Unit News
Cavalry and infantry Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, look through the missile tube of an Improved Target Acquisition System. Photo courtesy of Itas video.
Sgt. John D. Ortiz
3rd IBCT, 1st Armored Div.
For infantrymen, performing their job means closing with the enemy, fighting them and destroying them. For the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, having a weapon that can reach out and touch the enemy from more than a mile and a half away makes life for the infantry and cavalry a little safer.
For the anti-tank companies of 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment; 2nd Bn., 5th Inf. Regt.; and the 1st Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regt., fielding the Improved Tactical Acquisition System was an important step in making sure the “Bulldog” Brigade is the newest operational brigade combat team in the Army.
“We had the Soldiers sign for several Improved Tactical Acquisition systems they will train on, and we will come back in the fall to field the new generation ITAS systems,” said Greg Mattson, the ITAS Fielding Team civilian lead from Red Stone Arsenal, Ala.
“What we’ve done with the new systems is integrate the day and night sights into one combined sight unit and added a second generation thermal sight and added some other enhancements to increase the probability of a missile hit,” said Mattson.
For several Soldiers in the unit, using the new equipment was their first experience in using the Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire command-link guided missile, also known as the TOW missile system.
Cavalry and infantry Soldiers set up the Improved Target Acquisition System during the ITAS field for the anti-armor elements with the “Bulldog” Brigade. Photo courtesy of Itas video.
“This is the first time I’ve actually ever used the ITAS and I haven’t seen the full capabilities, but so far it’s a pretty impressive piece of military equipment,” said Spc. Bryan White, a member of D Company, 2nd Bn., 5th Inf. Regt.
“I have just come around the weapon system itself, but so far it’s pretty easy equipment to use,” said White. “It just takes a little bit of knowledge and it’s easy to go with from there; it’s definitely going to make my job easier.”
Units using the ITAS can not only destroy threat targets but also provide superior reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition capabilities.
“It was initially developed for armor elements, but it has been used to counter snipers, bunkers, basically anyone who is dug in pretty good, you can use this system and save your other assets and call in a TOW missile,” said Sgt. Joshua Pryor, a cavalry scout assigned to 1st Sqdn., 13th Cav. Regt.
“It’s a very precision-based weapon system,” said Pryor. “The missile will go wherever you designate it to go. If your target is moving you can trace your target on the fly – basically there is no way to escape [the missile].”