Air Traffic Control/Approach/Landing System (ATCALS)

Abstract

To support the Air Force worldwide flying mission, this program element funds research, development and management of new air traffic control surveillance, positioning, and precision approach landing systems. When applicable, this includes joint efforts with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and coordination with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). FY12 funding focuses on three main efforts as follows: Deployable Instrument Landing System (D-ILS). This effort develops a deployable version of the fixed base ILS which is the standard precision approach and landing system for conducting Air Force contingency operations and humanitarian or domestic disaster restoral operations in adverse weather conditions. The current Air Force mobile precision approach radar system (PAR) used to support operations at deployed locations were procured in the 1970s, are manpower intensive, and logistically unsupportable. On average, only 18% (three of 17 systems) of the mobile PAR systems are operational on a daily basis. Development and deployment of D-ILS will support increased operations in the AOR, allow phase out of the currently obsolete legacy systems and will provide interoperability with the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF). FY12 funds support contract award efforts as well as initial development of the D-ILS. Related OPAF funds are in PE 0305114F. Deployable Radar Approach Control (D-RAPCON). D-RAPCON will replace the 40 year old AN/MPN-14K and AN/TPN-19 Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) and Operations Shelter (OPS) subsystems with state of the art digital systems. Modification and overhaul of the existing systems have proven to be ineffective due to diminishing manufacturing sources over the 40 years for some of the components and subsystems. The D-RAPCON will be used to provide both a terminal and enroute surveillance capability. The D-RAPCON will also be used with the D-ILS and a fixed or mobile control tower to provide a complete ATC capability. The D-RAPCON will support tactical military operations and also provide a capability to support domestic disaster relief. The new digital technology will also provide the capability to transmit and display surveillance radar data to/from other sensors and command and control nodes. The primary surveillance radar coverage (non-cooperative targets) is out to 60 nautical miles (nm) and the secondary surveillance radar coverage (cooperative targets) is out to 120 nm. FY12 funds will support the post contract activities to include conduct of the preliminary and critical design reviews and the start of assembly of two pre-production units to support DT/OT. Related OPAF funds are in PE 0305114F. Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen): This is an interagency effort designed to enable the transition from a ground infrastructure dominated Air Traffic Management capability for the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS) to a capability that leverages advances in Performance Based Navigation (PBN), non-radar based surveillance services, transition from voice communications to digital data exchange, as well as advances in weather forecast delivery systems. NextGen will be built on key elements from existing programs and technologies and on new systems under development. FY12 efforts will focus on preparations leading to the implementation of new surveillance technologies including Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) and multilateration systems utilizing transponder technologies. Both will improve the display of aircraft position to air traffic managers and will enhance flight safety. Early efforts will focus on analysis and demonstration of technologies to enable the seamless integration of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) into the NAS and the airspaces of other nations. Design studies and engineering analysis will be initiated to ensure ground system upgrades are coordinated and fielded concurrently with aircraft avionics capabilities that are acquired and integrated into Air Force aircraft and RPA; these efforts will run in close parallel with the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) program in PE 0305099F. 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, 2012
• Source ID: 0305114F_7_3600_PB_2012
• Change Summary Explanation: FY12: Funding increased for D-ILS (fully funded development prior to Milestone C in FY13) and NextGen (increased funding to continue remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) Ground Based Sense and Avoid technology and RPA pilot/controller communications demonstrations).
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• Autonomy
• Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Air Force
• Air Traffic
• Air Traffic Control Systems
• Air Transportation
• Aircrafts
• Airport Radar Systems
• Command And Control
• Engineering
• Manufacturing
• Military Operations
• Nato
• Navigation
• Production
• Radar
• Sense And Avoid Systems
• Surveillance Radar
• Test And Evaluation

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering
• Aviation Safety and Air Traffic Management
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.

Technology Areas

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