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About Task Units DCS AOC Tools
Last updated: Jul 25, 2025

Wiki: Task Units (General)

Task Units are a fundamental component of the Air Tasking Order (ATO) system in your environment. They represent logical groupings of resources (often aircraft or other assets) that are responsible for executing specific missions.

Within this system, Task Units serve as the primary organizational entities for mission assignment and management.

 

What are Task Units?

A Task Unit is a user-defined entity within an ATO project, characterized by:

  • Unit Designator: A unique name or identifier for the unit (e.g., "Squadron name").
  • ICAO Code or Location Name: An ICAO code of an airbase or a location name associated with the unit, indicating its home base or area of reference. This field is visible in the form as "ICAO code or location name".
  • Comments: Space for additional notes or descriptions related to the unit.
  • Assigned Missions: A list of mission numbers assigned to that specific Task Unit.

 

Purpose and Functionality

Task Units serve several crucial purposes within the ATO system:

  1. Mission Organization: They allow for the logical grouping of missions under specific units, facilitating planning and visualization.
  2. Mission Assignment: Missions generated from the .miz file can be assigned to a Task Unit. A mission can only be assigned to one Task Unit at a time.
  3. Unit Remarks Management: Each Task Unit can have associated "Remarks," which are specific observations or instructions for that unit. These "Remarks" can then be linked to individual missions assigned to the unit.
  4. Mission Filtering: The missions page allows you to filter the display based on the assigned Task Unit, enabling you to focus on the missions of a specific unit.
  5. Import/Export: Task Units can be imported from other ATO projects, facilitating the reuse of unit configurations.

 

Implications of a Correct ICAO Code in the Task Unit

The correct setup of Task Units and the precise ICAO code for their home base are fundamental for the accurate display and effective management of mission data in both the Mission Planner and the Combined Ops Airspace interface.

Displaying Takeoff Times

The system uses the Task Unit's ICAO code to determine and display the takeoff times for scheduled missions.

  • Airbase Identification: When you select an airbase on the map (via its ICAO code), the system searches for Task Units associated with that ICAO code.
  • Mission-Airbase Association: For each Task Unit found, the system identifies the missions assigned to it.
  • Takeoff Waypoint Search: For each of these missions, the system searches within the flight plan (both imported from the .miz file and any custom flight plans saved in the DTC) for a waypoint indicating takeoff. This waypoint is identified by the name "TAKEOFF".
  • Time Extraction: Once the takeoff waypoint is found, the associated departure time (ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival) for that waypoint is extracted and displayed in the scheduled missions table.

What happens if the ICAO code is incorrect or missing?

  • Missing Association: If the Task Unit's ICAO code does not match any airbase in the database or is incorrect, the system will not be able to associate the missions of that Task Unit with a specific airbase.
  • Missing Takeoff Times: Consequently, missions assigned to that Task Unit may not appear in the scheduled missions table for the correct airbase, or the takeoff time (T/O) will show as "N/A" (Not Available), even if the mission's flight plan actually contains a takeoff waypoint.
  • Inaccurate Map Display: The system's ability to filter and show relevant missions for a selected airbase on the map (part of the Combined Ops Airspace interface) will be compromised, reducing the effectiveness of planning and monitoring.

Display in the Missions Table

The ICAO code and airbase name associated with the Task Unit are directly displayed in the "Airbase" column of the missions table within the Mission Planner. This provides a quick reference to the operating base of each assigned mission.

Mission Filtering Functionality

The Task Unit's ICAO code is crucial for the filtering functionality available in the "Missions" section of the Mission Planner.

  • Filter by Unit: You can filter the display of missions by selecting a specific "Unit" from the dropdown menu. This filter relies on the Task Unit's identifier, which is closely tied to its designator and ICAO code.
  • Filter Accuracy: A correct ICAO code ensures that units appear correctly in the filter options and that the filter functions as expected, showing only the missions relevant to the selected unit.

Management and Organization in the Mission Planner

The "Mission Planner" (which includes the Header, Missions, Units, Packages, Remarks sections, etc.) relies on Task Units and their ICAO codes for consistent and organized management of operations:

  • Data Consistency: Associating a valid ICAO code with a Task Unit ensures that airbase-related data (like name, location, runways) is correctly retrieved and displayed, both in the units table and the missions tables.
  • Detailed Assignment: When you assign a mission to a Task Unit, the ICAO information linked to that Task Unit becomes part of the mission's context, influencing how mission details are interpreted and displayed.
  • Grouping "No Unit" Missions: The system maintains a separate section ("No unit missions") for missions that have not yet been assigned to a Task Unit. This highlights the importance of such assignment to fully integrate missions into the ATO workflow and associate them with a specific departure base via the ICAO code.

Association with Unit Remarks

While not directly an implication of the ICAO code itself, the management of "Remarks" is intrinsically linked to the Task Unit. A correct ICAO helps uniquely identify the unit to which remarks are associated, ensuring that notes are applied and retrieved correctly for the right unit.

Importing Units and Remarks

During the import of units and remarks from other projects, the system relies on the unit designators and, implicitly, their unique identification (which often includes the ICAO) to ensure that remarks are associated with the correct units in the new project.

In summary, a precise ICAO code in the Task Unit is essential to ensure that missions are correctly linked to their operating bases and that vital information such as takeoff times is displayed accurately and promptly, in addition to supporting filtering and note management functionalities within the Mission Planner and Combined Ops Airspace.

Task Units are a powerful tool for managing and organizing your air operations within the ATO system.