Aviation Systems Advanced Development

Abstract

This project provides for the investigation, evaluation, demonstration, and integration of current and maturing technologies for Special Operations Forces (SOF)-unique aviation and training requirements. Timely application of SOF-unique technology is critical and necessary to meet requirements in such areas as: SOF specific avionics; low probability of intercept/low probability of detection (LPI/LPD), terrain following/terrain avoidance (TF/TA) radar; Defensive Countermeasures (DCM) which includes Electronic Warfare – Radio Frequency Countermeasures (EW-RFCM); Precision Strike Package (PSP); AC-130H, AC-130W, and AC-130U recapitalization, and other SOF airborne platforms; digital terrain elevation data and electronic order of battle; digital maps; Enhanced Situational Awareness (ESA); near-real-time intelligence to include data fusion, threat detection and avoidance; navigation, target detection and identification technologies; digital broadcast capability; aerial refueling; and Intelligence, Surveillance, Survivability and Reconnaissance (ISR) payload technological improvements with size, weight, power and integration onto all SOF ISR platforms. • EC-130J Upgrades provides for integration of SOF-unique implementation of the C-130J block cycle upgrade as installed on the EC-130J Commando Solo aircraft and development of digital broadcast capabilities. • Enhanced Situational Awareness (ESA) provides SOF C-130 fleet with near-real-time intelligence reporting to include data fusion, threat detection, identification, and avoidance. • EW-RFCM supports development, integration and test activities to provide EW capability against RF threats for SOF AC/MC-130J aircraft. The DCM suite is an integrated package of existing aircraft defensive systems which provides situational awareness and threat response processing; this includes the Radio Frequency Countermeasures (RFCM) system, and future defensive systems. RFCM program provides SOF-unique aircraft defensive capabilities required for SOF missions. The FY 2017 funding request was reduced by $4.636 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances. • PSP for SOF supports systems engineering, analysis, development, and enhancement of the baseline PSP for later integration and installation onto host MC-130J aircraft provided by the U.S. Air Force for the AC-130H, AC-130W and AC-130U recapitalization, as well as current SOF C-130s and other SOF platforms. Missions for the AC-130 aircraft include, but are not limited to, Close Air Support (CAS), Air Interdiction, and Armed Reconnaissance. PSP is modular, scalable, and platform neutral. • PSP Large Caliber Gun supports systems engineering, analysis, development, integration, and test of a large caliber gun capability enhancement to the PSP installed on the AC-130 aircraft. • C-130 TF Radar System supports development, integration and test of a TF/TA radar and on-board processor to provide a multi-mode terrain following capability on MC-130J aircraft. Crew systems integration efforts include modifications to aircraft controls and displays to automate TF/TA flight and reduce pilot, copilot and Combat Systems Officer workload during missions previously performed by five aircrew members on legacy C-130 tankers and penetrators. This project received a congressional add in FY 2016. The FY 2017 funding request was reduced by $4.636 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances. • SOF Common TF/TA (Silent Knight) Radar supports Engineering and Manufacturing Development, qualification, and operational flight testing of a SOF common TF/TA LPI/LPD radar to defeat advanced passive detection threats while maintaining ability to fly safe TF. This radar is targeted for use on all MH-47G heavy assault helicopters, MH-60M medium assault helicopters, MC-130J Commando II and CV-22B Osprey aircraft. • EC-130J Commando Solo supports development, integration and testing of digital broadcast capabilities on the EC-130J Commando Solo aircraft. • ISR Payload Sensor Technology supports development, integration, and testing of sensor miniaturization effort to place large ISR platform capability, such as Group 4-5 unmanned aerial systems (UASs) onto all SOF ISR platforms.

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Document Details

Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2017
Source ID
SF100_1160403BB_7_0400_PB_2017

Tags

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs
  • Microelectronics

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