Aviation Systems
Abstract
SF100 Aviation Systems Advanced Development: This project provides for the development, rapid prototyping, 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 areas such as: SOF common avionics; SOF Common Terrain Following/Terrain Avoidance (TF/TA) radar, best known as Silent Knight Radar (SKR) or AN/APQ-187; Defensive Countermeasures; Electronic Warfare (EW) - Radio Frequency Countermeasures (RFCM); Precision Strike Package (PSP); PSP High Energy Laser (HEL); AC-130H/W/U and MC-130E/H/P Recapitalization; Armed Overwatch and other SOF airborne platforms; digital terrain elevation data and electronic order of battle; digital maps; mission networking; 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; mission systems automation and ISR payload technological improvements with size, weight, power and integration onto all SOF Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) ISR platforms. SF200 CV-22 Development/Test and Evaluation: The CV-22 Osprey is a SOF variant of the V-22 vertical medium lift, multi-mission aircraft. The CV-22 provides long range, high speed, infiltration (infil), exfiltration (exfil), and resupply to SOF teams in hostile, denied, and politically sensitive areas. This is a capability not currently provided by other existing aircraft. The funding in this project supports integration, design, development, rapid prototyping, and test to provide improved capabilities to include, but not limited to: more robust performance in Situational Awareness (SA); ISR, weapons, avionics; SOF communications; defensive/survivability systems; interoperability; speed and maneuverability; mission deployment and improved reliability and maintainability of the CV platform. The CV-22 SOF Common TF/TA APQ-187 SKR enables the CV-22 crew to penetrate medium-to-high threat areas at night and in adverse weather conditions while conducting long-range, clandestine infil, exfil and SOF resupply missions. Presents a more sustainable/capable replacement to the obsolete and technology-limited TF/TA APQ-186 Multi-Mode Radar (MMR). CV-22 Reliability Improvements designs, integrates, tests and validates system, and sub-system, reliability improvement enhancements to meet required aircraft availability and operational requirements. This incremental development will accelerate the fielding and retrofit of system design improvements directly increasing CV-22 fleet readiness and aircraft availability. SF300 Armed Overwatch: Armed Overwatch provides SOF with crewed deployable, affordable, and sustainable aircraft systems capable of executing Close Air Support (CAS), Precision Strike, and Manned Armed ISR requirements in austere and permissive environments for use in Irregular Warfare operations aligned with the National Defense Strategy (NDS) priorities. The funding in this project supports integration and testing of SOF-unique capabilities and Aircraft Certification efforts. Armed Overwatch is designated a Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) program which uses a Rapid Prototype user assessment for a SOF-peculiar, fixed wing aircraft with specific sensors to detect ground assists. The USSOCOM anticipates rapid fielding of the aircraft with sensors, and transitioning to the Major Capability Acquisition pathway at Milestone C. The total cost of the Armed Overwatch Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $2.000 million (FY 2023 - FY 2027), including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The Armed Overwatch effort is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. S750 Mission Training and Preparation Systems (MTPS): The MTPS project funds the definition, design, development, rapid prototyping, integration, and testing of Special Operations Mission Planning and Execution (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 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. Additionally, this project funds Simulator Block Upgrade (SBUD) training transformation initiatives to develop and integrate innovative training solutions as well as advanced instructor and student feedback capabilities for the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) fixed wing simulator and training device portfolio. S875 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 14 MC-130E Combat Talon I, 23 MC-130P Combat Shadow, and 24 MC-130H Combat Talon II airframes will be replaced by MC-130J Commando II aircraft with SOF mission modifications. The MC-130J Commando II aircraft provide clandestine single or multi-ship low-level aerial refueling for special operations helicopters and CV-22 aircraft; and conducts airdrops of leaflets, small special operations teams, resupply bundles, and combat rubber raiding craft. The Air Force procures and fields the basic aircraft, common support equipment, and trainers for the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Incremental upgrade and agile software delivery approaches will be used to rapidly prototype, integrate and mature SOF capabilities onto the aircraft. SOF capabilities include, but are not limited to: Airborne Mission Networking (AbMN); data fusion; threat detection and avoidance; integrated terrain following/terrain avoidance; electronic warfare; and embedded training. Integrating and automating SOF mission systems that deliver these capabilities is critical to fielding SOF-capable AC/MC-130J aircraft to recapitalize AFSOC legacy C-130 fleet. D615 Rotary Wing Aviation: This project provides for the development, rapid prototyping, demonstration, and integration of current and maturing technologies for SOF-peculiar rotary wing aviation and training requirements. This project includes modifications to Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE), avionics, and weapons systems to counter rapidly emerging threats, address cyber security, improve lethality and enhance aircraft self-protection in contested environments. Efforts include aircraft sensor data fusion via a common mission processor to create a one world model that serves as a central node for multi-application capability with potential growth in the areas of situational awareness, safety, lethality, and survivability and cross platform synergy. Rotary wing aircraft supported by this project include: MH-60M, MH-47G, A/MH-6, and Future Vertical Lift (FVL). 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 operations at extended ranges under adverse weather conditions to infiltrate, provide logistics for, reinforce, and extract SOF in the multi-domain operations (MDO) environments and build enduring advantage. The anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) threat is characterized by an extensive and sophisticated ground based air defense system and an upgraded air-to-air capability targeted against helicopters. These technologies will be pursued via rapid prototyping efforts when appropriate.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2023
- Source ID
- 1160403BB_7_0400_PB_2023
- Change Summary Explanation
- Funding: FY 2021: Net decrease of -$10.632 million is due to a reprogramming of funds to the congressionally mandated Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs (-$9.148 million) and a decrease to support emerging critical command requirements (-$1.484 million). FY 2022: None FY 2023: Funding increase of $179.499 million reflects the fact that the FY 2022 President’s Budget request did not include out-year funding. FY 2023 funding request was reduced by $22.474 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances.
- Service Agency Name
- United States Special Operations Command
Entities
Organizations
- United States Special Operations Command
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