TACAN

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Precision Navigation for Military and Tactical Operations

Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) is a specialized navigation system designed for military aircraft, providing precise azimuth and distance information relative to a ground station or airborne beacon. TACAN enhances situational awareness and operational efficiency by offering robust and secure navigation capabilities, especially during combat operations, air-to-air refueling, and tactical missions. It is a critical component of avionics in both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft used in military and SAR operations.

Benefits

  • High Precision: Delivers accurate distance and bearing information for critical missions.

  • Secure and Reliable: Encrypted communication ensures protection against interference and spoofing.

  • Operational Versatility: Supports air-to-ground, air-to-air, and shipborne navigation.

  • Independence from GPS: Functions effectively in GPS-denied environments, enhancing mission resilience.

  • Wide Compatibility: Integrates seamlessly with other avionics systems, including INS and mission computers.

 

TACAN photo 2

Applications of TACAN

TACAN provides secure, high-precision navigation, ensuring mission success in military, SAR, and maritime operations.

In combat missions, it enables accurate target acquisition, formation flying, and close air support (CAS), enhancing operational effectiveness. For air-to-air refueling, TACAN ensures precise distance and bearing calculations, enabling safe and efficient refueling.

In search and rescue (SAR), it helps locate distress beacons and ground stations, guiding aircraft to precise locations. Maritime operations benefit from TACAN’s navigation support for carrier-based aircraft, ensuring safe approaches and landings. Additionally, it is vital for tactical and covert missions, providing reliable navigation in GPS-contested environments, ensuring mission success in high-risk scenarios.

TACAN photo 3

Key Features of Tactical Air Navigation

Precision Distance and Bearing Information

Provides accurate slant-range distance (DME – Distance Measuring Equipment) and bearing relative to a TACAN station.

Encrypted and Secure Communication

Ensures secure signal exchange, protecting navigation data from unauthorized access or interference.

All-Weather and Day-Night Functionality

Operates reliably in diverse environmental conditions, including low visibility and adverse weather.

Mobility and Flexibility

Compatible with airborne, shipborne, and ground-based systems, making it versatile for multi-platform operations.

Air-to-Air Navigation Capability

Enables accurate positioning and distance calculations between cooperating aircraft, enhancing formation flying and aerial refueling missions.

Highlighted TACAN Systems

AN-ARN-153 (Collins Aerospace) prod

AN/ARN-153 (Collins Aerospace)

  • Advanced airborne TACAN system providing reliable azimuth and DME for tactical missions.

  • Designed for fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms.

Honeywell H-764 TACAN System prod

Honeywell H-764 TACAN System

  • Integrates TACAN with inertial navigation systems (INS) for enhanced positioning accuracy and robustness in combat environments.

Raytheon AN-USM-708 (Shipborne TACAN) prod

Raytheon AN/USM-708

  • A shipborne TACAN station providing precise navigation support to aircraft during maritime operations.

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Mateusz Blicharz | Director, Business Development

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