Do you know CGRS reference system?

[graveyard4DCS]

More Details about CGRS Grid

For those who did not know them, I explained in an earlier post the differences between the various military coordinates reference systems.

I started by detailing the MGRS grid, because it is already used by default in DCS World, when working with a JTAC for example. It's an excellent tool for working closely with ground forces and on a small scale, but MGRS coordinates are not the best suited to the perspective of air operations, particularly at the operational level.

For the purposes of planning and executing air operations, the CGRS system was preferred. With the CGRS system, each 30‘ by 30’ grid in the area of responsibility is given a unique name, normally consisting of digits for the North/South position, and one or more letters for the East/West position.

Then, within this 30‘ x 30’ square, a "keypad" can be defined, with each 10‘ x 10’ sub-square identified by its number, just like the number pad on your keyboard (unless that they are not on the same order...). For example, 1 is the top left corner, 5 is the centre and 9 is the bottom right corner. If an even more precise location is needed, each keypad can be divided in 5' x 5' squares, called "Quadrants".

In general, CGRS grids use letters to name the longitude (East/West) and figures to name the latitudes (North/South). What needs to be defined for a given theatre of operations is the reference, i.e. the location of the "A1" cell.

On the example below, taken from "Desert Storm" operation in 1991, you can see that letters are used by pairs, and that Kuwait city is in 05-AG.

If we believe that this grid was used only for operations in south-east Iraq and Kuwait, then we can say that the origin of this grid (01-AA) is in N 27°00' E 044°30'. If we think that a larger grid was used, including all of Iraq and starting in A instead of AA, then the origin is in N 27°00' E 031°30'.

Regarding Operation "Enduring Freedom" and Afghanistan, we can easily see that such a grid was also in use. For that, we can just take a look at any Wikileak's mission report mentioning killboxes. Here we'll see that the killboxes are identified using their CGRS Cell and Keypad: 88-CR-3 and 89-CR-9 in the example below.

We can check that the 2 keypads 88CR3 and 89CR9 are adjacent if we assume that 88/89 designates latitudes and CR designates longitudes.

On my personal page, I will explain you how to build the full CGRS Grid for Afghanistan, and tell you how this system was used for air missions planning and execution.

Edited November 15, 2024 by graveyard4DCS

[graveyard4DCS]

Practical Use of CGRS Grid During Operation "Enduring Freedom"

During Operation Enduring Freedom, the CGRS system was extensively used for a variety of operational purposes to enhance coordination, situational awareness, and target management. Here are some of the situations in which CGRS was employed:

1. Airspace Management and Deconfliction:

• CGRS provided a standardized grid system that could be easily referenced by all coalition forces, allowing for precise coordination of airspace usage.

• It was particularly useful in managing close air support (CAS), airstrikes, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations.

• CGRS killboxes were assigned to specific air tasking units to control aircraft operating in defined areas, preventing mid-air collisions and friendly fire incidents.

• Killbox interdiction: CGRS was used to assign responsibility for monitoring and striking targets within specific killboxes, simplifying the process of dynamic targeting or interdiction (targeting enemy forces or resources in motion).

2. Indirect Fire (IDF) and Artillery Coordination:

• The system was critical for the coordination of indirect fire support (e.g., mortar, rocket, and artillery strikes) because it allowed ground units to quickly activate a ROZ (Restricted Operating Zone) and call for fire while ensuring deconfliction with airborne assets.

• For instance, in the report discussed earlier, grid references and CGRS killboxes like 88CR and 89CR were used to call in artillery fire, ensuring that supporting units could deliver fire on the correct target quickly and safely.

3. Close Air Support (CAS) Missions:

• During CAS missions, pilots and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) would use CGRS grids to designate specific working areas, in order to deconflict betwen multiple flights working in a close proximity.

• CGRS killboxes were often used in pre-planned or on-call CAS missions, where aircraft were assigned to specific killboxes. Passing a CGRS grid is a very quick and effective way of tasking a unit, without going to the details of 5 digit MGRS grids. It enabled a quick relocation of assets, prioritizing efficiency over precision in a first time. In a second time, while contacting the JTAC, an updated MGRS grid would be passed to share the latest situation with aircrew.

4. Air-Ground Coordination in Joint Operations:

• CGRS facilitated air-ground coordination by providing a common language that ground units, air controllers, and pilots could use to communicate quickly and accurately.

• This standardization was essential given the coalition nature of the forces involved, where different nations' military units might be working together and needed to ensure effective communication across languages and technologies.

We can note that these use cases apply both to planning and execution phase. In the planning phase, for example, CGRS Grids would be used to assign a working area on the daily ATO. It would also be used for a JTAC to book an area for pre-planned CAS, while filling up his JTAR for example.

During the execution phase, CGRS Grids would be used by ground forces to declare a ROZ, and enable the use of artillery. In this situation, the CGRS Grid beacomes a tool to create Airspace Control Means (cf. AJP-3.3.5 about Airspace Control for more details about ACMs). Real-time air support requests from ASOC, that are transformed into retasks after AOC approval, via C2 agencies, would also be passed more efficiently by assigning air asset to a new grid cell, instead of giving a full coordinate.

Here would be an example of dialogue between the controlling agency and a fighter jet to pass a new task:

Crowbar:
"Dude 51, Crowbar. We have a new task for you. Go secure."

Dude 51 :
"Roger, Crowbar. Going green."

Crowbar:
"Dude 51, immediate retask. Proceed to 84-CI, support TIC A-12. On station, contact Widow TOC on Amber 12 frequency for situation update. Say ETA and playtime when able."

Dude 51 :
"Crowbar, Dude 51. Copied, new task: support TIC A-12 in 84-CI. Contact with Widow TOC on Amber 12. Stand-by for ETA and playtime."

Dude 51 :
"Crowbar, Dude 51, ETA 15 mikes, playtime 1 hour. We request AAR with Shell 41 at 04:30Z to be moved in E-Sunny instead of E-Brownie if possible"

Crowbar:
"Dude 51, copied, stand-by, coordinating with Shell 41."

[...]

I hope these details and examples helped you understanding how and when CGRS grids would be used.

Practically speaking, for mission creators, a realistic way to emulate retasking would be to transmit the CGRS cell instead of the full MGRS coordinates. Then only once in contact with JTAC on another frequency would the full grid be passed. If the transit to target area is long, however, the C2 agency would have enough time to pass a full MGRS grid.

You can find out how to rebuild the real CGRS grid for Afghanistan on my page, as well as full scale maps with the grid, along with overlays for CombatFlite and Tacview.

Edited November 7, 2024 by graveyard4DCS

[MAXsenna]

@graveyard4DCS Pictures are broken in the OP. 

Cheers!