Distributed Common Ground/Surface Systems

Abstract

Air Force Distributed Common Ground System (AF DCGS) is the Combat Air Force (CAF) weapon system for planning and direction, collection, processing and exploitation, analysis and production, and dissemination (PCPAD) of data from Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Since AF DCGS is also a major component of the DoD DCGS, the system is designed to complement and interoperate with the DoD, Army, Navy and Marine Corps DCGS. The AF DCGS mission is to provide Joint Task Force (JTF) Commanders, Air Component Commanders, Unified Commands, and other directed organizations with global, time-sensitive ISR PCPAD across the spectrum of military operations. AF DCGS is a multi-INT, federated weapon system (AN/GSQ-272) capable of exploiting intelligence data from manned platforms, remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), non-traditional ISR platforms, national and commercial satellites and other collection systems. AF DCGS is designed to support Joint operational requirements by providing a common PCPAD means to provide time-sensitive intelligence to field commanders and in support of the Air Operations Center (AOC) mission requirements and supports the "kill chain” across the full range of military operations. Currently, AF DCGS is composed of eight core sites (two active duty worldwide, three active duty regional and three Air National Guard regional), three remote Air Force Forces (AF FOR) sites, six SIGINT Distributed Mission Sites (four collocated with National Mission Partner), three Air National Guard full-motion video sites, three support sites, three training sites, and three integration and test sites. AF DCGS currently supports ongoing operations from forward deployed and in-garrison CONUS and OCONUS-based locations. AF DCGS provides integrated ISR by providing quality, fused Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT) tailored to the warfighter for all levels of conflict. In alignment with DoD and AF direction, AF DCGS is migrating to an open architecture (OA DCGS) to rapidly incorporate new technologies and tools to easily integrate new and/or improved sensor capabilities, as well as provide improved mission applications to meet emerging and urgent operational needs. AF DCGS integrates commercial-off-the-shelf and government-off-the-shelf services and applications to the maximum extent possible to fulfill operational requirements and data sharing requirements across the DoD DCGS community. The next iteration will involve transitioning to a mission-assured hybrid cloud (mix of private on premise and public cloud) architecture. Program management consists of five ACAT III efforts: GEOINT Transformation, SIGINT Transformation, Multi-INT, Network Infrastructure Transformation, and DCGS Reference Imagery Transition (DRT) 1. GEOINT Transformation: Rapidly develop, integrate and test new GEOINT capabilities, enables quick/seamless integration of new sensors, data types, sensor planning, and command and control (C2) capabilities and migrates GEOINT-specific applications into the open architecture framework. Leverages mission partner methods and tools to the maximum extent possible. 2. SIGINT Transformation: Rapidly develop, integrate and test new SIGINT capabilities, enables quick/seamless integration of new sensors, data types, sensor planning, command and control (C2) capabilities and migrates SIGINT-specific applications into the open architecture framework. Leverages mission partner methods and tools to the maximum extent possible. 3. Multi-INT-1: Rapidly develop, integrate and test new and updated enterprise applications, to include voice/video/chat communications, collaboration and situational awareness, multi-INT fusion, and data analytics capabilities (to include Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)) into the open architecture framework. Also includes Intelligent Modeling and Predictive Analysis of Cyberspace Targeting (IMPACT) program, which develops concepts, Tactics/Techniques/Procedures (TTPs) and technologies for synchronizing ISR and non-kinetic capabilities. Addressees program office test and evaluation activities. 4. Network Infrastructure Transformation: Modernizes the AF DCGS infrastructure to a cyber-resilient, open, scalable, commercial-based, architecture, improving data ingest, transfer, and storage capabilities, collaboration, and content driven discovery. OA DCGS Platform as a Service, along with migration to a hub-based architecture and public cloud represents the AF DCGS mission-assured hybrid cloud (mix of private on premise and public cloud) architecture. 5. *DRT: The Air Force DCGS Reference Imagery Transition (DRT) effort provides data ingest, transfer, and storage capabilities for NGA reference imagery data. Note:*No additional RDT&E or Investment Funding planned in FY20 or outyears; ACAT will be closed once the capability is installed at all sites This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver AF DCGS weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605831F. In FY20 0.00M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY21 0.00M 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, 2022
• Source ID: 0305208F_7_3600_PB_2022
• Change Summary Explanation: The FY 2022 funding request was reduced by $1.365M to account for the availability of prior year execution balances.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Autonomy
• C4I
• Cyber
• Engineered Resilient Systems
• Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Active Duty
• Air National Guard
• Artificial Intelligence
• Command And Control
• Data Analysis
• Full Motion Video
• Geospatial Intelligence
• High Altitude
• Machine Learning
• Measurement And Signature Intelligence
• Military Operations
• National Guard
• Program Management
• Signals Intelligence
• Situational Awareness
• Surveillance
• Test And Evaluation

Readers

• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Geospatial Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence Analytics

Technology Areas

• AI & ML
• AI & ML - DoD AI Strategy
• Cyber
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Space