The U.S. Army has created a software application for military users to generate mapping coordinates to locate and engage a target with indirect fire, close air support or attack aviation platforms.The military branch’s Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center developed the Maneuver Aviation Fires Integrated Application with the intent to help small-unit operations personnel collaborate on precision targeting activities, AMRDEC said March 10.
MAFIA is system-agnostic and designed to employ a three-dimensional mapping engine and operate with the Army Nett Warrior network.
“What makes it so great is rather than having to be networked to upload the maps, we are completely network independent — all of the imagery and cartography is loaded on the phone,” said Michael Murray, a government lead and training coordinator at AMRDEC’s software engineering directorate.
Murray added the platform works to help users receive and access full motion videos collected from unmanned aircraft and soldier-borne sensor technology.
The military service used MAFIA during the Army Expeditionary Warfighter Experiment that was held at Fort Benning, Georgia, where the branch configured the application to maneuver an InstantEye miniature aerial system for beyond-line-of-sight targeting.
