Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS)

Abstract

Mission: E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) is the premier airborne platform providing Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) 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. Major efforts for the AWACS program include: 1. E-3 Replacement: E-3 Replacement is the planned E-3G AWACS replacement. The E-3G AWACS has limited operational utility in contested conflicts coupled with its availability challenges create an operational imperative to replace it. The E-3 Replacement will provide improved kill-chain effectiveness, enhanced reliability/availability, and reduced operating costs by integrating a modern Electronically Scanned Array sensor on a manned platform. The electronically scanned array is capable of radar beam steering, sector staring and much faster target revisit rates that translate into better target detection and tracking of modern threats well as more robust Electronic Protection that isn't possible with the mechanically scanned radar used by E-3 AWACS. 2. 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. 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). 3. E-3 Electronic Protection (EP): EP will provide improved radar processing in a specific flight environment to meet a classified requirement. EP will replace the radar controller, exciter, receiver, and data processor in the current Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) system. The EP-processed radar picture will appear on the battle manager's display and is intended to provide APY-2 radar quality to the entire U.S. AWACS fleet. EP also resolves DMS and obsolescence concerns with APY-1/APY-2 radar. 4. E-3 Training, Support, and Infrastructure (TSI): The TSI program provides continuing lab operations and maintenance support for AWACS modernization and enhancement across the enterprise, as well as the development and execution of an AWACS Integration and Test Support (AITS) lab transfer acquisition strategy. These activities include managing the AWACS Development Test and Evaluation (DT&E) infrastructure and tracking and monitoring the AWACS support equipment and program Government Furnished Property, while managing the cost, schedule, and performance of the AITS lab transfer plan. The overall DT&E test infrastructure supports development and production projects and maintains facilities to support AWACS aircraft during system and sub-system testing in Seattle, WA, Baltimore, MD, and Oklahoma City, OK, along with Third Party Integration support from The Boeing Company to AWACS customers in the System AITS labs. The TSI assets also support multiple Foreign Military Sales (FMS) projects on a maintenance fee basis, not limited to projects for France, Saudi Arabia and Japan 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 Direct Commercial Sales customers with a configured development and qualification system and subsystem environment supporting all AWACS system and radar programs. 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. 5. 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 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 also supports an analytical comparison of the operational effectiveness, suitability, life-cycle cost and system capabilities of alternative materiel solutions beyond the current AWACS that satisfy an established capability need identified in an Initial Capabilities Document (ICD), Rapid Prototyping Requirements Document (RPRD), or Rapid Fielding Requirements Document (RFRD). 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 Combat ID shortfalls with a modern, persistent Airborne Moving Target Indicator (AMTI) BMC2 Combat ID. CID DMS supports the kill chain and decision superiority. 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. The 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). CNU capabilities will be delivered in two Phases, comprised of three Minimum Viable Product (MVP) efforts. Phase I: MVP1 (Crypto) will provide Enhanced Link 16 Crypto and Frequency Mapping, and MVP2 will provide High Powered Amplification of Communications (HPAs). Phase II: MVP3 (Link 16 Advanced Capabilities) will provide Link 16 Advanced Communications Throughput via Ethernet Connection. 8. E-3 Mode 5 Acceleration: Updates flight deck to address known Air Traffic Management restrictions; upgrades the current flight deck transponder to include the Mode 5 capability since DRAGON's Initial Operating Capability (IOC) of 2022/Full Operational Capability (FOC) of 2028 does not meet the Mode 5 mandate. This subset accelerates the Mode 5 transponder FOC independent of DRAGON. 9. E-3 AWACS Communications Integration Program (ACIP): ACIP will provide Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) and Second Generation Anti-Jam Tactical UHF Radio for NATO (SATURN) capability by replacing the existing Have Quick II and Demand Assigned Multiple Access (DAMA) SATCOM radios with new radios capable of communicating via the existing and additional military waveforms as a combined integration program on AWACS. Provides continued compatibility with US and Allied forces using frequency hopping UHF in support of airborne AMTI & BMC2 to CCMDs for Joint, Allied & Coalition ops by maintaining compatibility with CAF/Sister service C2 nodes and theater assets. The total cost of the E-3 ACIP Middle Tier of Acquisition Rapid Prototyping (RP) effort is 64.44M, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The E-3 ACIP RP program is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. 10. E-3 AWACS Fifth to Fourth (5th to 4th): 5th to 4th provides the capability for E-3G AWACS to receive 5th generation data via Link 16 and other data feeds, as required. This capability includes the security domain required to integrate the 5th generation data into Mission Computing Software and generate an integrated operational air picture. 5th to 4th addresses gaps and inaccuracies in the Common Tactical Picture (CTP) and improves Situational Awareness (SA) and BMC2 decision making by shortening the kill chain for warfighters in a contested environment. Note: A unique Program Element for the E-3 replacement has been requested and is awaiting approval. E-3 GPS Upgrade (M-Code) and E-3 AWACS Global Lightning (AGL) were canceled due to E-3 Divestment Strategy. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY21 2.600M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY22 4.750M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program elements. 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, 2023
• Source ID: 67411L_0207417F_7_3600_PB_2023

Tags

Readers

• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.

Technology Areas

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