Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)

Abstract

Mission: Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) is the premier airborne platform providing battle management (BM)/command and control (C2) for Commander In Chief and combatant commander tasking in joint, allied, and coalition operations, humanitarian relief, and homeland defense. AWACS provides a real-time picture of friendly, neutral, and hostile air activity. Its capabilities include all-altitude/all-weather surveillance of the battle space; early warning of enemy actions; a real-time ability to find, fix, track, and assess airborne or maritime threats; and detection, location, and identification of electronic emitters. 1. E-3 Block 40/45 is replacing AWACS 1970's vintage mission systems that are experiencing Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) issues, are difficult and expensive to upgrade, and limit overall AWACS system performance. The Block 40/45 upgrade will improve integration, quality and timeliness of sensor data to the shooter, improve Combat Identification (CID), improve AWACS contribution to Time Critical Targeting via Data Link Infrastructure (DLI), improve electronic support measures processing and enable more effective, faster upgrades via an open-system, Ethernet-based architecture. This upgrade also updates the ground support infrastructure, training systems [(Mission Crew Training Set (MCTS), Mission Computing Maintenance Trainer (MCMT) and the Airborne Training Set (ATS)], data links and the Avionics Integration Support Facility (AISF) all located at Tinker Air Force Base. 2. E-3 Next Generation Identification Friend or Foe (NGIFF) provides AWACS with enhanced IFF interrogator operation to add a more secure Mode 5 capability. The National Security Agency (NSA) declared IFF Mode 4 unsecure and obsolete on 5 Nov 2003. Joint Requirements Oversight Council Memo 047-07 requires IFF Mode 5 interrogation capability by FY14. The new Mode 5 interrogation capability extends the effective range of the AWACS interrogator, while helping discriminate against closely spaced cooperative targets. NGIFF developed and integrated a basic Mode 5 capability on Block 30/35 starting in FY09 and began developing a full Mode 5 capability on Block 40/45 in FY11. Hardware will be common between the Block 30/35 and Block 40/45 platforms. NGIFF will also integrate Mode S, a civilian air traffic control capability residing in the NGIFF hardware, as funding allows. 3. E-3 DMS Replacement of Avionics for Global Operations and Navigation (DRAGON) completes the FAA/International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)/EUROCONTROL (European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation) air traffic control mandated safety of flight capabilities. This program will provide the E-3 fleet with the flight instruments and other avionics for the Required Navigation Performance (RNP), and the surveillance and communication capabilities necessary to maintain continued critical unrestricted access to global airspace. Non-compliance will result in airspace restrictions and denials that will impact AWACS ability to support worldwide responses to situations requiring immediate on-scene Command and Control (C2) Battle Management (BM). The DRAGON modifications replace the existing Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) Global Positioning System (GPS) Integrated Navigation System (GINS) with a modern Flight Management System (FMS) that will accommodate new capabilities including Mode 5 IFF and Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS). Also included as part of the modification is the addition of data link communications, voice and data link digital radios, and improved visual displays. Emphasis on employment of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) avionics is expected to lower cost, reduce the tech refresh cycle, and enhance life cycle management. Replacement of critical avionics subsystems that became unsustainable beginning in 2010 is included in the DRAGON program. The Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of DRAGON is being executed as a Cooperative Program between the US and NATO. 4. E-3 Electronic Protection (EP): The EP program funds the development and retrofit of the E-3 AWACS radar processing capability including risk reduction and EMD activities. EP will provide improved radar processing in a specific flight environment to meet a classified requirement. Processing will initially address radar modes comprising 90% of operational AWACS radar usage. EP will install an adjunct processor that works in parallel with the current Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) system. The EP-processed radar picture will appear on the operator screen in place of the current RSIP output when the EP radar modes are selected. The program will buy COTS equipment starting in FY17 including initial spares. 5. E-3 Training, Support, and Infrastructure (TSI) provides continuing system engineering and management support for AWACS modernization and enhancement. These activities include managing the AWACS developmental infrastructure, AWACS Development Integration Test Support (ADITS), support for equipment concurrency, modernization planning/analysis, trainer/simulator integration and concurrency, as well as the Avionics Integration Laboratory (AIL) and Advanced Development Lab #2 (ADL-2). The contractor maintained and operated E-3 Radar Systems Integration Lab/Software Development Facility (SIL/SDF) provides US, Foreign Military Sales (FMS), and international customers with a functioning E-3 radar configuration to support radar development, production, and sustainment programs. TSI efforts allow new support equipment technologies and test strategies to be analyzed to ensure concurrent capability to sustain existing, modified, and upgraded E-3 equipment. TSI supports trainer/simulator concurrency analysis and requirements definition to ensure trainers and simulators are kept current with the AWACS baseline. The overall Development Test and Evaluation (DT&E) test infrastructure supports development, production, and sustainment projects, and maintains facilities to support AWACS aircraft during system and sub-system testing at Boeing Field, WA. Funding is shared between Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) and production funds. The TSI assets also support multiple international Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) projects on a maintenance fee basis, including projects for France, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Japan, and North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) AEW&C efforts. 6. E-3 Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C2ISR): C2ISR system improvements investigate and develop future capabilities of the AWACS weapon system, or next C2ISR platform. These efforts also include investigation, analysis and development to ensure that AWACS successfully integrates with joint and coalition forces in a net-centric environment. C2ISR primarily supports pre-systems acquisition in the areas of material solution analysis and technology development. This is accomplished by prototyping and demonstrating capabilities required by the warfighter but also includes developing an E-3 Modernization & Sustainment Roadmap that projects user capability needs, as well as material solutions for the user needs. 7. E-3 Internet Protocol Enabled Communication (IPEC): IPEC will provide the Block 40/45 E-3 with a wideband communications capability to connect to the Global Information Grid and will support net-centric operations/warfare. The E-3 lacks an IP-enabled communication capability. As a result, the E-3 is not able to support a shortened digitized kill-chain of time sensitive targets. IPEC will provide a roll-on/roll-off IP-enabled communications package supporting warfighter identified requirements for higher bandwidth SIPRNet and multi-domain networks. 8. E-3 MIDS JTRS (Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System) will use Link 16 to establish a digital kill chain with in-theater combat forces/shooters. Current 20 year old Class 2 terminal has sustainability/Dimishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) issues; does not support mandated Crypto Mod (CM) & Freq Remap (FR). MIDS JTRS resolves DMS issues, provides CM & FR, Link 16 enhancements & growth for Next Gen Tactical Data Link (TDL). 9. AWACS current Combat Indentification (CID) capability has become unsustainable and requires update to stay current with current and evolving threats. AWACS will address C2 CID shortfalls by upgrading existing capability to provide a persistent Air Moving Target Indicator (AMTI) Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) combat ID in support of the kill chain and decision superiority. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational Systems 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 Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date: Oct 01, 2015
Source ID: 0207417F_7_3600_PB_2015
Change Summary Explanation: FY13: Decrease in other adjustements due to sequestration, congressional directed reduction due to underexection. FY14: Congressional directed reductions due to program decrease and Electronic Protection delays. FY15: Funding added to acceleration of development activity on IPEC to meet warfighter requirements for secure chat capability.
Service Agency Name: Air Force

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Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)

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