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 effort 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. The Common Very Low Frequency/Low Frequency (VLF/LF) Receiver (CVR) Increment 2 (CVRi2) Program will develop and produce a modular open systems approach (MOSA) compliant, advanced, adaptable VLF/LF receiver. As the USAF VLF receiver integrator, the VLF Enterprise Program Office will continue to be responsible 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 total cost of the CVR Inc 2 Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is 103.81 million, including RDT&E. The CVR Inc 2 is not fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. The Department of the Air Force is assessing all options to address the funding shortfalls for MTA programs including additional funding in a future budget request, performance trades based on technical maturity, or transition to alternative pathways. This project 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 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY2022 0.208M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this project, and FY2023 1.399M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this project. The 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) 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 for Global ASNT Inc 1; development is complete, full rate production is in process, and fielding of terminals commenced in 2QFY22. Global ASNT Increment 2 (Inc 2) Block 1 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 104.90 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The Global ASNT Inc 2 is not fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. The Department of the Air Force is assessing all options to address the funding shortfalls for MTA programs including additional funding in a future budget request, performance trades based on technical maturity, or transition to alternative pathways. This project 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 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY22 0.000M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this project, and in FY23 1.263M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this project. 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, 2024
• Source ID: 0303131F_7_3600_PB_2024
• Change Summary Explanation: FY22: AF FY22-51 PA DoD FY22-11 PA reprogramming decrease of -8.744M, reprogramming add of 3.800M for MEECN V2 and SBIR Reduction of -1.540M FY23: Congressional Directed Reduction for FFRDC of -5.623M FY24: Properly phased 11.813M to Global ASNTi2 and 10.000M add for CVRi2
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Counter WMD (Alumni COI)
• Cyber
• Energy and Power Technologies
• Human Systems
• Kinetic Weapons
• Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Air Force
• Command And Control
• Command And Control Systems
• Configuration Management
• Control Systems
• Electromagnetic Pulses
• Emerging Technology
• Human-Machine Interfaces
• Information Assurance
• Open System Architecture
• 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