing their icon in the correct place. If the player looking at his HUD places his smartphone vertically and spins round 360 Degrees, he will see where his team mates are in a three dimensional sense. Some players have even secured the smartphone on a bracket on their Airsoft rifle, in order to assist them to avoid friendly fire when aiming their weapon.
"Radio" Messages
Another useful feature of BattleTac is the incorrectly termed radio messages. Incorrect because it enables players to communicate silently with each other by using data communications, similar to a form of SMS messaging rather than true radio communications like we are familiar with on PMR446.
As it's quite difficult to type on a small smartphone screen when you are taking cover from enemy fire, the system contains a series of templates. These are short messages preloaded by the player which allow the player to just click on them to send a message to his or her team mates, thus saving laborious typing on a small virtual keyboard. Although not a complete replacement for PMR446, it does have the benefit of being rangeless, secure and silent. As we know, PMR446 has a very poor range, can be eavesdropped by the other team and radios are not the quietest of devices.
Settings
Each BattleTac equipped device has the ability to be programmed with a number of settings. This is done by the user through a simple Menu (the button for this is seen above in the top left of the screen photo).
Typical settings include user name and password, the chosen data channel (8 are available for each team), the security code to provide secure comms for your team, position update interval and custom screen detail including mapping choices.
During a game, it is also possible for a player to indicate if they are wounded, dead or in trouble (SOS). This can be very useful if you have medic rules in your game or need to be casevac'd.
It is also possible to post orders on the shared map such as instructions to proceed to a highlighted destination or to indicate enemy movement, perhaps based on just received intel...
Protection
We all know what BB's can do to hard objects like our teeth, so it makes sense to protect your valuable smartphone. There are various trains of thought on this, but one idea is to wear a wrist mounted map case, which allows the terminal to be studied effortlessly, but still maintains some physical protection when the BBs fly.
This is the Warrior Tactical Wrist Case sold in the UK by companies like UK Tactical.
Link: Warrior Tactical Wrist Case
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