Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Marine Air Command and Control System
open-in-new
<h2 id="control-of-aircraft-and-missiles">Control of aircraft and missiles</h2> <blockquote><p>Control of aircraft and missiles is used to integrate the other five functions by providing the means for the Marine Air-Ground Task Force commander to exercise command and control authority over Marine Aviation assets. It involves the coordinated employment of facilities, equipment, communications, procedures, and personnel to plan, direct, and control the aviation combat element's efforts.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a></p></blockquote> <h2 id="current-agencies-and-missions">Current agencies and missions</h2> <ul><li>Air Traffic Control (ATC) - provides continuous all-weather air traffic control services to an independent and geographically separated main air base or air facility. Each active duty Marine Air Control Squadron has three air traffic control detachments.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a></li></ul> <ul><li>Direct Air Support Center (DASC) - controls and coordinates tactical aircraft operations directly supporting ground forces. It is responsible for the processing of immediate requests (e.g. <a href="/facts/Close_Air_Support/buqaXGIp">Close Air Support</a>, <a href="/facts/CASEVAC/kVvtCKpQ">CASEVAC</a>, and <a href="/facts/Assault_Support/zFcjzpNq">Assault Support</a>), integrating and deconflicting indirect fire support (e.g., artillery and mortars) with aviation assets, manage <a href="/facts/Forward_Air_Controller/eYq2xFwE">terminal control assets</a>, and <a href="/facts/Procedural_control/pGcvBhE1">procedurally controlling</a> aircraft. The DASC's parent unit is the Marine Air Support Squadron (MASS).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a></li></ul> <ul><li>Tactical Air Command Center (TACC) - agency from which air operations and air defense warning functions are directed. It is the senior agency of the MACCS and also serves as the operational command post of the ACE commander. The TACC's parent unit used to be the Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron which wa responsible for setting up the physical infrastructure of the TACC and providing command and control Marines to staff the current operations cell. The active duty MTACS were decommissioned during 2021-2022 with the responsibility for the TACC moving to the Marine Air Control Group headquarters.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> Additional personnel for the TACC are staffed from the <a href="/facts/List_of_United_States_Marine_Corps_aviation_support_units/j20y9QGE">Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron</a> and augments from across the Wing as required.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a></li></ul> <ul><li>Tactical Air Operations Center (TAOC) - agency responsible for real time surveillance, direction, positive control, and navigational assistance for friendly aircraft. The TAOC performs real-time direction and control of all anti-air warfare operations, to include manned interceptors and surface-to-air weapons. The TAOC's parent unit is the Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a></li></ul> <ul><li>Ground Based Air Defense - The LAAD Battalions provide close-in, low altitude, surface-to-air weapons fires in defense of Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) assets. These battalions defend forward combat areas, maneuver forces, vital areas, installations and/or units engaged in special/independent operations. They also provide a task organized, ground security force in defense of MAGTF air sites when not engaged in air defense operations.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="current-maccs-organization">Current MACCS organization</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Agencies & Missions</th><th>MACG-18</th><th>MACG-28</th><th>MACG-38</th><th>MACG-48</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Anti-aircraft_warfare/fHtGQpLy">Anti-aircraft warfare</a><a href="/facts/Surface-to-air_missile/2qEW5P07">Surface-to-air missile</a><a href="/facts/Man-portable_air-defense_system/5o68gt9z">MANPADS</a></td><td><a href="/facts/1st_LAAD_Battalion/KpDjyg4p">1st LAAD Battalion</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2d_Low_Altitude_Air_Defense_Battalion/qyY2oAr9">2d LAAD Battalion</a></td><td><a href="/facts/3d_Low_Altitude_Air_Defense_Battalion/yjYnxk9H">3d LAAD Battalion</a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Tactical_Air_Operations_Center/RGUE3wgP">TAOC</a> & <a href="/facts/Air_Traffic_Control/G2cQebVb">ATC Dets</a><a href="/facts/Early-warning_radar/AV31R0zL">Early Warning</a><a href="/facts/Ground-controlled_interception/j86HRyVh">Ground-controlled interception</a><a href="/facts/Air_traffic_control/G2cQebVb">Air traffic control</a><a href="/facts/Meteorology/xblFr28q">Meteorology</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Marine_Air_Control_Squadron_4/o59l7pJm">Marine Air Control Squadron 4</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Marine_Air_Control_Squadron_2/CSTfHWC9">Marine Air Control Squadron 2</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Marine_Air_Control_Squadron_1/AP3hkv7B">Marine Air Control Squadron 1</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Marine_Air_Control_Squadron_24/8E0vfaD9">Marine Air Control Squadron 24</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Direct_Air_Support_Center/xelsroAJ">DASC</a><a href="/facts/Close_Air_Support/buqaXGIp">Coordinate Close Air Support</a><a href="/facts/Casualty_evacuation/kVvtCKpQ">Coordinate CASEVAC</a><a href="/facts/Procedural_control/pGcvBhE1">Procedural control</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Marine_Air_Support_Squadron_2/Gkf9vFYf">Marine Air Support Squadron 2</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Marine_Air_Support_Squadron_1/rljm5Srr">Marine Air Support Squadron 1</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Marine_Air_Support_Squadron_3/RodqgUC1">Marine Air Support Squadron 3</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Marine_Air_Support_Squadron_6/2s8sHucT">Marine Air