Air Traffic Control System

Abstract

To support the Air Force worldwide flying mission, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Future Technologies (AFT) program element funds research, development, and management of fielded and emerging air traffic control communications, surveillance, automation, positioning, and precision approach and landing systems. AFT supports the 2023 NDAA and 2023 National Defense Strategy (NDS) approach to "improve our ability to integrate, defend, and reconstitute our surveillance and decision systems… despite adversary means of interference or deception” by researching and developing technology and strategies to support Agile Combat Employment (ACE) adaptive basing and agile basing concepts of operation as well as modernizing airfield operations commensurate to the current operating environment. AFT is comprised of a portfolio of projects focused on identifying and documenting capability gaps and associated mitigating technologies in multiple areas of aircraft launch and recovery for both fixed and expeditionary operations. These gaps and technologies will be outlined in a bridging strategy, capability-based assessments, and AFT capability roadmaps. AFT also pursues RDT&E opportunities in the organization, training, and equipping of ATC-associated career fields and any new civil ATCALS technologies that may have military utility. FY24 ATCALS development efforts will continue to research and develop new ATCALS capabilities necessary to ensure enduring, resilient, efficient, and safe air operations. These may include, but not be limited to: military and civil airspace interoperability; lightweight, multi-function expeditionary systems technology; development of a Man-Portable TACAN Electronically Scanned Antenna (MP-TACAN ESA) and high-power beacon transponder. As these technologies and architectures mature, fixed base and deployable ground system upgrades will be coordinated and fielded concurrently with related manned and unmanned aircraft avionics capabilities that may be required. When implemented, these efforts will enable DoD aircraft to enhance safety, security, efficiency, and affordability of global flight operations. The FY24 funding request was reduced by $1.124 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances. The MP-TACAN ESA is a Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) effort. The MP-TACAN ESA MTA effort is $6.338M including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The MP-TACAN ESA is fully across the Future Years Defense Program. FY24 RDT&E funding for PE 0305114F, ATCALS MP-TACAN ESA is in compliance with budgeted end items per the approved test strategy and FY23 Omnibus, Sec. 8059. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY22 $0.000M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY23 $0.153M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received 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, 2024
• Source ID: 673587_0305114F_7_3600_PB_2024

Tags

Fields of Study

• Engineering

Readers

• Aviation Safety and Air Traffic Management
• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
• Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.

Technology Areas

• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs
• Microelectronics
• Space