Air traffic control radar system gaining ground, developmental testing in sight

by Justin Oakes
66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

2/24/2015 - HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Moving closer and closer to the first stage of testing, the deployable radar approach control surveillance system continues to jump hurdles and progress quickly through its engineering, manufacturing and development phase.

Since conducting a human factors assessment in October 2013, the Hanscom AFB-based D-RAPCON program has completed both a preliminary and critical design review of the system, began factory acceptance testing of major components of a pre-production unit and identified locations for formal developmental testing.

"We've made great strides and significant progress throughout the EMD phase," said Kasie Moriarty, D-RAPCON deputy program manager.

The D-RAPCON program office is responsible for providing a deployable air traffic control surveillance system for tactical locations and fixed-based operations. Consisting of two subsystems -- an airport surveillance radar and an operations shelter -- D-RAPCON satisfies a joint operational need to deploy, employ, sustain and redeploy aircraft from geographically separated and environmentally diverse regions at will. The system will have a range of up to 120 nautical miles and offer coalition partners a worldwide air traffic control capability.

In April 2013, Raytheon was awarded a contract for the development and procurement of one pre-production unit for testing and training with production procurement options up to an additional 18 units.

Last year, a preliminary and critical design review was completed. In July, the CDR closed out, resulting in an agreement between the Air Force and Raytheon on various technical requirements.

Following the reviews, three configuration control boards were assembled in order to clarify and revise requirements due to regulation changes. As a result of the boards' findings, an engineering change proposal, or ECP, was needed; the ECP contract was finalized this month.

"By issuing an ECP, the design now reflects the requirements that can be verified and validated in test," said Sandy Frey, D-RAPCON program manager.

Another indicator of the program office's progress centers on the pre-production unit.

Significant integration activities even warranted a visit from the program's executive officer, Steven Wert, Battle Management PEO, to Raytheon's facility in Marlborough, Mass., last month.

Fabrication and integration of the pre-production unit began in fiscal 2014, which also included early testing of major components. Since then, more than 50 requirements have been met.

"Early testing of the components has enabled the team to identify performance issues and work out best practices for test," Moriarty said. "By remedying issues proactively, it can reduce risk prior to system level test."

According to program officials, formal contractor testing is expected to begin this April.

The D-RAPCON program office also performed site surveys for the most appropriate locations to conduct developmental testing. When choosing a location, the team had to consider elements such as infrastructure, space, power and communication capabilities.

After seeking locations that would challenge the radar system, officials selected two locations at  Eglin AFB, Fla., to conduct developmental testing. Testing is planned to begin in fiscal 2016.

In addition to completing design reviews, testing a pre-production unit and choosing a developmental test site, the D-RAPCON team also worked to continue operations in the national airspace.

In order to function within various areas of responsibility, the radar will require special certification to operate within the U.S. during peacetime. Efforts are currently underway to acquire FAA certification.

D-RAPCON is quickly on its way from design and integration into the test phase of EMD.

"A lot of hard work has taken place since contract award," Frey said. "It is exciting to see designs evolve into hardware fabrication and integration. We look forward to seeing the system fully tested and ultimately fielded because our warfighter has a severely antiquated system that needs to be replaced."