Sensor Development

Abstract

The U-2S Dragon Lady platform is a high-demand/low-density aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art sensor and data link systems providing mission essential Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) to the Combatant Commands, Joint and Combined forces, and the IC community in peacetime and wartime. The program supports core missions such as Sensitive Reconnaissance Operations (outlined in CJCSI 3250.01) supporting the National Defense Strategy, in addition to other missions that include execution of CCMD OPLANs and CONPLANs, Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Response (HADR), Counter-Insurgency (COIN) operations and third-party treaty verification/monitoring via the OLIVE HARVEST mission. In the FY23 budget, the Air Force will maintain operational capability of the U-2 platform. FY23 development funds will be dedicated and required to sustain NDAA directed capability, capacity, and safe and effective operations through the remainder of U-2 scheduled service. Efforts planned as part of the FY23 budget are required to ensure continuous worldwide operations through the remainder of U-2 service. Furthermore, FY23 efforts largely continue existing contracted efforts, which address safety of flight issues, reliability, Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS), maintainability, supportability, flight test, and integration of capability development activities in support of the broader ISR portfolio. During this time, RDT&E efforts will address sustainment, modification, and modernization of sensors and associated mission equipment that face near-term sustainability and DMSMS. Also, RDT&E efforts focus on integrating/expanding platform capabilities within the larger ISR portfolio, enabling improved collection against emerging threats and capabilities through the remainder of scheduled U-2 operations; these efforts include (but are not limited to) Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System (ASARS) 2B/C, avionics and navigation tech refresh, mission planning software and datalink infrastructure upgrades, modernization of aircraft data links, next generation SIGINT, and quick reaction capabilities (QRCs). Additionally, the U-2 program will continue to support emergent and/or experimental RDT&E efforts in support of Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) and Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) as a platform surrogate for risk reduction. Currently, the U-2 program provides funding for an ASARS acquisition effort. This contracted effort will design, fabricate, integrate, and demonstrate system capability enhancements for a high-altitude deep look SAR system. This mitigates a DMSMS issue with the current U-2 SAR sensor and processor and implements an open- architecture radar environment, of which portions are common with or transferable to the common ISR enterprise. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver Dragon U2 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 0.0M of 3600 funding was expended and in FY22 0.0M of 3600 funding 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, 2023
• Source ID: 674820_0305202F_7_3600_PB_2023

Tags

Readers

• 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

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