Fire Control Application for Technical Control of Artillery Fire – Data Binding

Martin BLAHA
Department of fire support, University of Defence
Brno, 662 10, Czech Republic

and

Karel ŠILINGER
Department of fire support, University of Defence
Brno, 662 10, Czech Republic

ABSTRACT of the entire process of calculation of fire elements accelerates

and reduces the likelihood of errors.
The Czech Republic, as a member of international organizations
(NATO, EU, UNO), with respect to current global security The Czech University of Defence has initiated a project
neighborhood, employs the units of the army both at its own to develop a proposal for an interoperable automated Command
state territory and outside the Czech Republic, in multinational and Control (C2) system for the Czech Army’s Artillery
forces operations. The article focuses on Data Binding Issue of systems. This paper provides a framework for the project
future Automated Command, Control, and Information system through the establishment of strategic and conceptual context
(C2I) in conditions of the Army of the Czech Republic. and the examination of Network Enabled Capability (NEC)
activities and Interoperability Standards, makes proposals
The issue of automated command, control, and information
for engagement with NATO and coalition agencies,
systems is of high importance in the solving of asymmetrical
programs and projects, and offers starting point for project and
operations tasks today and in the upcoming future. The authors
define ground for designing a new and by the Army of the moreover set up the new artillery full-automated system for fire
Czech Republic required, sophisticated Automated Fire Support control – PVNPG-14M (Figure 1). [6] [12]
Control System of Artillery meeting NATO standards
in Network Enabled Capabilities (NEC) conditions. Final
assessment of the particular issues is determined by analysis.
The software model contains derivation, definition and
reasoning of data which are essential for the effective artillery
fire in condition of modern software tool - Data Binding.

The Czech Artillery units need to have intuitive system for

mathematical computations which assures prediction
capabilities for adequate fire support provision - PVNPG-14M.
This software should be the best choice in current conditions.
The article represents section of a huge defensive research
project of Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic and
the Army of the Czech Republic solved by leading scientists
of the University of Defence in Brno. Figure 1 – Main screen of PVNPG-14M
Keywords: Artillery, Decision-making process; software The software model of PVNPG-14M contains derivation,
development; Command, Control, and Information System;
definition and reasoning of data which are essential
C2I; Artillery.
for the effective artillery fire in condition of modern software
tool - Data Binding.

1. INTRODUCTION At the same time, the user of the new system removes
the necessary knowledge of basic principles and procedures for
The basic task of artillery weapon systems is an indirect firing, calculating the fire elements of fire and creates the illusion
thus keeping fire on targets kilometers away and beyond of correctness of himself. Because of the destructiveness
the line of sight. Calculation of the fire elements of artillery fire, the feelings of perfection cannot be relied upon.
is a lengthy process based on the mathematical apparatus The basic operating rule of tactical using of artillery fire is
of several disciplines such as Ballistics, Meteorology, supervised calculated of fire elements for fire at a target before
Geography and Theory of probability. Automation real start. [3] [4] [5]

48 SYSTEMICS, CYBERNETICS AND INFORMATICS VOLUME 15 - NUMBER 7 - YEAR 2017 ISSN: 1690-4524
PVNPG-14M software utilizes digitized tables of firing communication of the Czech Artillery reconnaissance system
for 152 mm ShKH model 77. The method of assembled and the executive elements. This system must be able to fulfill
of firing tables does not completely define the fire elements complex fire support in NEC conditions.
for artillery firing. In some cases it is necessary to perform
interpolation between the values which are entered in the firing Operational Effectiveness Achievement presupposition
tables. To do this it was necessary to adjust the automated Effective Artillery Reconnaissance (sensor)
calculation via PVNPG-14M and implement the interpolation system – recognition abilities about enemy objects, effective
method into software. using of Targeting cycles system and ISTAR system for
adequate reaction suggestion of friendly forces including
Interpolation is further used in the preparation of fire control in criteria evaluation effect. Effective lethal and non-lethal
determining targets in an alternative manner and within artillery fire – artillery join connection operations capabilities
the meteorological preparation of artillery. which means capabilities of power demonstration, fire for effect
etc. Resistant artillery units – active and passive defence
PVNPG-14M software uses an interpolation method equipment using. [5] [20]
for determining values of corresponding distances
for the individual bullets and cartridges, then interpolates when Achievement of Deployment Presumption
it is necessary to determine additional correction deliberate Well-time artillery unit’s attainability – to be able to accord
angle for each bullets from the table of additional correction the fire support in the operation area.
deliberate angle. [15] [18] Artillery positioning and mobility – Artillery deployments
capabilities.
From the perspective of the application, software must Effective Supply – logistics support capabilities of artillery
be open for easy deployment of internal adjustments units. [21] [22]
and additional functions, use common programming language
and allow install and run on modern touch platforms with The last point (Achievement of Deployment Presumption) is not
the Windows operating system, which is implemented Fire Support Control System problematic and that is why it is
in the Czech Army. One of the key prerequisites is a good map not in detail resolution on next text.
view. Modern mapping tools and imaging environments
are a basic application requirement (Figure 2). [16]
2. WHAT IS DATA BINDING…

Very simply expressed, data binding (DatB) creates

a connection between “data” and “user interface” (UI) without
any controller, so called “business logic. Data binding,
as the name suggests, is purely data-oriented. If DatB is
properly used then it allows you to create dynamic and
responsive applications.

