Symbology
This chapter describes the NTDS (Naval Tactical Data System) symbology used on the DRONECOM tactical display. Operators must be able to identify contact symbols on sight. Each symbol encodes two properties: the platform classification (what type of contact it is) and the affiliation (its relationship to own forces).
Affiliation
A contact’s affiliation determines its base geometric shape:
- Circle / Arc — Own or Allied. The contact has been positively identified as a friendly or allied platform via IFF or datalink.
- Diamond — Hostile. The contact has been positively identified as an adversary.
- Square — Unknown. The contact has been detected but its affiliation has not yet been resolved.
- Cross — Neutral. The contact has been identified as a non-aligned or civilian platform.
All new contacts begin as Unknown. As sensor data accumulates and IFF identification occurs, affiliation resolves to Own, Allied, Hostile, or Neutral. See the Sensors section for details on IFF mechanics.
Note: Affiliation colors can be customized from the Settings menu. The geometric shapes (circle, diamond, square, cross) provide affiliation identification independent of color.
Symbol Reference
| Type | Own | Allied | Hostile | Unknown | Neutral | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air | | | | | | Fixed-wing airborne platform |
| Helicopter | | | | | | Rotary-wing airborne platform |
| Surface | | | | | | Surface vessel |
| Subsurface | | | | | | Submerged platform |
| Command Ship | | | | | | Likely carrier or large vessel |
| Land | | | | | | Ground-based installation |
| Missile | | | | | | In-flight missile |
| Torpedo | | | | | | In-flight torpedo |
| Air Group | | | | | | Group of airborne platforms |
| Surface Group | | | | | | Group of surface vessels |
| Submarine Group | | | | | | Group of submerged platforms |
Battle Damage Assessment
Contacts that have been engaged may display BDA (Battle Damage Assessment) overlay decorations. These markings appear on contacts in the Lost state — active contacts do not display BDA indicators.
| Decoration | Examples | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Uncertain | | Single diagonal slash. Target was engaged but the outcome has not been confirmed by independent sensors. |
| Probably Destroyed | | X cross through symbol. Independent sensor coverage indicates the target was likely destroyed. |
Heading Vectors
Moving contacts display a heading vector — a line extending from the symbol center in the direction of travel. The vector is shown when the contact’s speed exceeds a minimum threshold; stationary or near-stationary contacts display only the base symbol.
The heading vector shows the direction the contact is travelling in. It updates in real time as the contact changes course.
| Example | Description |
|---|---|
| | Hostile surface vessel moving right |
| | Friendly surface vessel moving left |
Contact Classification
The system assigns NTDS classification to detected contacts based on the following rules:
- Elevation-based — Contacts above 15 ft altitude are classified as Air. Contacts below -15 ft are classified as Subsurface. Contacts near the surface are classified as Surface.
- Signature analysis — As sensor data accumulates, the system matches a contact’s measured characteristics — radar cross-section, acoustic profile, observed dimensions — against the platform recognition database. This is how surface contacts are further classified as Command Ship (large displacement, flight deck signature) versus standard surface vessels. Missile and Torpedo contacts are identified by their flight profile and acoustic signature.
- Rotary-wing — Helicopter classification is assigned when the contact’s flight characteristics match a rotary-wing profile (hover capability, low airspeed).
- Dynamic — Classification can change as conditions change. A submarine surfacing transitions from Subsurface to Surface. An initially unclassified Air contact may be reclassified as Helicopter once sufficient flight data is collected.