IMETS

Developed by Northrop Grumman, the Integrated Meteorological System (AN/TMQ-40 IMETS) is the meteorological component of the Intelligence and Electronic Warfare (IEW) an element of the Army Battle Command System (ABCS). IMETS provides Army commanders at all echelons with an automated weather system to receive, process, and disseminate weather observations, forecasts, and weather and environmental effects decision aids to all Battlefield Operating Systems (BOS). IMETS is a mobile, tactical, automated weather data receiving, processing and dissemination system. The IMETS is an Army-furnished and maintained system operated by US Air Force combat weather team personnel. It uses US Air Force and Army developed software to provide a total weather system to support the Army.

IMETS is a heavy High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) mounted tactical system which provides automation and communications support to staff weather teams assigned to echelons from brigade through Echelons Above Corps (EAC) and to Army Special Operations Forces. IMETS receives weather information from polar-orbiting civilian and defense meteorological satellites, Air Force Global Weather Center, artillery meteorological teams, remote sensors and civilian forecast centers. IMETS processes and collates forecasts, observations, and climatological data to produce timely and accurate weather products tailored to the specific Warfighter’s needs.

IMETS provides automation and communications support to USAF Weather Teams assigned to Army G2/G3 sections at echelons Brigade through EAC. IMETS receives, processes, and collates forecasts, observations, and climatological data to produce weather forecasts and timely and accurate products to meet Commanders' requirements. IMETS produces displays and disseminates, over Army ABCS, weather forecasts and tactical decision aids that compare the impact of current, projected, or hypothesized weather conditions on friendly and enemy capabilities.

Variations

The IMETS currently fielded is in two configurations. They are the vehicle-mounted configuration (VMC), IMETS-Heavy, and the laptop version, the IMETS-Light. The IMETS-Light is the most common version; US Army uses IMETS-Light for aviation brigades, brigade combat teams, and to Ranger and other Special Operations Forces. Both configurations have identical intelligence processing capabilities. The IMETS-Light has recently passed the Milestone C review and its production and fielding have official authorization. Both configurations of IMETS operate with ABCS Version 6.X-complaint software.

Training

IMETS training is accomplished at the unit’s home station during field exercises and also at Staff Weather Officer (SWO) Course at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. SWO training is four weeks long, IMETS portion being half of that.

Units with IMETS

The following units use IMETS:
* 18th Airborne Corps, Aviation BDE, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
* 1st Cavalry, Fort Hood, Texas
* III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas
* 101 Air Assault Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky
* 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia
* 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York
* I Corps, Fort Lewis, Washington
* 25th Infantry Division, Fort Shafter, Hawaii
* 1st Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
* 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
* 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
* 10th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
* 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Bliss, Texas
* 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, Louisiana
* 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Irwin, California
* ARCENT, Fort McPherson, Georgia
* 6th Infantry BDE, Fort Richards, Alaska
* 17th Aviation BDE, Yongsan, Republic of Korea
* V Corps Aviation BDE, Frankfurt, Germany
* 101st Aviation BDE, Fort Campbell, Kentucky
* 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Red Cloud, Republic of Korea

References

This article contains some information that originally came from GlobalSecurity.org, in the public domain from http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/imets.htm

This article contains some information that originally came from Military Intelligence Bulletin, in the public domain from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IBS/is_4_28/ai_94538577