ATAK
Posted by Jen Ortiz on Sep 15th 2023
PLAN, EXECUTE, AND LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND
Your honor and sense of duty are what compel you to put yourself out on the front lines, but it’s access to training and state-of-the-art tactical equipment that enable teams to be prepared for the mission. Armor can protect your body, ammo can defend your position, and radios can facilitate communication. But in high-pressure circumstances, seconds count and real-time information is critical for decision making. Some teams lack the immediate situational awareness for coordination in rapidly changing environments where lives are on the line.
DOWNLOAD WHITEPAPERCOMMON OPERATING PICTURE
ATAK (Android Team Awareness Kit) is a government issued software that enhances team readiness by way of smartphones and tablets. The advanced geospatial platform features GPS tracking, mapping, and situational awareness for real-time data sharing within a secure network. And that’s just the base software. Countless plugins are available for specialty missions and integration with other comms equipment. The COP (Common Operating Picture) enables interoperability across various units, even with allied forces.
WHO USES TAK?
MILITARY
Special Operations, infantry ground forces, maritime units, and aviation crews use ATAK for enhanced navigation, communication, and targeting. Coordination of airstrikes and other air support, and navigating to the DIP (desired impact point) for HAHO operations are some of the commonly used capabilities.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
From the federal level to municipalities, tactical teams benefit from the real-time information provided by ATAK. Drone feeds, imagery from pole or ball cameras, and the ability to create geofencing to communicate positions of the target and other team members, are a few ways they’re using ATAK to neutralize threats.
FIRST RESPONDER
Wildland fire, search and rescue, disaster response. Like military and law enforcement operations, these are situations that can change rapidly. Keeping responders connected and informed is critical for survival, especially with the added complication of trying to synchronize with other agencies. ATAK allows fire crews, EMS, and FEMA to communicate efficiently for a coordinated effort.
HOW DO I GET ATAK?
ATAK is a government issued software. You can visit the TAK.gov website for more details. There are a few technology companies that hold DoD contracts for the implementation of ATAK. They can assist your unit, agency, or department with setting up a secure server and the procurement and provisioning of the devices. Most of these companies offer training and ongoing support. Here are a few: PAR Government, Tough Stump Technologies, PSI, Syzygy Integration (iTAK).
CASE STUDY
The tragic events at the Yarnell Hill Fire is a painful example of a mission that went terribly wrong due to a lack of proper visibility and team coordination. Traditional comms systems are cumbersome and expensive, rarely providing a seamless flow of time sensitive information. Over a decade later, it's hard to accept how little progress has been made to ensure that all teams are better prepared to avoid such loss. Corona Fire is one of the departments actively implementing smartphones, TAK, and Juggernaut.Case to bundle a complete solution that solves historical team communication problems. Captain, Andreas "AJ" Johansson, has extensive experience fighting wildfires, and is a leading advocate for the adoption of these solutions. Click HERE to access a case study based on our Q&A with Captain Johansson.
PROTECT - CASES
Select models of Samsung, Apple, Google, Panasonic are currently supported with a range of case models. Visit our PROTECT page.
MOUNT - MOUNTS
From standard body or vehicle placement, to full MFF scenarios, there's a solution for almost any need. Explore them all on our MOUNT page.
CONNECT - CABLES
Designed for secure connection to our cases, power and data solutions cover standard or specialty integrations. See details on our CONNECT page.