Distributed Common Ground/Surface Systems

Abstract

Air Force Distributed Common Ground System (AF DCGS) (AN/GSQ-272) is the Combat Air Force (CAF) weapon system for planning, direction, collection, processing, exploitation, production, dissemination, and problem centric, sensor-agnostic analysis of data. The AF DCGS weapon system provides capabilities required to connect, direct and exploit sensors and transform multi-source/multi-domain data into actionable intelligence to find, fix, and target adversary forces and enable simultaneous kill chains at the speed and scale of peer conflict. AF DCGS is also a major component of the DoD DCGS, the system is designed to complement and interoperate with the other Services' DCGS systems (Army, Navy and Marine Corps), and a key provider/consumer of the sensing grid and Joint All Domain Command and Control (C2) (JADC2) & Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) efforts. The AF DCGS mission is to provide Joint Task Force (JTF) Commanders, Joint and Combined Air Component Commanders (JFACC/CFACC), Unified Commands, and other directed organizations with global, time-sensitive Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) data and fused multi-Intelligence (Multi-INT) products across the spectrum of military operations. AF DCGS is a Multi-INT, federated weapon system 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 serves as the main Sense-Making organization within the Air Force ISR Sensing Grid and has access to a multitude of sensors and data across the Intelligence Community, to include Publicly Available Information (PAI). AF DCGS Analysts leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML), Automation and Augmentation (AAA) technologies to focus their review/analysis of multi-source/multi-domain intelligence across the tactical/national sensor grid and within federated databases to enable target and problem centric, sensor-agnostic analysis and exploitation to address Joint operational requirements by providing a common means to provide intelligence to field commanders and in support of the Air Operations Center (AOC) mission requirements, and supports sensor to shooter and the kill chain across the full range of military operations. The DCGS analysts use all available data sources and emerging capabilities, including AAA, to enhance their understanding of intelligence/targeting problem sets and provide the required intelligence. Currently, AF DCGS is composed of eight core sites (two active duty worldwide, three active duty regional and three Air National Guard regional), six SIGINT Distributed Mission Sites (four collocated with National Mission Partner sites), three Air National Guard full-motion video sites, three support sites, and four integration and test sites connected by robust, resilient communications infrastructure, to support Near-Peer competition/contested environments. 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 migrated to an open architecture to rapidly incorporate new technologies and tools, new and/or improved sensor capabilities, and mission applications to meet emerging and urgent operational needs. AF DCGS is a critical enabler for the sensing grid/ABMS/JADC2. AF DCGS is also aligned with USD(I&S)'s efforts to improve data sharing through its Common Data Fabric. AF DCGS integrates services and applications from both commercial-off-the-shelf and government-off-the-shelf sources to the maximum extent possible to fulfill operational requirements and data sharing requirements across the DoD DCGS community. AF DCGS' robust network transport/open, mission assured hybrid-cloud (mix of private on premises and public commercial cloud) architecture enables integration of new/updated enterprise services, near-real time and problem-centric/sensor agnostic analysis and exploitation capabilities on a recurring cadence. Starting in FY 2024, in order to comply with updated financial guidance for agile software development, funding was realigned from Other Procurement, Air Force (OPAF) funds to Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) funds to better account for the program's software intensive focus. Due to this accounting change, efforts previously utilizing OPAF funds will now be funded by RDT&E, to include High Altitude (HA) and Full Motion Video (FMV) Agile Release Trains (ARTs) efforts to rapidly develop, integrate and test new GEOINT-specific operational and management capabilities; SIGINT Modernization ART to rapidly develop and integrate new SIGINT-specific operational and management capabilities; rapidly develop and integration new and updated Multi-INT and visualization and situational awareness capabilities, and AAA capabilities and develop and integrated updates to the DCGS network transport, commercial cloud infrastructure, and enterprise and core shared services. 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 element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, and 0606398F. In FY22, $0.220M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY23, $0.501M 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, 2024
• Source ID: 0305208F_7_3600_PB_2024
• Change Summary Explanation: Starting in FY 2024, in order to comply with updated financial guidance for agile software development, funding was realigned from Other Procurement, Air Force (OPAF) funds to Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) funds to better account for the program's software intensive focus. In FY 2024, the increase is the $61.402 million reflected in the Total Adjustment line.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• C4I
• Cyber
• Engineered Resilient Systems (Alumni COI)
• Kinetic Weapons
• Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Active Duty
• Agile Software Development
• Air National Guard
• Artificial Intelligence
• Command And Control
• Data Analysis
• Full Motion Video
• Geospatial Intelligence
• High Altitude
• Measurement And Signature Intelligence
• Military Operations
• Procurement
• Publicly Available Information
• Signals Intelligence
• Software Development
• 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
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Space