RQ-4 Capability Enhancements
Abstract
The RQ-4 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) provides a high altitude, deep look, long-endurance Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability that complements space and other airborne collectors during peacetime, crisis, and war-fighting scenarios. RDT&E funding in this project supports design, development, integration, and testing of capabilities needed to meet validated requirements for RQ-4 aircraft, including continuing aircraft system upgrade for current and alternate sensor payloads. This funding supports aircraft systems upgrade to include continuing aircraft operations surety, cybersecurity, information assurance, and mission critical repair of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). This will include systems engineering/program management, configuration and data management, test and evaluation, management services, DR/MIP Investigations, studies and analysis and fielding support for Block 30, Block 40, and Ground Segment/Comm System. Activities include airspace and interoperability and communication enhancements and updates, periodic Operational Flight Program updates and releases, airframe and software upgrades, deficiency report resolution across RQ-4 fleet, sensor enhancements and alternate sensor upgrades including the MS-177 and the Optical Bar Camera (OBC), enhanced comms capabilities, support for demonstration and technology insertion, development and testing of ice protection system, enhanced mission flexibility to accommodate changes to mission objectives inflight, enhancements to support multi-domain contested environment operations, and studies and analysis supporting future system enhancements. Additionally, this project supports design, development, integration, and testing of items needed to meet validated requirements for Block 20/30/40 aircraft, including further development, mode creation, integration and test of the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) sensor capabilities, continued aircraft/communications systems upgrade, additional radar modes, reliability and maintainability improvements, Ground Segment Modernization Program (GSMP) and Communication System Modernization Program (CSMP) efforts, as well as next generation communications capabilities. GSMP resolves fleet grounding Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) and obsolescence issues associated with ground segment equipment and provides critical warfighter capabilities such as building-based multi-aircraft control. It will also enhance interoperability data dissemination as well as provide training capability. CSMP resolves critical DMS and obsolescence issues in the RQ-4 communication infrastructure and provides enhancements across the RQ-4 communication network. RDT&E funding in this project also supports design, development, integration and testing of the weapon system's legacy ground elements and communications capabilities to enhance functionality and maintain interoperability prior to GSMP/CSMP fielding. The ground segment currently includes the Mission Control Elements (MCE), the Launch and Recovery Elements (LRE), and the networking resources required to simultaneously disseminate intelligence information while remaining compliant with DoD cybersecurity network requirements to operate on the Global Information Grid. This project supports system engineering/program management, test and evaluation, management services and fielding support for all RQ-4 projects. This reflects contracting/acquisition strategy for these common elements within the Global Hawk program to provide efficiencies. The RQ-4 program will maintain and upgrade interoperability for Blocks 20/30/40 with system of systems partners and continue to incorporate applicable synergies with other platforms such as the U.S. Navy's Triton, other RPA weapon systems, and Processing, Exploitation & Dissemination (PED) elements. The networking capability for intelligence dissemination is required to provide the data transport interface between the Weapons System, Operations Centers, and external Intelligence Community customers. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver RQ-4 UAV weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605826F, 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605830F, 0605831F, 0605832F, and 0605898F. This program will participate in the development, testing, and implementation of international standards to enhance joint, allied, and coalition interoperability. Likewise, studies and activities will be initiated to further explore the utility of incorporating the emerging architectural standards such as the USAF Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Command and Control Initiative (UCI), the DoD's Unmanned Control Segment standards (UCS), or Open Mission Systems (OMS) as well as technology insertion activities in support of Better Buying Power (BBP).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2019
- Source ID
- 675149_0305220F_7_3600_PB_2019
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- Root: RQ-4 UAV
- Child Accomplishment: RQ-4 Capability Enhancements
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- Child Accomplishment: RQ-4 MS-177 Sensor Integration
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