Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network (MEECN)

Abstract

Nuclear Deterrence Operations (NDO) is an Air Force Core Function. Within this core function, Nuclear Command and Control (NC2) is the exercise of authority and direction by the President, as Commander in Chief, through established command lines, over nuclear weapon operations of military forces. The President's authority and direction are exercised through the Nuclear Command and Control System (NCCS). The NCCS is the designated combination of flexible and enduring elements including facilities, equipment, communications, procedures, personnel, and the structure in which these elements are integrated, all of which are essential for planning, directing, and controlling nuclear weapon operations. The MEECN portfolio modernizes the systems necessary to effectively provide assured communications connectivity between the President and the strategic deterrence forces in stressed environments. MSI is a long-range planning process with users (Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), Air Combat Command (ACC), United States Space Force (USSF), Air Mobility Command (AMC), Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), and the Navy) to monitor and assess the performance of existing NC3 systems and develop recommendations for strategic and tactical architecture upgrades, requirements, and issues based on available and emerging technologies. MSI is used to conduct technology testing; analyze technology strategies; conduct requirement trade space analysis, technology maturation and risk reduction efforts, and mission analysis; and build technology Roadmaps as proactive support to the NC3 community. MSI performs analysis, integration, and testing activities for the NC3 Weapon System. NC3 Advanced Concepts develops and prototypes NC3 unique and dual-use systems in support of Concept for Force Development (CFD), Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2), and Advanced Battle Management Systems (ABMS) initiatives. This program ensures a responsive design and development engineering infrastructure to address evolving NDO mission requirements, emerging issues and technology insertion/technology application on the NC3 Weapon System, future strategic systems/capability, and other common strategic areas where appropriate, and develop enhanced multi-use capabilities. The NC3 Advanced Concepts Program will provide technology maturation and risk reduction activities to support the NC3 Weapon System (AN/USQ-225). Activity will reduce life cycle costs, inform technology maturation & risk reduction efforts, improve system performance, mitigate evolving threats, and ensure both viability and durability of the NC3 Weapon System. Common Very Low Frequency/Low Frequency (VLF/LF) Receiver (CVR) Increment 2 (CVR Inc 2) will deliver a survivable, beyond-line-of-sight path for Emergency Action Message (EAM) reception. The intent of CVR Inc 2 is to develop and produce a common VLF/LF receiver, capable of implementing an interoperable waveform for future platform integration to include airborne and ground based nodes, improved system performance, and reduced supportability costs through commonality. In parallel, the program will lead development of the Special Mode A waveform specification for the USAF and USN to increase reception range and accuracy while shortening required transmission time. The program will assume responsibility for the sustainment and configuration management of the CVR Inc 1 program's VLF receiver while also providing management support to the B-52 VLF Modernization Program for production and procurement of the AFGSC AF 1067 directed VLF receiver. Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal (Global ASNT) replaces inadequate, unsustainable strategic communications equipment at bomber, tanker and reconnaissance Wing Command Posts (WCPs), Nuclear Task Forces and Munitions Support Squadrons (MUNSS) and for Mobile Support Teams (MSTs). Global ASNT is a ground-based system that will provide survivable, secure communication paths to receive Emergency Action Messages (EAMs), Force Management messages, and Force Direction messages and disseminate them to bomber, tanker, and reconnaissance aircrews. Global ASNT is being fielded in separate capability increments. Global ASNT Increment 1 (Inc. 1) includes early system engineering support for the planning and development for the future Global ASNT Increments. Global ASNT Inc. 1 fields required Extremely High Frequency/Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF/AEHF) capabilities and replaces inadequate, unsustainable strategic mobile and fixed-site Single Channel Anti-jam Man-Portable (SCAMP) terminals and Secure, Mobile, Anti-Jam, Reliable, Tactical - Terminal (SMART-T) equipment. Global ASNT Increment 2 delivers a replacement Aircrew Alerting System (AAS) consisting of Ultra High Frequency (UHF) as well as High Frequency (HF) personal and general alerting equipment capabilities. Increment 2 replaces aging legacy Electromagnetic Pulse Hardened Dispersal Communication (EHDC) and Aircrew Alerting Communications Electromagnetic Pulse (AACE) systems. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver nuclear weapon support capabilities. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605831F or 0605833F. 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, 2021
Source ID
0303131F_7_3600_PB_2021
Change Summary Explanation
FY21 decreased -$29.927M due to higher AF priorities
Service Agency Name
Air Force

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Counter WMD
  • Cyber
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Configuration Management
  • Contracts
  • Control Systems
  • Cost Analysis
  • Procurement
  • Product Development
  • Space Force
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Equipment
  • United States
  • United States Strategic Command
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

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

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