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 also supports aircraft systems upgrades to include continuing airframe updates, aircraft operations surety, cybersecurity, airspace and interoperability enhancements, information assurance, and mission critical repair of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). This project will include systems engineering/program management, configuration and data management, test and evaluation, management services, Deficiency Report (DR)/Military Intelligence Program (MIP) Investigations, studies and analysis and fielding support for Block 30, Block 40, and Ground Segment/Communication Systems. Activities include airspace and interoperability and communication enhancements and updates, periodic Operational Flight Program updates and releases, airframe and software upgrades, effort to bring early production aircraft to current operational configurations, deficiency report resolution across RQ-4 fleet, sensor enhancements including data distribution and storage, and alternate sensor upgrades including the MS-177, ISR Payload Adapter, enhanced communications 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, increased power generation, additional radar modes, reliability and maintainability improvements, Ground Segment Modernization Program (GSMP) 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. This funding also addresses DMS resolution for other mission critical equipment. 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 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 in the DoD Information Network (DoDIN). 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. Beginning in FY21, to support the divestiture of the Block 20/30 aircraft, efforts will be pivoted to focus on supporting the Block 40 fleet and closing out Block 30 efforts to maximize value to the USAF and DoD. 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 0605831F. When judged feasible and affordable, this program will participate in the development, testing, and implementation of international standards to enhance joint, allied, and coalition interoperability. Studies and activities may be initiated to further explore the utility of incorporating the emerging architectural standards such as the USAF Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Command and Control Initiative (UCI) or the DoD's Unmanned Control Segment standards (UCS) and Open Mission Systems (OMS). Ground Segment Modernization Program (GSMP) will incorporate UCI and UCS standards.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2021
• Source ID: 675149_0305220F_7_3600_PB_2021

Tags

Fields of Study

• Engineering

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering.
• Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.

Technology Areas

• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs
• Cyber
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Space