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. 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, additional radar modes, reliability and maintainability improvements. Funding also supports continuing aircraft 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 RQ-4 aircraft and Ground Segment/Communication Systems. This reflects contracting/acquisition strategy for these common elements within the Global Hawk program to provide efficiencies. Activities include airspace, interoperability and communication enhancements and updates, periodic Operational Flight Program updates and releases, airframe and software upgrades, sensor enhancements including data distribution and storage, 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, Authority to Operate surety enhancements, and studies and analysis supporting system enhancements. The ground segment currently includes the Mission Control Elements (MCE), the Launch and Recovery Elements (LRE), and the networking resources required to disseminate intelligence information while remaining compliant with DoD cybersecurity network requirements to operate in the DoD Information Network (DoDIN). Ground Segment Modernization Program (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. Funding will support design, development, integration and testing of GSMP and the weapon system's legacy ground elements and communications capabilities to enhance functionality and maintain interoperability prior to GSMP fielding. Funding will also integrate Dynamic Mission Operations (DYNAMO), a waypoint modification system enhancement solution. The RQ-4 program will maintain and upgrade interoperability for RQ-4 aircraft with system of systems partners and continue to incorporate applicable synergies with other platforms, 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. 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). GSMP will incorporate UCI and UCS standards. 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. In FY21 5.331M was expended for civilian pay expenses, and in FY22 5.8M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2023
- Source ID
- 675149_0305220F_7_3600_PB_2023
Related Documents
- Root: RQ-4 UAV
- Child Accomplishment: RQ-4 Ground Segment Modernization Program (GSMP)
- Child Accomplishment: RQ-4 Infrastructure
- Child Cost Item: 06dd82a1d2606b98e02ca4e199bccac1
- Child Cost Item: aff7e942040c06f20577715590355b70
- Child Cost Item: 771fbc9a7b45c4dca22bcc4fbcb35a0a
- Child Cost Item: 75817168cf6f8a075cd3bfd36745ab8e
- Child Cost Item: d5111ed0232f54ea31c9ea1c4e166c3f
- Child Cost Item: a81220fa6c13550e1fa72fce9d2a5077
- Child Cost Item: 77ef4cb00c91d77e42da869a547a6a92