Joint Metoc Handboo - IHMC Ontology and Policy Management

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8.2 Air Force METOC Equipment and Key Software
8.2.1 Hardware.
A deployed, fixed-site airfield requires systems that provide the capability to take 24-hour
airfield observations, access a full suite of centrally produced weather forecast products,
and generate mission execution forecasts. Equipment requirements are determined by the
Air Force component theater weather planner and tasked to appropriate MAJCOMs.
Descriptions and additional hardware are also detailed in Joint Publication 3-59.
• Tactical meteorological (TACMET) systems for airfield observations include:
- AN/GMQ-33, Cloud Height Set. Self-contained, portable unit that determines and
displays the base height of cloud layers directly overhead by the use of a laser
- AN/TMQ-34, Meteorological Measuring Set. Portable, hand-held multi-sensor
system that measures and displays standard elements of surface weather
observations
- AN/TMQ-36, Tactical Wind Measurement System. Self-contained, portable unit
that provides measurement of wind speed and direction
- Manual Observing System (MOS Kit). Collection of individual, hand held
instruments for measuring standard elements of surface weather observations
- AN/UMQ-12, MARWIN Tactical Upper Air Measuring Set. Automatic tracking
ruggedized portable unit that provides upper air wind direction and speed,
temperature, and relative humidity to an altitude of 30 km.
• Forecast support hardware includes:
- New Tactical Forecast System (N-TFS). Upgraded computers and software in
man-portable containers that will be the primary deployable METOC data handling
system
- AN/GRQ-27 Quick Reaction Communications Terminal III (QRCT III).
Computer-based tactical weather communication system designed to provide
support to Air Force and Army units. System includes HF radio and facsimile
receiver for transmitting/ receiving teletype and graphics in either nonsecure or
secure mode. Some Air National Guard (ANG) units still use QRCT/Goldwing
systems
- Weather facsimile and teletype systems. Commercial, off-the-shelf facsimile
receiver/recorders to display teletype observations, weather map products, and
imagery from weather satellites and worldwide HF broadcasts. Fielded systems
include Alden 9315TRT, TRTR, and TRT-S
- METSAT receivers. Various systems to ingest direct broadcast METOC imagery
and derived data from DMSP, GOES, NOAA, METEOSAT, GMS, and other
satellite systems. Fielded systems include the WRAASE receiver and the Small
Tactical Terminal (STT)
- AN/TMQ-43 Small Tactical Terminal (STT). The STT comes in three
configurations: basic STT, enhanced STT, and JTFST (Joint Task Force Satellite
Terminal). The STT is a small, deployable, computer-based satellite imagery
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