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Marine Tactical Data System
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<p>Marine Tactical Data System, commonly known as MTDS, was a mobile, ground based, aviation command and control system developed by the <a href="/facts/United_States_Marine_Corps/J8JDlJG2">United States Marine Corps</a> for the execution of anti-air warfare in support of the <a href="/facts/Fleet_Marine_Force/YMXgt13v">Fleet Marine Force</a> (FMF). It was the Marine Corps' first semi-automated system capable of collecting, processing, computing and displaying aircraft surveillance data while also sharing that information with other participating units via <a href="/facts/Tactical_data_link/rU8ESYHG">tactical data link</a>. The system was developed in the late 1950s/early 1960s when it was recognized that due to the speed, range and complexity of fighter aircraft operations effective air control and air defense demanded enhanced situational awareness. </p><p>MTDS was a spiral development of the <a href="/facts/United_States_Navy/xYK0fUou">United States Navy's</a> <a href="/facts/Navy_Tactical_Data_System/1vxmfRpz">Navy Tactical Data System</a> (NTDS). At the time it was developed, it was the largest research and development project ever undertaken by the Marine Corps. Produced by <a href="/facts/Litton_Industries/BeBkuU6e">Litton Systems Inc.</a> in <a href="/facts/Van_Nuys/tlF32y6S">Van Nuys</a>, <a href="/facts/California/zLW2vdQJ">California</a>, MTDS took almost a decade to develop. </p><p>When fielded in September 1966, it was the premier air defense command and control system in the United States Military. It saw its widest operational use during the <a href="/facts/Vietnam_War/W0gfbGTE">Vietnam War</a>, where it was utilized to great effect controlling and deconflicting aircraft in the <a href="/facts/I_Corps_(South_Vietnam)/pK0eLmJj">Northern</a> portion of South Vietnam from July 1967 through to January 1971. MTDS remained the backbone of Marine Corps air defense operations until it was replaced by the AN/TYQ-23 Tactical Air Operations Module in the early 1990s. </p>