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-peculiar (SO-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 SO-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); Precision Strike Package (PSP) and the Adaptive Airborne Enterprise (A2E). 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 SO-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 for the SOF AC-130J aircraft and other SOF aviation platforms. A2E will operationalize the Air Force’s Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) strategy to present exquisite, attributable, and expendable UAS for collaborative operations within permissive, contested, and denied environments. The total cost of the RFCM Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) effort is $69.205 million (FY 2022 - FY 2026), including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The RFCM effort is fully funded through FY 2026. 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 in performance of SOF capability development programs. SF300 Armed Overwatch: This project supports integration and testing of SO-p capabilities and aircraft certification efforts for the Armed Overwatch program. Armed Overwatch provides SOF with deployable, affordable, and sustainable crewed 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 SO-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 FY 2022. 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 SO-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 Extended Reality (XR) Training Transformation Simulator Block Upgrade Fixed Wing (SBUDF) program that develops and integrates training innovation and transformation solutions across the fixed-wing and special tactics augmented and virtual reality mission training device portfolio, to include AC-130J, MC-130J, CV-22, Armed Overwatch 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 SO-p AC-130J and MC-130J aircraft to be more lethal, resilient, survivable, agile, and responsive in support of the 2022 NDS. 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. MC-130J aircraft that receive AbMN, TF/TA, and RFCM SO-p modifications are designated with the popular name "Combat Talon III". The ITMS was designated a Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) program in FY 2022. The ITMS MTA effort spans FY 2022-FY 2026 and the total cost is $228.796 million. The ITMS effort is fully funded through FY 2026. D615 Rotary Wing Aviation: This project provides for the development, rapid prototyping, demonstration, and integration of current and maturing technologies for SO-p rotary wing aviation and training requirements, as well as next generation mobility to allow SO-p helicopters to operate in denied environments in support of the 2022 NDS. This project includes modifications to 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 Upgrade (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 environment. These technologies will be pursued via rapid prototyping efforts when appropriate.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
• Source ID: 1160403BB_7_0400_PB_2025
• Change Summary Explanation: Funding: FY 2023: Net Decrease of $6.154 million is due to a reprogramming for emergent command requirements (-$0.529 million) and a decrease of (-$6.975 million) reprogrammed to congressionally mandated Small Business Innovative Research/Small Business Technology (SBIR/STTR) programs. FY 2024: None. FY 2025: Net increase of $44.215 million is due to the following: SF100 Aviation Engineering Analysis: Aviation Engineering Analysis net decrease of $29.088 million is due to funding transfer from PE 1160403BB, Aviation Systems, Project SF100: Aviation Systems Advanced Development to PE 1160402BB, SOF Advanced Technology Development, Project S200: Advanced Technology Development for High Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing (HSVTOL) which conducts in-depth engineering development to support detailed design activities for the HSVTOL demonstration platform (-$36.946 million) and an increase to transition MAC capabilities from PE 1160403BB, Aviation Systems, Project SF100: Aviation Systems Development to PE 1160403BB, Aviation Systems, Project S875: AC/MC-130J, to support MAC development to include aircraft performance modeling and full scale manufacturing and fabrication of beam and truss assembly and the flotation system ($7.858 million). MQ-9: Net Increase of $52.500 million is due to the transition of MQ-9 funds from PE 1105219BB, MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Project S851: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ($10.000 million) which supports the A2E concept and includes development of a Modular Open-System Architecture (MOSA) and collaboration environments that facilitate a more efficient and expeditious integration and fielding of Special Operations Forces-peculiar (SO-p) capabilities ($42.500 million). Precision Strike Package: Increase of $14.400 million begins systems engineering, integration analysis, and enhancement of the baseline PSP on AC-130J with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar improving battlespace awareness and identification, tracking and targeting sophisticated threats for Integrated Deterrence of peer adversaries in support of the National Defense Strategy SF200 CV-22: Decrease of -$5.562 million is due to a change in acquisition strategy from a forced retro fit to an attrition-based approach and executing reliability improvements via other V-22 Joint Program Office funding sources. S750 SBUD: Increase of $0.765 million supports development efforts which focuses on increasing realism in graphics and functionality within virtual reality training devices for AC/MC-130J, initiation of development of integrated, augmented reality (AR) aircraft training for use in live MC-130J flights. S875 FWAEA MAC: Increase of $11.500 million transitions MAC capabilities from Project SF100: Aviation Systems Advanced Development to Project S875: AC/ MC-130J beginning in FY 2025, which begins aircraft performance modeling and full-scale manufacturing and fabrication of beam assembly, truss assembly, and the flotation system. D615 MH-47: Decrease of $0.300 million reprogrammed for emergent command requirements.
• Service Agency Name: United States Special Operations Command

Entities

Organizations

• United States Special Operations Command

Tags

Fields of Study

• Engineering

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering
• Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.

Technology Areas

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