Compass Call

Abstract

The EC-130H COMPASS CALL is the USAF's wide-area, airborne Command and Control Warfare/Information Operations (C2W/IO) weapon system. The employment of this system interdicts our adversary's use of the electronic battlespace and is a key active component in the information battlespace and prosecution of overseas contingency operations. EC-130H COMPASS CALL's sophisticated electronic combat system is capable of surgical denial or disruption of adversary radio frequency (RF) communications systems and sensors. The system was fielded in 1983 and to date has evolved through the Block 35/Baseline 1 configuration. Due to the rapid advances in electronic attack technology, the EC-130H COMPASS CALL was designed to be easily modified and must continue to modernize and evolve to keep pace with adversary tactics and emerging technologies. Continuous system development is required to maintain battlespace superiority. The EC-130H COMPASS CALL program employs an incremental development and fielding strategy IAW AFPD 63-1 that puts capability into the warfighters hands as soon as practical and ensures each iteration of the weapon system is effective against the highest priority threats. To sustain that process requires a steady stream of system development funds. Development funds are required to accomplish subsystem additions and improvements such as the digital signal analysis and exciter subsystem (AXE), the Special Purpose Emitter Array (SPEAR), Integrated Modern Communication Receiver, the Human-to-Machine Interface (HMI), network centric operations, phased array transmit and receive apertures and other classified hardware and software developments necessary to counter military and commercial communications evolutions, command and control operations enhancements, and new/emerging sensor developments. Funding in FY13 is required to support RDT&E efforts for Baseline 3 (BL3) upgrades to the EC-130H COMPASS CALL fleet. The BL2 and BL3 programmed requirements have advanced significantly over the two previously fielded baselines. BL2 and BL3 upgrades will help cover the electronic attack shortfall in the coming years. Obsolescence and diminishing manufacturing sources (DMS) are addressed with each baseline upgrade as well as annually as part of the sustainment responsibilities. Activities also include studies and analysis to support both current and future program planning and execution. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2013
Source ID
0207253F_7_3600_PB_2013
Change Summary Explanation
FY11: adjustment (CGR -0.105) shown in Other Adjustments Row.
Service Agency Name
Air Force

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Electronic Warfare
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Arrays
  • Combatant Commanders
  • Command And Control
  • Emerging Technology
  • Engineering
  • Human-Machine Interfaces
  • Life Cycle Management
  • Life Cycles
  • Military Communications
  • Phased Arrays
  • Software Development
  • Targets
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Warfare
  • Weapon Systems

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.
  • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology.

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
  • Microelectronics

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