AIRCRAFT AVIONICS

Abstract

FY 2012 budget request funds the development of Aircraft Avionics systems required to horizontally and vertically integrate the battlefield and the integration of those systems into Army aircraft. Tasks in this Project support research, development, and test efforts in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phases of these systems. Aviation Tactical Communication Systems (ATCS) is an Army Aviation Program to test the Alternative Communications (Alt Comms) (ARC-231) A-Kit (hardware and software) and the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) hardware on the CH-47F, AH-64D, and the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Shadow aircraft. The JTRS is the transformational system that provides Army Aviation interoperability capability for Future Force and Joint Force operations. A delay in the JTRS Cluster 1 program resulted in a lack of critical communications equipment to support modernized Army Aviation aircraft production line requirements and Alt Comms was initiated to mitigate this issue. Alt Comms provides two ARC-231 and two ARC-201D radios with power amplifiers to meet the minimum interim JTRS requirements for Military Satellite Communications, Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS), HAVEQUICK, Very High Frequency (VHF), Air Traffic Control (ATC), and Land Mobile Radio requirements and funds the integration and test of the radios onto each platform. Alt Comms will be Army Aviation's communication solution until it is supplemented by the JTRS Airborne Maritime Fixed (AMF) Small Airborne (SA) radio set, beginning in FY15. Increment 1 of the AMF SA will provide the Wideband Networking Waveform, Soldier Radio Waveform, and Link-16 required for interoperation with the Future Force. Increment 2 of the AMF SA, planned for FY20, will replace the Alt Comms suite and provide legacy waveforms allowing a single hardware solution. JTRS integration efforts planned for FY12 are initiating development of common antennas, conducting platform antenna on-site analysis, continuing development of reusable control software to be provided to JTRS integrators, and continuing integration into the AH-64D resulting in a technical design review. Additionally, begin risk reduction activities for Small Form Factor-B (SFF-B) integration onto Shadow UAS. The Improved Data Modem (IDM) is the common solution for digitizing Army Aviation. It performs as an internet controller and gateway to Tactical Internet and Fire Support internet for Army aircraft. With interfaces supporting a six channel transmit/receive terminal, the IDM provides radio connectivity to the ARC-201D/231, ARC-186, ARC-164, and the Blue Force Tracker's (BFT) MT-2011 and AVX-06/203 Transceivers. IDM provides a flexible, software driven digital messaging system that is interoperable with existing Army and Joint forces battlefield operating systems. The IDM provides Situational Awareness and Variable Message Format messages capability to the cockpit. FY12 funds are required to continue development and testing of Joint Battle Command-Platform (Aviation) (JBC-P(A)) and continue development of an Open Systems Architecture (OSA) IDM solution compatible with the AH-64D, CH-47F, and HH/UH-60M. This effort provides the foundation to develop and qualify a new hardware architecture to host IDM and middleware applications to ensure interoperability on the future digital battlefield. The Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) is a precision approach and landing system providing joint operational capability for U.S. forces assigned to conventional and special operations missions including those operating from fixed base, ship, tactical, and special mission environments under a wide range of meteorological and jamming conditions. The JPALS effort in this project evaluates technical approaches, develops the aircraft avionics equipment for operation with the JPALS sea-based and ground systems, and integrates the avionics equipment into the various Army Aviation platforms. Increment 1 has now been split into Increment 1A (Sea Based development and test) and Increment 1B (aircraft avionics development, integration, and test). The Army's involvement in Increment 1A/1B is to address Army requirements, participate in program management and provide systems engineering, and participate in the Aircraft Integration Guide (AIG) effort which will provide early coordination and interface requirements between the sea-based system and the air component. Additionally, JPALS Army Risk Reduction (JARR) activities continue with the JPALS Common Avionics Technology Development (JCATD) efforts. ARC-220 radio improvements are required to increase operational capability and resolve emerging obsolescence issues. Software improvements will provide a quick Automatic Linking Process which will reduce the time for the radio to establish a communication link by more than 50%, improve secure voice reliability, and add automatic position reporting capability. FY1

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2012
Source ID
0604201A_5_2040_PB_2012
Change Summary Explanation
Service Agency Name
Army

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Army

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircrafts
  • Application Software
  • Communication Systems
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Ground Control Stations
  • Information Systems
  • Multiple Access
  • Radio Equipment
  • Software Development
  • Software-Defined Radio Waveforms
  • Systems Engineering
  • Tactical Communications
  • Tactical Radios
  • Terrain Avoidance
  • Unmanned Aerial Systems
  • Warning Systems

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs
  • Space

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