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 Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network (MEECN) portfolio modernizes the systems necessary to effectively provide assured communications connectivity between the President and the strategic deterrence forces in stressed environments. MEECN System Improvements (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 US Navy (USN)) 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. Common Very Low Frequency/Low Frequency (VLF/LF) Receiver (CVR) Increment 2 (CVR Inc 2) Program will develop and produce an open systems architecture (OSA) compliant, advanced, adaptable VLF/LF receiver for the NC3 weapon system, AN/USQ-225. The program will continue new MEECN waveform specification maturation for USAF and USN implementation to VLF systems to improve reception range and accuracy while ultimately shortening required transmission time. As the USAF VLF receiver integrator, the VLF Enterprise Program Office will assume responsibility for VLF sustainment to include configuration management of the CVR Increment 1 (CVRi1) materiel solution while also providing management support to the B-52 VLF Modernization Program for its procurement and production of the directed VLF receiver. The VLF Enterprise Program Office will provide the same management support to other legacy NC3 platforms' VLF receiver requirements. The Program will complete its investment in pre-EMD VLF modernization activities as directed by the VLF Enterprise Program Office to advance technology maturation to be made available for incorporation into current and next generation VLF reception architectures and integrated with Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2). Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal (Global ASNT) program 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. FY19 was the last year of RDT&E funding. Global ASNT Increment 2 delivers a replacement Aircrew Alerting System (AAS) consisting of personal and general area alerting as well as Ultra High Frequency (UHF) line of sight (LOS) voice communications to bomber, tanker, and reconnaissance aircraft. Increment 2 replaces aging legacy Electromagnetic Pulse Hardened Dispersal Communication (EHDC) and Aircrew Alerting Communications Electromagnetic Pulse (AACE) systems. The total cost of the Global ASNT Inc 2 Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is 105 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The Global ASNT Inc 2 is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605831F and 0605833F. In FY2021 1.593M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, in FY22 1.229M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. 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.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2023
• Source ID: 0303131F_7_3600_PB_2023
• Change Summary Explanation: The FY 2022 President's Budget submittal did not reflect FY 2023 through FY 2026 funding. Therefore, an explanation of the change between the two budget positions for FY2023 cannot be made in a relevant manner. FY21: -4.885M omnibus reprogramming; -1.457M SBIR reduction FY22: AF requested transfer of $37.465M via technical adjustment from Line #46 (SAOC) to CVRi2
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• Counter WMD
• Cyber
• Energy and Power Technologies
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Air Force
• Command And Control
• Command And Control Systems
• Configuration Management
• Control Systems
• Cost Analysis
• Electromagnetic Pulses
• Emerging Technology
• Engineering
• Human-Machine Interfaces
• Product Development
• Software Prototyping
• Space Force
• Test And Evaluation
• United States
• United States Strategic Command
• Warfare

Readers

• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
• Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

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