SATURN

Mission — SATURN source

Second-Generation Anti-Jam Tactical UHF Radio for NATO (SATURN) Lead Service activities support Headquarters Air Force in its Lead Service role for SATURN. Each role consists of several distinct engineering and fielding responsibilities, to include, but not limited to leading and overseeing the engineering and analysis activities, fielding strategy, cost and schedule data, resolving cross-service disconnects, and training operators on the use of SATURN. DoD Instruction 4630.09, "Communications Waveform Management and Standardization” outlines the roles of a Lead Service that will be pursued via the funds in the program element. To note, DoDI 4630.09 identifies specific roles for a "Lead Service” and a "Waveform Sponsor”. "Waveform Sponsor” activities are unique and provided for in a separate program element 0604281F. "Lead Service” activities, which differ from "Waveform Sponsor” activities, will be utilized to: - Foster development of joint capability needs; - Expedite adoption across the Services, NATO and other Coalition partners of the SATURN and affiliate (e.g. SATURN Enhanced Data Rate (SEDR) and others) waveform(s) - Foster adoption of terminals capable of operating SATURN - Resolve Joint/NATO/Coalition issues which are slowing adoption of the SATURN waveform - Developing, centralizing, and/or providing training, coordinating exercises or demonstrations to foster Lead Service objectives. As the Lead Service for the Second-Generation Anti-Jam Tactical UHF Radio for NATO (SATURN), Headquarters Air Force is responsible for overseeing the development, refinement, updating, and U.S. interoperability of this fast frequency hopping waveform, designed to replace Have Quick and provide improved radio resistance to jamming. This encompasses a wide range of activities, including joint enterprise-level system engineering and analysis, development of joint fielding and terminal development strategies, monitoring compliance with reference implementations, establishing policies for common interfaces, collecting cost and schedule data, documenting mission threads, maintaining network management tools, resolving cross-Service disconnects, and providing technical advice for foreign military sales and export controls. Furthermore, the Lead Service will make policy recommendations and develop roadmaps to support the continued development and maturity of the SATURN waveform and its associated applications, including the SATURN Enhanced Data Rate (SEDR) program. Crucially, this role involves coordinating with the Principal Staff Assistant (PSA), the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)), and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)) to advocate for waveform and terminal development within the Service budget processes, and to ensure appropriate technology protection requirements and processes are in place to advance waveform and terminal development with the Military Services. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to support, manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capabilities across the aerial network and tactical data network enterprise. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY 2024, 0.903M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element. In FY 2025, 1.715M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. This program is in Budget Activity 5, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because it has passed Milestone B approval and is conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full rate production.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (1)