NAOC Recap Development

Abstract

The E-4B National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) is a survivable node of the National Military Command System (NMCS), providing POTUS, SECDEF and the CJCS a worldwide, survivable, and enduring node of the NMCS to fulfill national security requirements throughout all stages of conflict. As a command, control and communications center directing US forces, executing emergency war orders and coordinating the activities of civil authorities including national contingency plans, this capability ensures continuity of operations plans and continuity of government as required in a national emergency or after negation/destruction of ground command and control centers. The E-4B NAOC Recapitalization effort will replace the aging E-4B fleet which faces capability gaps, diminishing manufacturing sources, increased maintenance costs, and parts obsolescence as it approaches the end of its serviceable life. The recapitalization effort will be informed by Air Force and Department of Defense analyses used to determine a holistic approach to replacing the aging E-4B fleet and integrating its capabilities with other nuclear and national command and control mission sets. In 2015, the Joint Staff completed a Mission Area Analysis (MAA) focused on the Nuclear Command, Control and Communication (NC3) National Military Command system (NMCS) airborne fleets. This analysis examined alternative architectures and CONOPS for achieving requirements, and suggested potential programmatic, platform, and/or mission system synergies across and between fleet recapitalization programs (E-4B, E-6B, VC-25, C-32A). Further, the Joint Staff documented the essential functions necessary to execute Nuclear Command and Control, and defined the operational role of the NC2 enterprise out to 2030 in a NC2 CONOPS. From 2014-2016, the Joint Staff performed an NC2 Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA) to determine potential gaps in the NC2 mission and architecture. The findings of these studies have culminated in an evolved NMCS "aerial layer mission alignment strategy” that may allow the Department of Defense (DoD) to consolidate the airborne command center capabilities provided by the E-4B and E-6B into an optimized fleet of appropriately configured aircraft. This concept is known as the Survivable Airborne Operations Center, or SAOC. To this end, beginning in FY2019, OSD CAPE initiated a joint service Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) to assess mission sets and platforms across E-4B (NAOC), C-32A (Executive Airlift), and the Navy's E-6B (ABNCP/TACAMO), known as the "NEAT" AoA. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver NAOC Recap weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605831F. Furthermore, program funds include support funding for emerging requirements to support program office operations, management services (FFRDC, A&AS, etc.), PMS, security, prototyping, equipment and other as required to stand up a program office. Finally, it includes all activities required to award and execute design and prototyping contracts to either a single or multiple vendors; to include provisioning for follow on efforts, such as long lead materials for following activities and options. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2021
• Source ID: 646507_0604288F_4_3600_PB_2021

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering.
• Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
• Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.

Technology Areas

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