Tactical Field Applications

ATAK (Android Team Awareness Kit) is an Android-based mobile geospatial platform originally developed by the US Air Force and now widely used by NATO and allied forces for tactical situational awareness. It displays Cursor on Target (CoT) tracks on an offline map, supports MEDEVAC, CASEVAC, SALUTE reports, and integrates with radios, drones, and C2 systems via a plugin architecture. Corvus Intelligence specializes in ATAK plugin development for custom sensor and data integration requirements.

Offline-first means the application is designed to function fully without network connectivity — all required maps, data, and logic reside on the device. Sync occurs opportunistically when connectivity is available, using conflict-resolution logic to merge changes made during disconnected operation. In tactical field apps, offline-first is not a feature but a baseline requirement: operators in contested RF environments cannot depend on network availability for mission-critical functions.

MBTiles and PMTiles are file formats for storing pre-rendered map tiles in a single portable file that can be loaded on a device without internet connectivity. MBTiles uses SQLite as its container; PMTiles uses a cloud-optimized binary format that supports HTTP range requests. In tactical apps, these formats allow operators to carry high-resolution terrain maps, satellite imagery overlays, and custom tactical graphics on their Android devices — ready to use when the network is unavailable.

Cursor on Target is a standardized XML message schema used to exchange real-time position, status, and event data between tactical systems. A CoT event carries: a unique identifier (UID), position (latitude, longitude, altitude, and circular error), timestamp, and a type code (friend/hostile/neutral/unknown + entity type). CoT is the native messaging format of ATAK and is supported by most modern NATO-compatible C2 and field application platforms.

WinTAK is the Windows desktop version of the Team Awareness Kit — functionally equivalent to ATAK but running on Windows laptops and workstations. It is used at command posts and vehicle platforms where ruggedized Android devices are not suitable. Both ATAK and WinTAK share the same CoT messaging protocol and plugin API, so plugins developed for one platform can typically be ported to the other. Corvus Intelligence develops plugins for both ATAK and WinTAK environments.

A MANET (Mobile Ad Hoc Network) is a self-configuring wireless network where each node — soldier radio, vehicle, drone — acts as both a host and a router, relaying traffic to nodes out of direct radio range. MANETs are used in tactical environments where fixed infrastructure (towers, cables) is unavailable. Tactical field apps connect to MANETs via IP-over-radio links to exchange CoT tracks, voice, and data with other units without relying on cellular or satellite connectivity.

In GPS-denied environments (caused by jamming or terrain masking), tactical field apps maintain operator position using alternative methods: inertial navigation (IMU-based dead reckoning), manual position entry, range-bearing reports from known landmarks, or relative positioning from peer radio nodes. Offline maps remain fully functional regardless of GPS availability, and CoT tracks from other nodes continue to be received over MANET links as long as radio connectivity is maintained.

Ruggedized UX means designing touch interfaces for operators wearing gloves, working in low-light conditions, under cognitive stress, and on ruggedized devices with smaller screens. Design principles include: minimum touch target size of 48px (larger for glove operation); high-contrast color schemes readable in direct sunlight; limited information density per screen; one-hand operation support; and large, clearly labeled action buttons for critical functions. Standard mobile UX guidelines are insufficient — ATAK's UI patterns are the reference baseline for tactical apps.

ATAK's plugin architecture allows third-party developers to add custom functionality — new map overlays, sensor integrations, report templates, radio interfaces — without modifying ATAK core code. Plugins are standard Android APKs that register with ATAK via a published API. They can subscribe to CoT events, display custom overlays on the map, open side panels, and communicate with external systems over TCP/UDP. Corvus Intelligence builds custom ATAK plugins for sensor integration, C2 connectivity, and specialized operational workflows.

Corvus Intelligence builds ruggedized, offline-first mobile applications for operators at the last tactical mile — Android (ATAK plugins, standalone apps), WinTAK plugins, and cross-platform tactical tools. Development covers CoT integration, MANET connectivity, offline map management (MBTiles/PMTiles), glove-friendly UX, and integration with C2 systems, drones, and radio networks. The company is an accredited Brave1 member with direct operational feedback from Ukrainian armed forces field deployments.