Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS)

Abstract

Mission: E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) is the premier airborne platform providing Battle management (BM)/Command and Control (C2) for Commander In Chief and combatant commander tasking in joint, allied, and coalition operations, humanitarian relief, and homeland defense. AWACS provides a real-time picture of friendly, neutral, and hostile air activity. Its capabilities include all-altitude/all-weather surveillance of the battle space; early warning of enemy actions; a real-time ability to find, fix, track, and assess airborne or maritime threats; and detection, location, and identification of electronic emitters. 1. E-3 DMS Replacement of Avionics for Global Operations and Navigation (DRAGON): DRAGON completes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL) air traffic control mandated safety of flight capabilities. This program will provide the E-3 fleet with the flight instruments and other avionics for the Required Navigation Performance (RNP), and the surveillance and communication capabilities necessary to maintain continued critical unrestricted access to global airspace. Non-compliance will result in airspace restrictions and denials that will impact AWACS ability to support worldwide responses to situations requiring immediate on-scene BM/C2. DRAGON replaces the existing Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) Global Positioning System (GPS) Integrated Navigation System (GINS) with a modern Flight Management System (FMS) that will accommodate new capabilities including Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) and Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS). Also included as part of the modification is the addition of data link communications, voice and data link digital radios, and improved visual displays. Additionally, the acquisition of DRAGON flight simulators also contains DMS efforts which include removal of end-of-life software/hardware within simulator systems and move to a modular, common open system architecture that is sustainable and cyber resilient. The simulator effort also implements requirements and standards defined under the Simulator Common Architecture Requirements and Standards (SCARS) initiative. Emphasis on employment of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) avionics is expected to lower cost, reduce the tech refresh cycle, and enhance life cycle management. DRAGON will provide development of support and test equipment needed for DRAGON production; DRAGON will also provide initial DMS and Initial Contractor Support (ICS) needed to support the first US developmental test aircraft (i.e., D-1) prior to the contract award of the DRAGON production effort. The Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of DRAGON is being executed as a Cooperative Program between the US and NATO. 2. E-3 Electronic Protection (EP): EP will provide improved radar processing in a specific flight environment to meet a classified requirement. Processing will initially address radar modes comprising 90% of operational AWACS radar usage. EP will install an adjunct processor that works in parallel with the current Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) system. The EP-processed radar picture will appear on the battle manager's display in place of the current RSIP output when the EP radar modes are selected. 3. E-3 Training, Support, and Infrastructure (TSI): TSI provides continuing management support for AWACS modernization and enhancement. These activities include managing the AWACS Development Test and Evaluation (DT&E) and Production infrastructure and tracking and monitoring the AWACS vendor’s core mission and aircrew training, support equipment and program Government Furnished Property. The overall DT&E test infrastructure supports development, production, and sustainment projects and maintains facilities to support AWACS aircraft during system and sub-system testing at Boeing Field, WA, Baltimore, MD, and Oklahoma City, OK. Funding is shared between Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) and production funds. The TSI assets also support multiple international Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) projects on a maintenance fee basis, not limited to projects for France, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Japan, and North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) AEW&C efforts. Key programs include contractual management of the AWACS Avionics Integration Laboratory (AIL) integrated with the Block 40/45 Functional Group configured lab and the AWACS Radar Systems Integration Lab/Software Development Facility (SIL/SDF). These labs provide US, Foreign Military Sales (FMS), and international customers with a configured development and qualification system and subsystem environment supporting all AWACS system and radar development, production, and sustainment. TSI efforts allow new support equipment technologies and test strategies to be analyzed to ensure concurrent capability to sustain existing, modified, and upgraded E-3 equipment. 4. E-3 Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C2ISR): C2ISR system improvements investigate and develop future capabilities of the AWACS weapon system. These efforts also include but are not limited to the investigation, analysis, and development to ensure that AWACS successfully integrates with joint and coalition forces in a net-centric environment. C2ISR primarily supports pre-systems acquisition in the areas of materiel solution analysis and technology development. This is accomplished by prototyping and demonstrating capabilities required by the warfighter but also includes developing an E-3 Modernization & Sustainment Roadmap that projects user capability needs, as well as materiel solutions for the user needs. C2ISR will also support an analytical comparison of the operational effectiveness, suitability, and life-cycle cost of alternative materiel solutions beyond the current AWACS that satisfy an established capability need identified in an Initial Capabilities Document (ICD). 5. E-3 Internet Protocol Enabled Communication (IPEC): IPEC will provide the Block 40/45 E-3 with a medium-bandwidth Internet Protocol (IP) communications capability to connect to the Global Information Grid and will support net-centric operations/warfare. IPEC will provide a reliable IP-enabled communication capability to support a shortened digitized kill-chain of time-sensitive targets. The modification will provide a permanent Inmarsat-based IP-enabled communications package supporting warfighter identified requirements for increased bandwidth Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet) and multi-domain networks. IPEC was originally planned for accomplishment as a traditional acquisition program, but due to warfighter demand, the effort has been re-classified as an Urgent Operational Need (UON). 6. E-3 Combat Identification (CID) DMS: AWACS' current CID capability is based upon 1960's era technology that has become unsustainable, and requires an update to retain a significant part of AWACS overall mission capability. AWACS will address C2 CID shortfalls with a modern, persistent Airborne Moving Target Indication (AMTI) BM/C2 combat ID. CID DMS supports the kill chain and decision superiority. In FY17 CID was a new start. 7. E-3 Communication Network Upgrade (CNU): CNU will provide a Link 16 capability with high-jam-resistance, high-speed, crypto-secure computer-to-computer connectivity in support of every type of military platform from Air Force fighters to Navy submarines. Current 20 year old Class 2 terminal has sustainability/DMS issues and does not support mandated Crypto Mod (CM) & Freq. Remap (FR). CNU resolves DMS issues, provides CM & FR, Link 16 enhancements & growth for Next Gen Tactical Data Link (TDL). In previous budget cycle, this effort was referred to as Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS). Risk reduction activities are being executed in cooperation with foreign partners. In FY17 CNU was a new start 8. E-3 Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) Out Acceleration: Updates flight deck to address known Air Traffic Management restrictions; replace analog equipment with modern digital avionics to include ADS B Out and Mode 5 transponder; DRAGON’s IOC 2020 – FOC 2026 does not meet ADS B out or Mode 5 mandates. Accelerates ADS-B Out and Mode 5 transponder from DRAGON – moves FOC for this DRAGON subset from FY25 to FY21. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational Systems 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.

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Document Type: Project
Publication Date: Oct 01, 2018
Source ID: 67411L_0207417F_7_3600_PB_2018

Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS)

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