Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S)

Abstract

Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S) is a Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) Force Design (FD) program, which provides the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) with the necessary hardware, software, equipment, and facilities to effectively command, control, and coordinate aviation operations. CAC2S accomplishes the missions with a family of systems to support the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF), Naval forces, Joint Services, and Coalition Forces. CAC2S integrates the functions of aviation command and control (C2) into an interoperable system that supports the core competencies of all Marine Corps warfighting concepts. CAC2S, in conjunction with the Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) organic sensors, AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR), and the weapon system Composite Tracking Network (CTN) provides enhanced air control, improved situational awareness, sensor integration, full Tactical Data Link integration, airspace and battle planning and command functionality, as well as sensor netting integration (CTN). CAC2S, with these organic MACCS programs, support the tenets of Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare and foster joint interoperability. CAC2S Increment I replaced legacy aviation command and control systems in the following Marine aviation agencies: Direct Air Support Center (DASC), Tactical Air Command Center (TACC), Tactical Air Operations Center (TAOC), and Marine Air Traffic Control (MATC). CAC2S is the C2 system that enables the distribution of G/ATOR sensors and is critical to developing Naval and Marine integrated fire control methods. CAC2S sensor date correlation and distribution via the Composite Tracking Network (CTN) enables Marine Air Ground Task Force sensor data to be shared with Naval forces to inform the Joint targeting and decision-making process. In line with Force Design, CAC2S has begun the development and prototyping of an AN/TSQ-197 AC2S Small Form Factor (SFF) variant. The SFF is a CAC2S variant required to meet the needs of Expeditionary Advance Base Operations and Force Design. The SFF variant will possess the same Tactical System, Data Link, and interface capabilities as the CAC2S Increment 1 system with the added benefits of being rapidly deployable, emitting at a lower signature, and reduced size and weight. In addition, the SFF's versatility will be a key enabling capability to support the task organization of the Marine Littoral Regiments (MLRs) as it meets the needs of US Marine Corps Expeditionary Advance Base Operations (EABO). The increase from FY 2024 to FY 2025 is due to an increase in the scope of support required for Naval Integrated Fire Control (NIFC) and Net Enabled Weapons (NEW) to extend Sea Shield capabilities; and CAC2S interface development of sensor netting capabilities with Air Surveillance Sensors (Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR), MINOTAUR Family of Services (MFoS), Composite Tracking Network (CTN), and Medium Range Air Defense Radar (MRADR)) to enable the USMC to support Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD). In FY 2025: CAC2S will continue the development and testing of a small form factor (SFF) variant prototype of the AN/TSQ-297 Air Command & Control System. This is an approved FD initiative from the Capabilities Development Directorate (CDD) which is to take into account lessons learned from the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) initiatives with 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and war gaming exercises per CMC guidance, in support the USMC Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) concept, which is an amphibious forward operating unit that will secure, sustain, and maintain warfighters and their weapons systems on a more amorphous and difficult-to-target forward-basing infrastructure. This system variant is to be developed and produced to meet the critical shortfalls of forward deployed small, scalable, survivable aviation C2 nodes capable of performing control of aircraft and missiles necessary for integration and defeat of dynamic targets performed by MAGTF, naval, joint, and national technical enabling capabilities like the current fielded AN/TSQ-297. The SFF variant will be fielded to the Marine Littoral Regiments (MLRs). CAC2S will continue to develop and integrate Naval Integrated Fire Control (NIFC) and implement Net Enabled Weapons. This initiative allows CAC2S to be a key enabler in the Joint Fight in executing the Kill Web across the MAGTF and Joint Services, linking sensors and weapons in providing fire control solutions from information from multiple sensors. IFC capabilities support sea-based sensor and weapon system extend the Sea Shield's engagement capabilities to provide early warning and engagement of airborne threats to the MAGTF and Naval Forces. CAC2S will develop sensor netting interfaces in concert with other Air Surveillance Sensors (Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR), MINOTAUR Family of Services (MFoS), Composite Tracking Network (CTN), and Medium Range Air Defense Radar (MRADR)) to enable the USMC to support Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD). These sensor netting interfaces will directly support CAC2S's anticipated roles within Force Design 2030, the Expeditionary Advance Base Operations (EABO), and the Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment (LOCE) concept of operations (CONOPS). These interfaces will provide CAC2S the ability to conduct sea control and sea denial operations from key maritime terrain. CAC2S will begin to develop and test engineering changes for the integration of its AN/TSQ-297520 and AN/MRQ-13 Communications Subsystem onto the M1279 Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) and the M1289 trailer. CAC2S will begin the replacement of its current aging prime mover, the legacy HMMWV (Humvee), beginning in FY 2025. Lastly, CAC2S will upgrade Tactical Data Link (TDL) Military Standard (MIL-STD) compliance and enhancing CAC2S software develop upgrades to Military Standard (Mil-Std) for data forwarding between tactical data systems employing Links 11/11B and tactical data systems employing Link 16. This TDL upgrade will align to the Technical Interoperability Standards Working Group (TISWG) and is approved by Joint Forces. MIL-STD-6016 and MIL-STD-6020 aligns the latest TDL message with current standards for interoperability across Services as well as Variable Message Format (VMF).

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
• Source ID: 3373_0206335M_7_1319_PB_2025

Tags

Readers

• Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
• Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.

Technology Areas

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