RQ-4 UAV

Abstract

This program element funds four (4) related Air Force projects sharing the RQ-4 platform in common: the RQ-4 Block 30 project, the RQ-4 Block 40 project, the RQ-4 Ground Segment/Communications System project, and MP-RTIP project in FY16 and forward. Global Hawk: The RQ-4 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) provides a high altitude, deep look, long-endurance Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability that complements space and other airborne collectors during peacetime, crisis, and war-fighting scenarios. This funding supports the development of RQ-4 aircraft, payloads, ground and support segments. The Block 20/30/40 RQ-4B RPA is the successor to the Block 10 RQ-4A, and is designed to employ 3,000 pounds of payload and enable Multi-Intelligence (multi-INT) collecting. Block 30 (Project Number 675145) employs upgraded Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors known as the Enhanced Integrated Sensor Suite (EISS), and the Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload (ASIP) sensor. Activities include mission planning development and testing, enhanced weather capability development and testing, airspace and interoperability enhancements and updates, airframe upgrades, sensor upgrades, risk reduction and integration, ice protection system development and testing, and resolution of issues with Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS). The Block 40 (Project Number 675146) employs the MP-RTIP radar sensor. In FY15 and beyond, this includes the Block 40 costs for the development of enhanced weather capability development and testing, maritime mode utilization, mission planning development and testing, airspace integration activities including Mode 5 Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), ice protection system development and testing, airframe and sensor enhancements to the Block 40 fleet. The Ground Segment Modernization (GSM)/Communication System Modernization (CSM) Project Number 675147 includes the GSM project, CSM project and the Next Generation Communication System. The ground segment currently includes the Mission Control Element (MCE), the Launch and Recovery Element (LRE), and the networking resources required to simultaneously disseminate intelligence while remaining compliant with Department of Defense (DoD) cybersecurity network requirements to operate on the Global Information Grid. As a result of the reinstatement of the Block 30s in the FY15 PB, the requirement for ground stations operations significantly increased which increased the need for efforts to address DMS issues. The GSM project will initiate in FY16 in support of a 20 year operational lifecycle, and will comprise an approach that combines the functionality of legacy MCEs and LREs into a single building-based configuration. The CSM project will provide enhancements across the RQ-4 communication network. When judged feasible and affordable, this program will participate in the development, testing, and implementation of international standards to enhance joint, allied, and coalition interoperability. Studies and activities may be initiated to further explore the utility of incorporating the emerging architectural standards such as the USAF Unmanned Aeriel System (UAS) Command and Control Initiative (UCI) or the DoD's Unmanned Control Segment standards (UCS). GSM and CSM will incorporate UCI and UCS standards. The RQ-4 program will maintain and upgrade interoperability for Blocks 20/30/40 with system of systems partners and continue to incorporate applicable synergies with other platforms such as the U.S. Navy's Triton, other RPA weapon systems, and Processing, Exploitation & Dissemination (PED) elements. The networking capability for intelligence dissemination is required to provide the data transport interface between the Weapons System, Operations Centers, and external Intelligence Community customers. C-ABSAA: C-ABSAA is an analysis and developmental effort in the pre-Material Development Decision phase of the acquisition lifecycle which supports emerging warfighter requirements to fully integrate Group 4-5 RPA into the National Airspace System (NAS), international airspace, other nations' sovereign airspace, and operational combat airspace to conduct the entire range of military operations across all mission environments. C-ABSAA also supports the "Worldwide Operations" Key Performance Parameter (KPP) in larger RPA requirement documents, and Public Law 112-239 directing DoD collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Air and Space Administration (NASA) to safely integrate RPA in the NAS. Funding in this project supports the development of a Sense and Avoid (SAA) capability set for Group 4-5 RPA and covers analysis, research, and developmental activities as well as infrastructure and other government costs. Activities included support to the development of warfighter requirements and analysis of possible solution alternatives, the collaboration with the FAA, NASA, and Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) to develop national policy and standards, and SAA related studies, analysis, modeling and simulation, program planning and project execution. RPA platform specific integration and testing is not included. In FY16, Project 675148, C-ABSAA, transferred to PE 0305206F, Airborne Reconnaissance Systems, Project 675148, C-ABSAA, in order to provide greater visibility into this capability and prepare for expanded applications. MP-RTIP: The MP-RTIP sensor was designed as a family of modular, scalable sensors to provide next generation capabilities to support sustainable network centric operations with integrated Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C2ISR) capability. MP-RTIP provides the RQ-4 Block 40 aircraft with advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Moving Target Indicator (MTI) sensor capabilities. This project (67RTIP) includes all MP-RTIP design, development, test, and integration efforts for the RQ-4 Block 40 platform. Integration activities include platform integration of the MP-RTIP sensor and sustainment logistics planning support. MP-RTIP studies and development insertion include the implementation of Maritime Modes (MM), High Range Resolution (HRR) modes, electronic protection, technical refresh, product improvements and other advanced capabilities. Activities also include studies and analysis supporting current and future program planning and future modes development based on user requirements. Per direction of USD(AT&L), the RQ-4 program was restructured from the original project 675144 (Baseline) into multiple projects: (1) Block 30, (2) Block 40, (3) GroundSegment/Communications System, and (4) C-ABSAA. Prior year funds in the amount of $2031.377M were accounted for in project 675144. In FY 2016 and beyond, the RQ-4 Block 30 project 675145 includes budget necessary for systems engineering/program management, test and evaluation, management services and fielding support for projects 675145, 675146 (Block 40) and 675147 (Ground Segment/Comm System). This reflects contracting/acquisition strategy for these common elements within the Global Hawk program. Projects 675148 (C-ABSAA) and 67RTIP (Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP)) reflect separate costs as they are separately managed/supported programs. The Cost to Complete and Total Cost for Major Defense Acquistion Program (MDAP) projects in this program element are documented in the R3. Total Cost on the R2 is not reflective of the total cost for MDAP projects since the R2 does not account for prior years funding for in project 675144. 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, 2016
• Source ID: 0305220F_7_3600_PB_2016
• Change Summary Explanation: FY16 (-)$52.9M decrease: Rephasing of Common-Airborne Sense & Avoid (C-ABSAA) to PE 0305206F FY16 (-)$108.1M decrease: Rephasing of Global Hawk program to improve execution
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• Autonomy
• Cyber
• Human Systems
• Sensors
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Air Force
• Aircrafts
• Command And Control
• Communication Systems
• Cost Analysis
• Department Of Defense
• Engineering
• Ground Stations
• High Altitude
• Sense And Avoid Systems
• Signals Intelligence
• Synthetic Aperture Radar
• System Of Systems
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation
• Unmanned Aerial Systems

Readers

• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs
• Cyber
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Microelectronics
• Space