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-peculiar (SOF-p) aviation and training requirements to transform the foundation of future SOF aviation for the Joint Force in order to support the 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS). Timely application of SOF-p technology is critical and necessary to meet requirements in areas such as: Aviation Engineering Analysis (AEA); Electronic Warfare (EW) - Radio Frequency Countermeasures (RFCM); High Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing (HSVTOL); High Energy Laser (HEL); MC-130J Amphibious Capability (MAC); MH-47G and MH-60M SOF Common Terrain Following (TF) / Terrain Avoidance (TA) Silent Knight Radar (SKR); and Precision Strike Package (PSP). The AEA provides engineering analysis, market research, and designs to address aircraft survivability needs such as signature management, situational awareness, and versatile mission platform/equipment (payloads, communication, and weapons) to achieve SOF objectives. The EW-RFCM supports development, integration, and test activities to provide EW capability against Radio Frequency (RF) threats for SOF-p AC/MC-130J aircraft. HSVTOL supports development and demonstration of agile and responsive air mobility capabilities to support runway independent operations, increased speed of maneuverability, and provide the ability to penetrate anti-access (A2)/anti-denial (AD) environments. The HEL supports development of an AC-130J laser weapons system for Low Probability of Detection (LPD) use in complex environments to enable joint/coalition SOF operations against targets such as communication nodes, light-to-medium duty vehicles, and power infrastructures. The MAC supports development and demonstration of amphibious capabilities on a C-130J to support runway independent operations and provide the ability to operate in logistically constrained environments. MH-47G and MH-60M SOF Common TF/TA SKR supports development, integration, and testing of SOF Common TF/TA Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) that provides Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) and LPD capabilities for MH-47G and MH-60M aircraft. The PSP supports systems engineering, analysis, development, and enhancement of the baseline PSP for integration, installation, and test on MC-130J aircraft provided by the U.S Air Force for the SOF AC-130J aircraft and other SOF aviation platforms. The total cost of the RFCM Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) effort is $706.242 million (FY 2024 - FY 2028), including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The RFCM effort is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP). The total cost of the SKR MTA effort is $567.495 million (FY 2024 - FY 2028), including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The MH-47G/MH-60M SOF Common TF/TA SKR effort is fully funded across the FYDP. SF200 CV-22 Development/Test and Evaluation: This project supports integration, design, development, rapid prototyping, and test to provide improved capabilities to include: more robust performance in Situational Awareness (SA); intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); weapons; avionics; SOF communications; defensive/survivability systems; interoperability; speed and maneuverability; mission deployment and improved reliability and maintainability of the CV-22 platform. 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, all weather, infiltration (infil), exfiltration (exfil), and resupply of SOF teams in hostile, denied, and politically sensitive areas that allows the Joint Force to be more agile and responsive as stated in the 2022 NDS. These capabilities are not currently provided by other existing SOF vertical lift aircraft. Funding supports the following CV-22 requirements: CV-22 SOF Common TF/TA SKR, Block 20 Development, Reliability Improvements, and test aircraft flying hours and maintenance. SOF Common TF/TA SKR supports development of the CV-22 SOF Common TF/TA SKR Operational Flight Program (OFP) software and development of CV-22 platform software and hardware to support integration and testing. Block 20 Development supports design, integration, and testing of CV-22 avionics upgrades and correction of deficiencies to include, but not limited to electronic warfare upgrades; improved crew interface functionality; weapon systems; and Airborne Mission Networking (AbMN). Reliability Improvements supports design, integration, test and validation of system, and sub-system, reliability enhancements to meet required aircraft availability and operational requirements. Realibility Improvements accelerate fielding and retrofitting system design improvements directly increasing CV-22 fleet readiness. Test aircraft flying hours and maintenance supports developmental flight testing and maintenance of the test CV-22 aircraft to ensure integration of the CV-22 SOF Common TF/TA SKR. The total cost of the SKR MTA effort is $567.495 million (FY 2024 - FY 2028), including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The TF/TA SKR program is fully funded across the FYDP. SF300 Armed Overwatch: This project supports integration and testing of SOF-unique capabilities and aircraft certification efforts for the Armed Overwatch program. Armed Overwatch provides SOF with crewed deployable, affordable, and sustainable aircraft systems capable of executing Close Air Support (CAS), precision strike, and armed ISR requirements in austere and permissive environments for use in irregular warfare operations in support of the 2022 NDS. Armed Overwatch was initially designated a MTA program which utilized a rapid prototype user assessment for a SOF-p, fixed wing aircraft with specific sensors to detect ground assets. The USSOCOM Acquisition Executive approved the program's transition to the Major Capability Acquisition pathway at Milestone C in 4th QTR of FY22. 