Aviation Systems

Abstract

Aviation Systems Advanced Development: This project provides for the development, demonstration, and integration of current and maturing technologies for Special Operations Forces (SOF)-unique aviation and training requirements. Timely application of SOF-unique technology is critical and necessary to meet requirements in such areas as: SOF specific avionics; Low Probability of Intercept/Low Probability of Detection (LPI/LPD) terrain following/terrain avoidance radar; Defensive Countermeasures; Electronic Warfare (EW) - Radio Frequency Countermeasures (RFCM); Precision Strike Package (PSP); AC-130H, AC-130W, and AC-130U Recapitalization, and other SOF airborne platforms; digital terrain elevation data and electronic order of battle; digital maps; enhanced situational awareness; near-real-time Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR); data fusion; threat detection and avoidance; navigation, target detection, and identification technologies; weapons integration; digital broadcast capabilities; aerial refueling; survivability and ISR payload technological improvements with size, weight, power and integration onto all SOF ISR platforms. CV-22 Development: The CV-22 is a SOF variant of the V-22 vertical medium lift, multi-mission aircraft. The CV-22 project provides long range, high speed, infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply to Special Forces teams in hostile, denied, and politically sensitive areas. This is a capability not currently provided by other existing aircraft. The V-22 Joint Program Office is developing improved capabilities in block increments. The funding in this project supports these block increments as well as associated flight test support. The Block 10 increment was completed in FY 2007, and the Block 20 increment started in FY 2008. Block 20: Design, integrate, test, and validate enhancements required to meet SOF-unique mission requirements and correct deficiencies identified in previous testing. This incremental development will provide improved capabilities to include, but not limited to, more robust performance in situational awareness, ISR, weapons, avionics, survivability, maneuverability, mission deployment and improved reliability and maintainability of the CV platform. CV-22 Terrain Following/Terrain Avoidance (TF/TA) Radar (Silent Knight Radar) program provides long-range, night/adverse weather, clandestine penetration of medium-to-high threat areas to infill, exfill, and resupply SOF forces. Provides more sustainable/capable replacement to obsolescing and tech limited terrain following/avoidance radar. Mission Training and Preparation Systems: The Special Operations Mission Planning and Execution (SOMPE) project funds the definition, design, development, prototyping, integration, and testing of SOMPE systems to support mission planning, rehearsal, and execution requirements to meet SOF-unique mission requirements and correct deficiencies in current mission planning, rehearsal, and execution capabilities. The Mission Training and Preparation Systems (MTPS) project also includes program management, systems engineering, configuration management, architecture development, risk reduction, and trade study initiatives, as well as initiatives to assure interoperability and commonality between diverse mission planning, rehearsal, and execution systems. AC/MC-130J: The AC/MC-130J project funds core SOF-unique modifications to replace aging/retired AC-130H Spectre, AC-130W Stinger II, AC-130U Spooky, MC-130E Combat Talon I, MC-130P Combat Shadow, MC-130H Combat Talon II aircraft. The 8 AC-130H Spectre, 12 AC-130W Stinger II and 17 AC-130U Spooky airframes will be replaced with MC-130J aircraft modified with the PSP to achieve the AC-130J configuration. The AC-130J aircraft will provide close air support, air interdiction, and armed reconnaissance capability. The MC-130J Commando II aircraft perform clandestine or low visibility, single or multi-ship low-level missions intruding politically-sensitive or hostile territories; provide air refueling for special operations helicopters and CV-22 aircraft; and airdrop of leaflets, small special operations teams, resupply bundles and combat rubber raiding craft. Additional capabilities include low-level navigation and in-flight refueling. The Air Force will procure and field basic aircraft, common support equipment, and trainers for USSOCOM. An incremental upgrade approach will be used to incorporate SOF capabilities onto the aircraft and training systems. Rotary Wing Aviation: This project develops SOF-unique modifications and upgrades to SOF rotary wing aircraft that operate in increasingly hostile environments. This project also includes modifications to Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) and weapons systems to counter rapidly emerging threats, improve lethality and enhance aircraft self-protection. Rotary wing aircraft supported by this project include: MH-60M, MH-47G, and A/MH-6M. These aircraft provide aviation support to SOF in worldwide contingency operations and low-intensity conflicts. They must be capable of rapid deployment, undetected penetration of hostile areas, and operating at extended ranges under adverse weather conditions to infiltrate, provide logistics for, reinforce, and extract SOF. The threat is characterized by an extensive and sophisticated ground based air defense system and an upgraded air-to-air capability targeted against helicopters.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2017
• Source ID: 1160403BB_7_0400_PB_2017
• Change Summary Explanation: Funding: FY 2015: Decrease of $9.396 million is due to reprogramming to higher command priorities (-$4.246 million) and a transfer of funds to Small Business Innovative Research/Small Business Technology Transfer programs (-$5.150 million). FY 2016: Net increase of $5.200 million is due to a $10.000 million Congressional directed reduction to MH-60M Block Upgrades (-$0.700 million), Future Vertical Lift (-$0.500 million), Mission Processor Upgrade (-$2.800 million) and, Electronic Warfare - Radio Frequency Countermeasures (-$6.000 million); Congressional directed transfer of $7.500 million to the C-130 Terrain Following Radar, and congressional add of $7.700 million to the C-130 Terrain Following Radar. FY 2017: Net increase of $25.524 million is to continue integration and test of the SOF Common TF radar and modifications to aircraft controls and displays to automate TF/TA flight for the MC-130J ($37.039 million); define systems requirements, develop initial capabilities document, and conduct system readiness review for the CV-22 TF/TA radar ($15.590 million); design, develop, and test for A/MH-6M aircraft Block 3.0 upgrade ($5.991 million); develop and test for software applications on tactical mobile devices ($0.898 million); complete design, develop, and test for degraded visual environment ($5.000 million); complete development, integration and test of missile warning and lightweight infrared countermeasures for the A/MH-6 aircraft ($2.498 million), a realignment to higher command priorities (-$20.878 million), a reduction by the Department to account for prior year execution balances (-$19.272 million), and a decrease due to Departmental economic adjustments (-$1.342 million). Schedule: None. Technical: None.
• Service Agency Name: United States Special Operations Command

Entities

Organizations

• United States Special Operations Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• C4I
• Electronic Warfare
• Ground and Sea Platforms
• Sensors
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Air Defense
• Air Force
• Aircraft Equipment
• Aircrafts
• Airframes
• Application Software
• Collision Avoidance
• Defense Systems
• Deployment
• Guidance
• Mobile Devices
• Rotary Wing Aircraft
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation
• Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Warfare
• Warning Systems

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering

Technology Areas

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