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) material 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. VLF Enterprise Program Office will also develop an acquisition strategy for adaptation of CVRi2 for the current and future NC3 platforms, while establishing an overarching contract to capture both development and production of CVRi2 for multiple NC3 platforms, which will enable enterprise level management of the VLF receivers for the current and future USAF airborne and ground-based NC3 platforms. The total cost of the Common VLF Receiver Increment 2 Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is 122.1 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The CVR Inc 2 RP program 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 FY 2023 0.188M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this project, and FY 2024 0.319M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this project. No FY 2025 civilian pay. 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. FY 2019 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. Global ASNT Increment 2 (Inc 2) Block 2 delivers High Frequency (HF) Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications to bomber, tanker, and reconnaissance aircraft. The total cost of the Global ASNT Inc 2 Block 1 Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is 132.210M, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The Global ASNT Inc 2 Block 1 is not fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. 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. No FY 2024 or FY 2025 civilian pay is planned. 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, 2025
• Source ID: 0303131F_7_3600_PB_2025
• Change Summary Explanation: FY 2023: (-1.106M) SBIR Reduction and (-1.566M) for AF FY 23-80 PA September 2023 reprogramming FY 2025: (+23.423M) AF internal realignment and (-11.457M) Reduced due to higher Air Force priorities
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

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