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-p 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 the Training Transformation Simulator Block Upgrade Fixed Wing (SBUDF) program that develops and integrates training innovation and transformation solutions across the fixed-wing augmented and virtual reality mission training device portfolio, to include AC-130J, MC-130J, CV-22, U-28, and C-146. S875 AC/MC-130J: This project supports the development, rapid prototyping, integration, automation, and testing of the AC-130J and MC-130J aircraft. The AC-130J Ghostrider provides CAS, air interdiction, and armed reconnaissance in support of special operations and conventional forces in contested and degraded environments. The MC-130J Commando II provides clandestine, or low visibility, single or multi-ship, low-level infil, exfil, and resupply of SOF, by airdrop or airland resupply of SOF helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft, intruding politically sensitive or hostile territories. Incremental upgrade and agile software delivery approaches will be used to rapidly prototype, integrate, mature, and continuously improve SOF capabilities for AC-130J and MC 130J aircraft. Efforts like Integrated Tactical Mission Systems (ITMS) provide critical automation and integration of SOF Tactical Mission Systems (TMS), including navigation, communication, precision fire control and aircraft defensive systems required to operate AC-130J and MC-130J aircraft in near-peer conflicts. Requirements include upgrades to integrate and automate SOF TMS's to provide systems interoperability, data fusion and improved situational awareness (SA), improved threat detection and avoidance, integrated TF/TA and SKR improvements, integrated defensive countermeasure (DCM) effects, PSP interoperability, integrated EW, and embedded training. Integrating and automating SOF mission systems that deliver these capabilities is critical to fielding SOF-p AC-130J and MC-130J aircraft to be more lethal, resilient, survivable, agile, and responsive in support of the 2022 NDS. The total cost of the ITMS MTA effort is $181.203 million (FY 2024 - FY 2028), including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The ITMS effort is fully funded across the FYDP. D615 Rotary Wing Aviation: This project provides for the development, rapid prototyping, demonstration, and integration of current and maturing technologies for SOF-p rotary wing aviation and training requirements. This project provides next generation mobility to allow SOF-p helicopters to operate in denied environments in support of the 2022 National Defense Strategy. 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. 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. These aircraft must be capable of rapidly deploying, penetrating hostile areas undetected, and operating at extended ranges under adverse weather conditions to infiltrate, provide logistics for, reinforce, and extract SOF. 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. Mission Processor Upgrades (MPU) provides for non-recurring engineering, systems engineering/testing, and future aircraft architecture studies that support replacement and upgrade of the current mission and video processors for all Army Special Operations Aviation (ARSOA) rotary wing aircraft. Tactical Mission Networking (TMN) focuses on technology development of platform software and hardware systems with capabilities to enable aircraft to effectively adapt and overcome the challenges of a highly contested and congested Radio Frequency (RF) environment. These technologies will be pursued via rapid prototyping efforts when appropriate.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2024
• Source ID: 1160403BB_7_0400_PB_2024
• Change Summary Explanation: Funding: FY 2022: Net decrease of $0.328 million is due to a reprogramming of funds to the Congressionally mandated Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs (-$6.331 million) and an Aviation Engineering Analysis (AEA) increase for Ukraine supplemental appropriations act 2022 ($6.003 million). FY 2023: Net increase of $3.653 million is due to the following: a Congressional Add for development of cyber security and continuous monitoring of serial bus systems ($10.000 million); a Congressionally directed reduction for Mission Processor Upgrades unjustified growth (-$1.554 million); and a Congressionally directed reduction, details will be provided under separate cover (-$4.793 million). FY 2024: Net decrease of $14.054 million is due the following: a decrease to support classified programs, details provided under separate cover (-$0.896 million); a decrease due to a transfer of SOMPE funding from Program Element (PE) 1160403BB, Aviation Systems, Project S750, Mission Training and Preparation Systems to PE 1160431BB, Warrior Systems, Project S710, Tactical Systems Development for FY 2024 and beyond (-$13.977 million); a funding increase to support the accelerated development of the Electronic Warfare-Radio Frequency Countermeasure to improve capability against enhanced threats and replace the single-board computer which provides an enhanced processing capability which increases defensive capability against pacing threats and reduces security vulnerabilities ($10.000 million); a decrease from Aviation Engineering Analysis for funding transfer to RDT&E, DW, BA07, PE 1160402BB, Project S200 SOF Advanced technology Development for High Speed Vertical Take Off project (-$35.000 million); a funding increase for Precision Strike Package to complete flight test activities and demonstration of the High Energy Laser (HEL) system on the AC-130J ($3.000 million); a funding increase to support CV-22 Airborne Mission Networking (AbMN) capabilities, test aircraft flying hours and maintenance, reliability improvements, and completion of SOF Common Terrain Following/Terrain Avoidance (TF/TA) Silent Knight Radar integration ($21.619 million); and a funding increase for Armed Overwatch which supports modular capability enhancements and payload integration activities ($1.200 million).
• Service Agency Name: United States Special Operations Command

Entities

Organizations

• United States Special Operations Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• Cyber
• Electronic Warfare
• Engineered Resilient Systems (Alumni COI)
• Ground and Sea Platforms
• Kinetic Weapons
• Sensors
• Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Air Defense
• Air Force
• Aircraft Equipment
• Aircraft Industry
• Aircrafts
• Airframes
• Artificial Intelligence
• Augmented Reality
• Logistics
• Rotary Wing Aircraft
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation
• Tilt Rotor Aircraft
• Vertical Takeoff Aircraft
• Virtual Reality
• Warfare
• Weapons Effects

Fields of Study

• Engineering

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering

Technology Areas

• Cyber
• Directed Energy
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Microelectronics