TACTICAL AIR NAVIGATION (TACAN)The TACAN Set, AN/ARN-84(V), is a radionavigational set that operates in conjunction with aTACAN ground station. Together they provide theaircrew with continuous bearing and range from theaircraft to the station. The TACAN set can alsooperate as both the interrogator and transponder withanother aircraft equipped with TACAN.The ground station, acting as a reference position,develops a complex signal on which bearinginformation is superimposed (fig. 2-12). This signalmay be on any of 126 channel frequencies in the Xmode. Pulse coding gives ground equipment thecapability of an additional 126 channels in the Ymode. Channels are separated at 1-MHz intervals inthese modes. The station identifies itself bytransmitting its call letters, in Morse code, every 37.2seconds. Knowing the time that has elapsed betweenthe interrogation signal and the reply signal facilitatescalculation of slant range from the aircraft to thestation.Figure 2-12.-Typical TACAN station bearing antenna and radiation pattern.2-13
Integrated Publishing, Inc. - A (SDVOSB) Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business