Thus, a data change caused by an asynchronous process is

propagated automatically to the UI, and DatB itself provides
an event handler that was triggered by a change of data.
Without using the DatB, the new function would
have to be programmed to set the relevant data and then called
up for another function to make the appropriate changes
Figure 2 – On-line map view in PVNPG-14M condition to the UI.

NEC framework in the Czech Republic Artillery With full DatB, the changes are propagated from UI
The Czech Artillery units can realize specific tasks of fire to the internal application model. In this way we can omit
support which can help to fulfill Czech military forces the function to handle such event. Thanks to DatB's features,
commissions in the multinational operations in new, turbulent it is very advantageous to use this technique to create
conditions. In accordance with presupposed artillery dynamic-length lists where each list item has a defined structure
functionality and future development can be assumed that in the UI. The data are then injected only into this structure.
artillery will act lethally at enemy troops and non-lethally at its
information and communication systems, sensors, and Advantages of DatB
awareness. Artillery can also contribute to joint planning - Simplify the structure of the resulting application.
process and perspective operations commanding in NEC - Implementation of responsive elements.
conditions through its specific integrated sensor systems. - Enabling the connection between model and UI,
on the other hand shielding of business logic.
- Enable full UI control over an object containing
NEC conceptual framework including capabilities of Czech
the data.
Republic Artillery can be determined in the following way:
Disadvantages of DatB
Decision Ascendancy Achievement presupposition - Too complicated and built-in Data Binding is unclear
Effective Artillery Command, Control, and Communication in terms of development.
System, which ensure all functions of command, control and - The introduction of elegance in the design

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 of the application using the Data Binding brings or dynamically from previous commands. To create
greater demands on the documentation, conception a commands is used dialog box (also uses DatB) and
and clarity of the application model. using DatB is injected into a given line of the adjust
- Ensuring heterogeneous dynamic lists filled with firing process.
DatB leads to the creation of other control variables - The main issue here is that the application
used only for the DatB control. needs to access to the upstream UI element. However,
since DatB is anonymous, it cannot simply access
the UI elements created through DatB. This is solved
3. USING DATA BINDING IN THE PVNPG-14M through internal events handlers that can distinguish
APPLICATION the source of the event and thus distinguish
the individual UI elements from each other.
The PVNPG-14M application is written in the old version
of the Windows application framework for Windows 8.1. This This entire DatB is encapsulated using one class that represents
is the reason why we use only the basic DatB. With the new a given process line and also provides DatB control (what to see
Universal Windows Platform (UWP) framework, DatB would and what does not).
be more comfortable.

Because of the combining this technique with the elements 4. REFACTORING

of the framework which is used (the elements are adapted
to be used for this presentation technique), it is easier to create At the time the application started to develop, only
functions such as drag&drop or modeling of dynamic UI the Windows 8.1 framework was available, and it was
structures. a progressive approach to application development that could
be run on both desktops and mobile devices. However,
PVNPG-14 uses DatB mainly in sections where dynamic Microsoft has recently begun to favor UWP applications based
application behavior is required. These functional areas are on Windows 10 that bring new features and a better
the definition of the combat form, where items such as cannons, multiplatform solution than Windows 8.1 (An example of
observers and targets are growing and decreasing dynamically. application support for users - Figure 4 and 5).
Moreover, there are also adjust firing sections where the lines of
the adjust fire process are dynamically increasing – Figure 3. As Windows 10 seems to be a standard for the next few years,
it has been decided that the next phase of development will start
working on converting PVNPG-14M into the UWP framework
and introducing DatB to the fullest extent, allowing for dynamic
changes to the behavior of the application or presenting its
behavior to the user. The migration to UWP is not only
considered due to DatB, but mainly due to the limited support
of Windows application 8.1 mentioned above.

Figure 3 - Example of the Data binding in the adjust fire process

As a detailed example, here is the DatB shredding process,

which is probably the most complex DatB in the application:
- The individual lines of the process represent
the observation of the impact of a missile fire
out of a cannon. In general, this number firing is Figure 4 – Display of results in graphs
unknown, so it cannot be said that the cannon will One example is global change of units in which the application
shoot twice. Thus, there is a factor of dynamic counts without having to reprogram all functions. The model
number of items here. will remain the same, and will still internally count
- Each of these lines is modeled as a container of item the application in the units it has used up to now. Only through
and using the DatB are the data injected into full DatB will display the results to the user in the given units
application. or transfer the inputs from the user to their internal units.
- Another dynamic element is that the above-mentioned
modulated item consists of other dynamic items
(columns) that are displayed based
on the configuration of the combat form (number
of cannons, number of observers...). Viewing
or not viewing the columns is also done using DatB.
So there is multiple DatB.
- Another complication of DatB is the ability to create
commands that are created either by ad-hoc by user

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 of assembling firing tables, it is necessary in an automated
calculation of fire elements used interpolation method.

The perspective system must assure Command, Control and

Artillery Reconnaissance Connection, Coordination and Fire
Control of effectors (Weapon Sets) on the brigade level with
Mechanized Forces Control System. The Czech Artillery units
need to have intuitive system for mathematical computations
what assures prediction capabilities for adequate fire support
provision - PVNPG-14M should be the best choice in current
conditions. It is necessary to connect Future Artillery Fire
Support Control System to the NATO network philosophy
system within the Network Enabled Capabilities. [4] [17]
Figure 5 – Display of user forms
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