Support Squadron 6</a></td></tr><tr><td>TACC<a href="/facts/Aviation_Combat_Element/q3wMGv6o">ACE</a> Headquarters</td><td><a href="/facts/Marine_Air_Control_Group_18/tjHcFBaF">Marine Air Control Group 18 TACC Company</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Marine_Air_Support_Squadron_1/rljm5Srr">Marine Air Support Squadron 1 TACC Company</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Marine_Air_Control_Group_38/zFx0BgtU">Marine Air Control Group 38 TACC Company</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Marine_Tactical_Air_Command_Squadron_48/nwWejuj5">Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 48</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Long-haul_communications/Ryy5guKD">Long-haul communications</a><a href="/facts/Network_operations_center/THqMDWsV">Network operations center</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Marine_Wing_Communications_Squadron_18/KmuBDu5r">Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Marine_Wing_Communications_Squadron_28/J9HJYSdM">Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Marine_Wing_Communications_Squadron_38/7cK8PcfH">Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Marine_Wing_Communications_Squadron_48/d0Mc4LCR">Marine Wing Communications Squadron 48</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/VMF(N)-531_GCI_Detachment/m4kXTqd4">VMF(N)-531 GCI Detachment</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Marine_Corps_Early_Warning_Detachment,_Guadalcanal_(1942-43)/XF347GUe">Marine Corps Early Warning Detachment, Guadalcanal (1942-43)</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Marine_Detachment,_Air_Warning_Service,_Philippines_(1941-42)/IfHs042v">Marine Detachment, Air Warning Service, Philippines (1941-42)</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_United_States_Marine_Corps_aviation_support_squadrons/j20y9QGE">List of United States Marine Corps aviation support squadrons</a></li></ul> <h2 id="citations">Citations</h2> Bibliography Web <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Control of Aircraft and Missiles" (PDF). United States Marine Corps. www.marines.mil. Retrieved 13 October 2020. <a href="https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCWP%203-25%20Control%20of%20Aircraft%20and%20Missiles.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCWP%203-25%20Control%20of%20Aircraft%20and%20Missiles.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Control of Aircraft and Missiles" (PDF). United States Marine Corps. www.marines.mil. Retrieved 13 October 2020. <a href="https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCWP%203-25%20Control%20of%20Aircraft%20and%20Missiles.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCWP%203-25%20Control%20of%20Aircraft%20and%20Missiles.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Control of Aircraft and Missiles" (PDF). United States Marine Corps. www.marines.mil. Retrieved 13 October 2020. <a href="https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCWP%203-25%20Control%20of%20Aircraft%20and%20Missiles.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCWP%203-25%20Control%20of%20Aircraft%20and%20Missiles.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Marine Air Traffic Control Detachment Handbook" (PDF). Headquarters Marine Corps. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2020. <a href="https://www.marines.mil/portals/1/Publications/MCRP%203-20F.7.pdf?ver=2019-05-23-082016-813" target="_blank">https://www.marines.mil/portals/1/Publications/MCRP%203-20F.7.pdf?ver=2019-05-23-082016-813</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"Direct Air Support Center Handbook" (PDF). Headquarters Marine Corps. 15 November 2001. Retrieved 13 October 2020. <a href="https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCWP%203-25.5%20Direct%20Air%20Support%20Center%20Handbook.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCWP%203-25.5%20Direct%20Air%20Support%20Center%20Handbook.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"MTACS-18 Deactivation". www.dvidshub.net. Department of Defense. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021. <a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6684787/mtacs-18-deactivation" target="_blank">https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6684787/mtacs-18-deactivation</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"MTACS-28 Deactivation Ceremony". Marines.mil. United States Marine Corps. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2023. <a href="https://www.2ndmaw.marines.mil/Photos/igphoto/2003122485/" target="_blank">https://www.2ndmaw.marines.mil/Photos/igphoto/2003122485/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"MTACS-38 Sundown Ceremony". DVIDS. United States Marine Corps. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021. <a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6948350/mtacs-38-sundown-ceremony" target="_blank">https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6948350/mtacs-38-sundown-ceremony</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Marine Tactical Air Command Center Handbook" (PDF). Headquarters Marine Corps. 6 May 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2020. <a href="https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/MCWP%203-25.4.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/MCWP%203-25.4.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Antiair Warfare" (PDF). Headquarters Marine Corps. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2020. <a href="https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCTP%203-20C%20Formerly%20MCWP%203-22.pdf?ver=2017-09-28-075827-423" target="_blank">https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCTP%203-20C%20Formerly%20MCWP%203-22.pdf?ver=2017-09-28-075827-423</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"LAAD Gunner's Handbook" (PDF). Headquarters Marine Corps. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2020. <a href="https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCRP%203-25-10a.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCRP%203-25-10a.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>