Hanscom working to provide 5th, 4th gen aircraft common tactical picture

by Patty Welsh
66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

12/17/2014 - HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The Air Force wants to ensure connectivity between 5th and 4th generation aircraft, and the Space, Aerial and Nuclear Networks Division here is evaluating industry capabilities to make that happen.

The division is currently reviewing responses from a recently released request for information and associated industry days.

The RFI re-emphasized the need published in previous RFIs for communication gateway products that can bridge the gap between multiple platforms using different data links. The gateway provides the 5th Generation Fighters, such as the F-22 and F-35, the ability to share tactical data with 4th Generation Fighters, such as the F-15, F-16, F-18, as well as other Link 16 participants, creating a shared common tactical picture.

"This capability is a priority for the Air Force," said Col. Todd Krueger, senior materiel leader for SANND. "Both the chief of staff and the commander of Air Combat Command have emphasized the need for 5th to 4th on multiple occasions and I'm excited to bring this critical capability to the warfighter."

The gateway will be hosted on an F-15C and have the potential to connect to additional platforms, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and ground and airborne command and control units, within range of the gateway.

To help industry prepare for responding to the RFI, the program office held industry days Nov. 12 and 13 at ACC in Langley AFB, Va.

Day One was an open discussion about the RFI, plans for a request for proposal, a threat summary and overview of the system architecture. Day Two provided short, direct meetings with individual industry representatives to discuss questions specific to their solutions with subject matter experts from both the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and ACC.

"The main topic of conversation on day one was the concept of operations to help industry understand how the system is intended to be employed," said David Desforges, program manager. "By providing more context to interested respondents, we were looking to receive more complete responses to the RFI."

Responses were due to the program office by Dec. 2, though some vendors requested short extensions. Subject matter experts are in the process of reviewing the information submitted, in support of the acquisition strategy for the program.

Previous RFIs were released more than a year ago, in early 2013. Since then, the Air Force Requirements Oversight Council approved the 5th to 4th generation gateway Capability Development Document.

In addition to the basic 5th to 4th gateway capability, the current RFI includes "potential growth to the gateway." Some future gateway capabilities may include beyond-line-of-sight communication, a non-radar sensor/tracker and a common data link connection.

"We will be looking to share the information provided in response to this RFI with ACC to also help them with the requirements process for MAPS [multi-domain adaptable processing system]," said Desforges.

MAPS is a system of systems approach that would incrementally add data link and sensor inputs to the gateway capability, bringing data fusion closer to the tactical edge, further improving situational awareness for all network participants, he added, noting that while 5th to 4th generation gateway is a program of record, MAPS is still in the works.

For the current 5th to 4th solution, flexible configuration options are key. The gateway does not need to be a podded system and may be installed internally on the F-15 or a combination of externally and internally. However, it cannot interfere with F-15C flight operations; and, the solution must be at technology readiness level 5 today, which means that basic technological components can be integrated and tested in a simulated environment.

From here, the program management office is moving forward to complete an acquisition strategy and draft an RFP, with release anticipated in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015.

"Fifth to 4th is a critical step in achieving a robust aerial layer where our warfighting assets can fully share a common tactical picture," said Krueger.