Air Traffic Control Systems

Abstract

To support the Air Force worldwide flying mission, this program element funds research, development and management of new air traffic control communications, surveillance, positioning, and precision approach and landing systems. When applicable, this includes joint efforts with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and coordination with the International Civil Aviation Organization and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). ATCALS development funding currently focuses on the Deployable Radar Approach Control (D-RAPCON) and Next Generation (NextGen) Air Transportation System (ATS) programs as described below. Deployable Radar Approach Control (D-RAPCON). D-RAPCON will replace the 40 year old AN/MPN-14K and AN/TPN-19 Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) and Operations Shelter (OPS) subsystems with state of the art digital systems. Modification and overhaul of the existing systems has proven to be ineffective due to diminishing manufacturing sources. On average, no more than three of the existing 17 systems are deployable at any given time. D-RAPCON will provide aircraft surveillance/sequencing, air traffic control communications, and automation capabilities for terminal area air traffic control operations. D-RAPCON will also be deployed with a fixed base or deployable Instrument Landing System and a fixed or mobile control tower to provide a complete air traffic control capability. The D-RAPCON will support tactical military and worldwide humanitarian operations and also provide a capability to support domestic disaster relief. The primary surveillance radar coverage (non-cooperative targets) is out to 60 nautical miles (nm) and the secondary surveillance radar coverage (cooperative targets) is out to 120 nm. The D-RAPCON CDD was approved by the Air Force Requirements Oversight Council on 8 Feb 11. FY16 funds will complete contractor test and developmental testing (DT) and perform any deficiency review work necessary. In FY16, the program office will also be preparing for the MS C decision which must be approved to enter Full Rate Production (FRP). Six certifications are required prior to FRP; Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System, Identification Friend or Foe, Mark XII/Mark XIIA Systems Certification, National Air Space Certification, Shelter/Transportability Certification, Electro-Magnetic Spectrum certification and frequency allocation and authority to radiate approvals, Information Assurance Certification, and Accreditation and Interoperability and Supportability Certification. Related OPAF funds are in the PE 0305114F Weapon System Code 833010. Next Generation (NextGen) Air Transportation System (NextGen ATS). This is an interagency effort designed to enable the transition from a ground infrastructure dominated Air Traffic Management capability for the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS) to a capability that leverages advances in Performance Based Navigation (PBN), non-radar based surveillance services, and transition from solid-state analogue voice communications to networked digital voice and data exchange. Per Deputy Secretary of Defense direction (28 Dec 07 Memo), the Air Force is the DoD lead Service for NextGen ATS implementation and architecture development. NextGen ATS will be built on key elements from existing programs and technologies and on new systems under development. As these technologies and architectures mature, ground system upgrades will be coordinated and fielded concurrently with aircraft avionics capabilities that are acquired and integrated into Air Force aircraft (manned and unmanned). These efforts are a subset of the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) program in PE 0305099F and will involve aircraft avionics as well as fixed based and deployable air traffic control and landing systems. FY16 efforts will continue to use the newly developed Lead Service Office (LSO) Enterprise Architecture process to develop a NextGen DoD Strategic Roadmap, Integrated Master Schedule and Command and Control Core Function Support Plan, outlining DoD and Air Force equities and required requirements documentation, via in-depth analysis of FAA Next programs and timelines. Portfolio analysis will be captured in DoD NextGen ATS charters to guide Services through a broad and complex NextGen ATS environment. To minimize integration costs, the LSO and Joint Program Offices will also assist aircraft depots, program offices, and major commands in combining military (Mode-5 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), Global Positioning System (GPS) Military (M)-Code) and civil avionics upgrades, including Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B), Electronic Flight Bags, DataComm and Navigation. To support program office NextGen ATS decision making, the LSO will also develop supporting infrastructure tools, such as a CNS/ATM Global Mandates Database (GAIMS) and a DoD Avionics Equipage Repository (F-WAR). The LSO is also developing a Decision Support Tool to serve as a one-stop website for DoD NextGen ATS, containing all plans and material. Further proof of concept demonstrations and analysis will also be undertaken to explore transportable and fixed-base Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Ground Based Sense and Avoid (GBSAA) capability, development/test of new Instrument Procedures Development System (IPDS) software (joint effort with FAA and Services). In total, these efforts will focus on enabling DoD aircraft to take advantage of NextGen envisioned NAS efficiencies, developing policies/procedures to avoid adverse costs while ensuring airspace access, seamlessly integrating RPAs into the NAS and other non-NAS/international airspaces, improving the display of aircraft position to air traffic controllers, determining future requirements for digital communications with manned and unmanned aircraft, and enhancing flight safety. Activities also include studies and analysis to support both current program planning and execution and future program planning. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development, these budget activities include development efforts to upgrade systems currently fielded or has approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2016
• Source ID: 673587_0305114F_7_3600_PB_2016

Tags

Readers

• Aviation Safety and Air Traffic Management
• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.

Technology Areas

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