KC-135 Upgrades
Abstract
The KC-135 is the US Air Force's aerial refueling workhorse. In FY 2022, USAF KC-135s offloaded 73,083,521 gallons of fuel and refueled 44,408 aircraft in support of global operations. The KC-135 provides air refueling through either the refueling boom or drogue. As a cargo aircraft, the C/KC-135 can carry six (6) standard 463-L pallets. KC-135 modernization funding is vital to ensure the KC-135 fleet can support global aerial refueling operations to 2050 and beyond. RDT&E efforts include but are not limited to Mobile User Objective System, COMM2 Crypto & Data, High Frequency Modernization, Center Console Refresh, and Winglets. 1. Mobile User Objective System (MUOS): Integration and test for MUOS-capable radios on Block 45 aircraft in the COMM 3 position with Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) Integrated Waveform (IW) and LOS SATURN capability with HAVE QUICK II backward compatibility. The KC-135 fleet must comply with the National Security Agency (NSA) mandate or will lose secure communications, which significantly degrades its ability to support worldwide operations. The ARC-210 Gen 3 radios have Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) and will become obsolete on the CEASEKEY date. Requirement: AMC's 10-050 Crypto, 15-046 MUOS, 16-053 SATURN, and 17-039 IW. 2. Center Console Refresh (CCR) will reduce maintenance man-hours, increase reliability and extend the KC-135 service life to 2040+ by providing a platform for Digital Flight Instrumentation and future growth. Obsolescence of the Integrated Fuel Management Panel (IFMP), Fuel Management Advisory Computer (FMAC), Multi-Function Displays (MFD), Control Display Unit (CDU), and Tank Interface Unit (TIU) is the primary focus. FMAC components are not procurable, MFDs were not supportable after 2021, the TIU will become non-supportable in 2024, and the CDU manufacture announced End of Life to the supply chain in 2022. Requirement: AMC's 22-009 CCR 3. High Frequency (HF) Modernization: Integration and test to replace legacy HF radio with a modernized HF radio on KC-135 aircraft. A modernized HF communications capability is necessary to enable future sustainability and growth to operate in satellite communications (SATCOM)-denied environment while maintaining global, secure voice and data between Mobility Air Forces' aircraft and command and control (C2) agencies to exchange classified information. Requirement: AMC's 18-100 Modernized HF. 4. COMM2 Crypto and Data: Integration and test for ARC-210 Gen 3 radio replacement in the COMM 2 position with secure voice and SATURN capability with HAVE QUICK II backward compatibility, and a replacement solution for the Very High Frequency (VHF) Data Link (VDL)-2000. The KC-135 fleet must comply with the NSA mandate or will lose secure communications which significantly degrades its ability to support worldwide operations. The ARC-210 Gen 3 radios have DMSMS and become obsolete on the CEASEKEY date. VDL replacement is required for civil airspace compliance. Requirement: AMC's 10-050 Crypto, 16-053 SATURN, 22-033 VDL Solution, and 20-048 Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) Upgrade. 5. Winglets: Research and development of winglets for KC-135 aircraft to increase operational energy. This effort continues Air Force Research Laboratory's initial prototyping. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system 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 FY 2022, $0.000M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2023, $0.680M is forecast 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, 2024
- Source ID
- 675261_0401218F_7_3600_PB_2024
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