Aircraft Avionics

Mission — Aircraft Avionics source

This Program Element provides funding to support modification and development activities necessary to support Aircraft Avionics modernization requirements necessary to meet the evolving Army Avionics priorities. A portion of this funding line is directly aligned to the Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (A-PNT) Army Modernization Priority. Tasks in this Program Element support research, development, and test efforts in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phases of these systems. Alternate Position, Navigation, and Timing (ALT-PNT) capabilities, non-Global Positioning System (non-GPS), and/or complimentary Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) solutions will be studied and developed as standalone or blended navigation functions. Alternate Position, Navigation, and Timing (ALT-PNT) enables precise navigation and timing during Multidomain Operations (MDO) operations in the absence of Global Positioning System (GPS) by leveraging Alternate Navigation (ALT-NAV) and Vision Based Navigation (VBN) efforts and providing a secure and reliable fused PNT solution utilizing new and existing high-grade sensors available on manned aviation aircraft. ALT-PNT utilizes Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA) standards allowing rapid and affordable platform integration, adopting of new technologies, and adjustment to changes in adversarial capability. The Improved Data Modem (IDM) is a mission computer that requires software to provide functionality. The IDM is the common solution for digitizing Army Aviation and is fielded on every modernized, rotary-wing Army aircraft. IDM provides digital air-to-air and air-to-ground connectivity and transmission of air-to-air target data between IDM equipped aircraft using legacy radio and crypto equipment. IDM also serves as interface between aircraft mission computers, data capable radios, and Tactical Internet (TI). IDM manages Situational Awareness (SA) data, processes command and control messages, and incorporates protocols for sending and receiving mission command digital messages on the TI, Private Net, and Longbow Net using the protocols Air Force Application Program Development Net (AFAPD) and Variable Messaging Format (VMF). The IDM 401 requires updated technology to mitigate obsolescence and enable multi-core processing to meet requirements for air to ground communications. The IDM Open System REMAN (OSR) will serve as the steppingstone for a longer-term solution, the General-Purpose Computing Platform (GPCP). The Aviation Mission Common Server (AMCS) will become a General-Purpose Computing Platform (GPCP). The GPCP will provide a more capable, computing environment to process broader use cases and enable the Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) on the Aviation fleet. The GPCP will utilize a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) with a nonproprietary Open Systems Architecture (OSA) to keep pace with evolving threats in the Multi-Domain Battlefield. The GPCP will enable the hosting of software applications to communicate, navigate, sense, and deploy weapon systems across the Joint Force in support of future aviation operations. It will support the future Common Digital Backbone for the enduring and future Army Aviation fleets with the ability for further growth to host flight critical capabilities. The GPCP will begin development in FY28 and production in FY31. The Aviation Mission Planning System (AMPS) is a system used to conduct pre-mission and aircraft performance planning. It receives data from multiple sources and provides that data digitally to the aircraft to support aviation missions. AMPS is used for automated mission planning, risk assessment, and transfer of mission data to aviation platforms within an aviation unit. This includes route generation, performance planning, communications planning, terrain analysis, data transfer, and mission rehearsal. These efforts include development and testing of a new underlying architecture to support the move of Army Aviation Mission Planning from the current structure to one that supports synchronization both vertically and horizontally between aviation and ground forces. It will allow aircrews to continually plan and update route, threat, and performance data throughout all phases of an aviation mission. Development of a mobile aircraft performance planning/weight and balance calculator is currently underway and will be the first migration of AMPS capabilities to a mobile hardware agnostic environment. The AN/ARC-220 High Frequency (HF) Radio is a US Army rotary wing high frequency solution which is operational on over 2,400 Army helicopters (primarily CH-47, UH-60, and AH-64). Key capabilities are voice and data, automatic link establishment, text messaging, position reporting, and selective calling. It is also voice interoperable with standard ground HF systems in use today. Efforts include development of an Airborne Radio Control Manager (ARCM) driver to enhance the modernization of the AN/ARC-220 HF Radio.

Mission — ACFT Avionics source

Tasks in this Program Element support research, development, and test efforts in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phases of Aircraft Avionics systems. Alternate capabilities, non-Global Positioning System (non-GPS), and/or complimentary Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) solutions are investigated, studied, evaluated, and developed as standalone or blended navigation functions. The Alternate Position, Navigation, and Timing (ALT-PNT) enables precise navigation and timing during Multidomain Operations (MDO) in the absence of Global Positioning System (GPS) by leveraging Alternate Navigation (ALT-NAV) signals of opportunity and Vision Based Navigation (VBN) efforts and providing a secure and reliable fused PNT solution utilizing new and existing high-grade sensors available on manned aviation aircraft. ALT-PNT utilizes Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA) standards allowing rapid and affordable platform integration, adopting of new technologies, and adjustment to changes in adversarial capabilities. In accordance with Section 1611 of the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (RESILIENT AND SURVIVABLE POSITIONING, NAVIGATION, AND TIMING CAPABILITIES), ALT-PNT is necessary (A) to generate resilient and survivable alternative positioning, navigation, and timing signals; and (B) to process resilient survivable data provided by signals of opportunity and on-board sensor systems.

Mission — Networking And Mission Planning source

The Improved Data Modem (IDM) is a mission computer that requires software to provide functionality. The IDM is the common solution for digitizing Army Aviation and is fielded on every modernized, rotary-wing Army aircraft. IDM provides digital air-to-air and air-to-ground connectivity and transmission of air-to-air target data between IDM equipped aircraft using legacy radio and crypto equipment. IDM also serves as interface between aircraft mission computers, data capable radios, and Tactical Internet (TI). IDM manages Situational Awareness (SA) data, processes command and control messages, and incorporates protocols for sending and receiving mission command digital messages on the TI, Private Net, and Longbow Net using the protocols Air Force Application Program Development Net (AFAPD) and Variable Messaging Format (VMF). The IDM 401 requires updated technology to mitigate obsolescence and enable multi-core processing to meet requirements for air to ground communications. The IDM Open System REMAN (OSR) will serve as the steppingstone for a longer-term solution, the General-Purpose Computing Platform (GPCP). The Aviation Mission Common Server (AMCS) will become a General-Purpose Computing Platform (GPCP). The GPCP will provide a more capable, computing environment to process broader use cases and enable the Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) on the Aviation fleet. The GPCP will utilize a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) with a nonproprietary Open Systems Architecture (OSA) to keep pace with evolving threats in the Multi-Domain Battlefield. The GPCP will enable the hosting of software applications to communicate, navigate, sense, and deploy weapon systems across the Joint Force in support of future aviation operations. It will support the future Common Digital Backbone for the enduring and future Army Aviation fleets with the ability for further growth to host flight critical capabilities. The GPCP will begin development in FY28 and production in FY31. This Project funds the development of Networking and Mission Planning systems required to horizontally and vertically integrate the battlefield and the integration of those systems into Army aircraft. Tasks in this Project support research, development, and test efforts for these systems.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (2)