TACAN

(TACTICAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM)

General:
TACAN is a military system combining the bearing capability
of VOR with the distance measuring capability of DME
It is also designed to be transportable so that it can be used in
combat areas, hence the name tactical

TACAN
(TACTICAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM)
Principle:
TACAN is based on DME in that it uses the DME antenna and
the DME pulse format.
Thus the distance measuring is inherent

TACAN
Bearing Function:

Two concentric drums are placed around the DME antenna

The parasitic elements distort the DME antenna pattern
The drum structure is rotated at 900 rpm (15 Hz)

TACAN
Bearing Function:

The resulting pattern has one main lobe caused by the

inner parasitic element, and 9 secondary lobes caused
by the outer elements

TACAN
Antenna Installation

TACAN
Thus the TACAN signal consists of 2700 pulse-pairs/second
whose amplitude is modulated by a 15Hz signal and a 135 Hz
signal

These constitute the variable part of the TACAN signal

TACAN
The reference part of the TACAN signal consists of coded sets
of pulses called reference groups (or bursts)

The MAIN reference group (MRG) consists of 24 pulses with

alternate spacings of 12 and 18s. This is transmitted when the
antenna pattern main lobe reference point passes the North
reference
The AUXILIARY reference group (ARG) consists of 12 pulses
with of 30 s spacing. This is transmitted when each of the
auxiliary lobe reference points passes the North reference

TACAN
The lobe reference point is the
NEGATIVE-GOING ZERO CROSSOVER

TACAN RECEIVER

TACAN
Since TACAN is not a civilian system it does not
have to conform to normal aviation requirements

However, since military aircraft use the same airway

structure as civilian aircraft, there are TACANS
collocated with VORs on most airways. and these
conform with the civilian standards for VORs

These facilities are called VORTACs

TACAN