The United States will purchase IFATDS export automatic artillery fire control system kits for Ukraine. The contract is published on the US government’s public procurement portal. These sets of the International Field Artillery Tactical Data System (for the USA, designation – AFATDS) are designed for the M142 HIMARS missile systems.

Under the contract, the USA will purchase 18 such kits for American jet systems in Ukraine. It is likely that they will be installed on 18 new M142 jet systems, which will be produced for Ukraine under the USAI program.

IFATDS/AFATDS is designed to integrate and use information from various sources to create a common fire support operational picture. It is a network of computer workstations that process and exchange information. Data is transmitted from the forward observer to the fire support unit.

It includes automatic processing of fire requests using customized controls, multiple tactical firing decisions, decentralized decision making, mission performance monitoring and more. IFATDS systems are also planned to be delivered to the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Latvia. 55 sets of International Artillery Tactical Data System can be ordered for Riga.

Taiwan will have 16 IFATDS kits, and this information indicates that the US is planning an additional contract to supply HIMARS to the island nation. It will be remembered that in September, the Pentagon announced that it had handed over 18 M142 HIMARS missile systems to Ukraine. These are new production facilities, not weapons from United States Army reserves. Source