Systems Engineering & Integration
Abstract
Mission Description and Budget Item Justification: The HF Modernization program is designed to replace existing legacy High Frequency (HF) radios with a modernized HF radio on all Air Force (AF) aircraft that currently are equipped with HF radios (e.g., AN/ARC-190). The current HF radios installed on AF aircraft have reached obsolescence and there is a compelling need to modernize the HF capabilities. The replacement radio will have similar form and fit, but increased capability. The new radio needs to incorporate new technologies such as 3G/4G Automatic Link Establishment (ALE), wide band features that allow the radio to operate from 3 KHz up to 48 KHz channel spacing, and Low Probability of Intercept/Low Probability of Detection (LPI/LPD) features. The new HF radio should be software defined (SDR) to accommodate growth for newer technologies and embedded cryptographic options. The current AN/ARC-190 radios, that serve a majority of HF airborne needs, will approach end of life 2025 and do not have current capabilities to be sustainable for future years. Current and future AF aircraft with validated requirements for HF radios will experience a shortage of HF radios starting in FY20. With the increased shortage of spares, as the current HF radios continue to fail, Air Traffic Control (ATC), Air Operation Centers (AOC), and other controlling agencies will lose the ability to communicate with aircraft. HF Modernization provides alternate means of communication when satellite communications are not available due to nature and man-made disruptions. It is essential that these airborne radios keep pace to guarantee interoperability or theater C2 will be degraded. Program management and administration efforts consist of, but are not limited to, contract services and government costs. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver HF Modernization weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605831F. in FY19 (0) and in FY20 (0) was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element. Funding for this exhibit contained in PE 0303133F. 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, 2022
- Source ID
- 675046_0303133F_7_3600_PB_2022
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