UNCLASSIFIED
Overview Brief

AFTAK Center of Excellence

"Innovate. Integrate. Dominate."
Mr. Kevan Dilworth Program Manager, C2 Modernization Branch
937-713-3938 Kevan.dilworth.3@us.af.mil
Mission

To empower the warfighter by pioneering cutting-edge innovations for the Team Awareness Kit (TAK), delivering advanced capabilities that enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and safety for the United States Air Force and Space Force in dynamic operational environments.

Vision

To be the forefront of tactical innovation, transforming the Team Awareness Kit (TAK) into a seamless, mission-critical tool that ensures unparalleled situational awareness, operational superiority, and safety for Air Force and Space Force personnel.

CC-A
Enhanced Warfighter Communications

Deploy cutting-edge technologies to enable robust, tactical-level command and control (C2) through TAK, ensuring seamless, secure, and real-time communication capabilities for warfighters in dynamic operational environments.

CC-B
Technology Interoperability and Scalability

Ensure TAK C2 systems adhere to interoperable, scalable, and sustainable technical architectures, facilitating seamless integration with existing and future systems while maintaining reliability and adaptability across Air Force and Space Force missions.

CC-C
Accelerated Digital Transformation

Transform legacy C2 technologies and processes by adopting innovative, modern methodologies within TAK, driving efficiency, agility, and mission effectiveness through advanced digital solutions tailored for the Air Force and Space Force.

What Does It Mean to Be a CoE?

📐
Framework & Concept Development
Research and write guidelines for how military forces approach standardized thinking and operating.
🎓
Training & Education
Run courses and programs to train personnel, ensuring consistent levels of expertise across the force.
📋
Lessons Learned
Collect and analyze real-world operational experiences to identify what worked, what didn't, and how to improve.
🔬
Research & Experimentation
Work with researchers, contractors, and allied partners to test new concepts, technologies, and tactics before broader adoption.
🤝
Interoperability & Cooperation
Serve as collaborative partners that align approaches, share knowledge, and develop common standards to work together effectively.
🧭
Advisory Role
Advise leaders and policymakers on emerging threats, capability gaps, and strategic direction within our area of focus.
We think, learn, and teach so the fighting force is better prepared.
Authoritative Knowledge Base for the TAK Ecosystem

We exist to make the TAK ecosystem accessible and useful regardless of AFSC or program, preventing siloed adoption and incompatible workflows.

Standardizing Integration Without Standardizing TTPs

TAK is highly configurable and different missions require different configurations. We focus on common technical standards, server architecture, and data exchange formats, while leaving tactical employment decisions to the units.

Bridging the Gap Between Programs

Since no single program office owns TAK across the enterprise, the CoE fills the coordination void by working across programs to ensure interoperability, reduce redundant workflow, and advocate for capability needs that don't neatly fit one program's scope.

Training & Enablement at the Unit Level

TAK proficiency is not formally embedded in most training pipelines, so we provide the training infrastructure that doesn't exist elsewhere, helping units get operators and administrators up to speed.

Supporting Rapid Fielding & Experimentation

TAK's open architecture means new capabilities can be developed and fielded quickly. We serve as a clearinghouse for evaluation, vetting, security, and operational utility, getting them into the hands of users faster.

We are a force multiplier for adoption.
Overview

Government Off the Shelf (GOTS) situational awareness application. Communications pathway agnostic, delivering a real-time tactical edge common operating picture from ops centers to dismounted operations.

Core Capabilities
  • Live Blue Force Tracking
  • Mapping positions, obstacles, and critical infrastructure
  • Sensor feeds integration
  • Data sharing: text, images, mission overlays, targets
  • Rapid Joint & Combined communications
  • Route planning, site surveys, & mission execution
  • Extensible plugin architecture: MEDEVAC, CBRN, & advanced sensing

Relevance for USAF

Precision Air-Ground Ops

TAK is the standard for JTAC & TACP coordination and deconfliction.

Integrated Base Defense

Empowers emergency responders to manage incidents with shared, real-time data, aligning directly with programs like DMSAT.

Agile Combat Employment

Provides a low-footprint, decentralized C2 capability, enabling small, agile teams to operate effectively in austere environments.

Joint & Coalition Interoperability

TAK is the de facto standard across the DoD and allied partners, ensuring operational synergy during joint missions.

230+ Approved & Mature Plugins — Crowd sourced, infinitely scalable, zero licensing.
Satellite Imagery
UxS Control & Telemetry
Medical Triage
Camera Control
FAQ Page
https://faq.aftakcoe.org/
No CAC required
CoE Page
usaf.dps.mil — TAK Center of Excellence
CAC cert required
TAK Promo Video
https://vimeo.com/1029268236/8edba1e0fb
No CAC required