South Alberta Light Horse

TCCCS in the field
Photo credit: The Department of National Defence

Tactical Command and Control Communications System (TCCCS)

The Tactical Command and Control Communications System (TCCCS) replaced old radio equipment used by the Army with the state-of-the-art Iris Digital Communications System. (TCCCS is the name of the overall project, while Iris is the name of the actual communications system). Iris provides the Army with secure, reliable and integrated communications. Ultimately, it will be part of a digitized command system designed to create a seamless web for rapid transmission of information between sensors, combat troops and decision-makers. For example, one component called the Situation Awareness sub-System (SAS), will permit vehicle and unit commanders to know where all unit and enemy vehicles are with pinpoint accuracy day or night and in any weather.

Now that the $1.4 billion system is installed and fully operational, the Canadian Army has the most integrated digitized command and control system in the world. The project began in 1985 and was completed at the end of 2002.