TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFNS) -- The commander of Air Combat Command, Gen. Mike Hostage, declared initial operational capability for the 552nd Air Control Wing's E-3G Sentry, an Airborne Warning and Control System Block 40/45 aircraft, July 28, here.
"This modification represents the most significant upgrade in the 35-plus year history of the E-3 AWACS and greatly enhances our crew members' ability to execute the command and control mission while providing a building block for future upgrades," said Col. Jay R. Bickley, the 552nd ACW commander.
Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS | E-3B/C/G, Block 40/45, Costs/Budget, Specs
E-3G---This designation is applied to Block 40/45 upgraded aircraft. As of February 2012, two aircraft have been modified with entire fleet conversion planned by 2020. This is the most comprehensive upgrade in E-3 program history. Block 40/45 upgrades enhances tracking and combat identification capabilities, enhance mission effectiveness, improve mission system reliability, and lower life-cycle costs. Upgrades include a new mission computer system, using an open architecture with 50 computers and 24 software products and automated processes to greatly reduce operator workload; new operator consoles; improved electronic support measures (ESM) passive surveillance capability; and full next generation IFF. Block 40/45 IOC is scheduled for the fall of 2014
Airborne Warning and Control System Block 40/45 Upgrade (AWACS Blk 40/45 Upgrade) pdf
The Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) provides a
highly mobile, flexible, survivable theater Battle Management, Wide Area
Surveillance, and Command and Control (C2) capability. It is capable of
detecting, identifying, and tracking airborne and maritime targets at extended
ranges as well as identifying air/ground emitters. AWACS can relay “ big
picture ” information to C2 agencies and friendly aircraft. AWACS provides
worldwide response to situations requiring immediate on - scene C2/BM using
embedded real - time surveillance for employment of US and allied combat air
forces. AWACS is critical to gaining and maintaining battle - space air
superiority. AWACS coordinates with both tactical and C2 assets in theater to
execute the air mission.
The AWACS Block 40/45 Upgrade Program is the largest
modification in US AWACS history and represents the critical foundation and
baseline system required for all future AWACS enterprise modifications
including net - centric operations.
The AWACS Block 40/45 Upgrade provides a single
target/single track capability with an improved human - machine interface for
time - critical targeting designed to increase combat effectiveness and reduce fratricide.
The AWACS Block 40/45 Upgrade Program includes
- Electronic Support Measures sensor data processing upgrade;
- Multi-Source Integration [(Objective =Threshold)All target data shall be correlated, fused, and integrated into a single track];
- Net Ready [a Data Link Infrastructure with prioritized data link bandwidth management for Link 16/Link 11];
- new battle management tools;
- capability to parse, allow user access to, and integrate Air Control Order/Air Tasking Order data; and
- enhanced mission and console recording capabilities
- System must fully support execution of all activities identified in joint and system integrated architectures.
- 1) DISR mandated GIG IT standards and profiles identified in the TV-1.
- 2) DISR mandated GIG KIPs identified in the KIP declaration table.
- 3) Net - Centric Operations and Warfare Reference Model Enterprise Services.
- 4) IA requirements and issuance of an ATO by the DAA.
- 5) Operationally - effective
information exchanges and mission critical performance specified in the applicable
joint and system integrated architecture views
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FY 2014 DoD Program:
FY 2014 provides funds in the amount of $154.3 million for modifications and spares for E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft.
The primary modification budgeted in FY14 is the Block 40/45 Upgrade (more info under FY 2015 below).
FY 2015 DoD Program:
FY 2015 provides funds in the amount of $179.7 million for modifications and spares for E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft. The primary modification budgeted in FY14 is the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Block 40/45 modification. AWACS Block 40/45 modification upgrades legacy E-3 mission systems computers, display processors, and displays to provide critical support to Air Force Battle Management Command and Control (BM/C2) missions. It provides the foundation required for all future AWACS enterprise modifications through a customized implementation of Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) hardware with a software intensive architecture. The AWACS Block 40/45 Upgrade also provides a single target/single track capability with an improved human-machine interface for time-critical targeting designed to increase combat effectiveness and reduce fratricide. The AWACS Block 40/45 Upgrade also includes an upgrade to Electronic Support Measures (ESM) sensor data processing; data fusion of both off-board and on-board sensor data through multi-source integration (MSI); a Data Link Infrastructure (DLI) upgrade with prioritized data link bandwidth management; new battle management tools; capability to parse, allow user access to, and integrate updates to Tactical Data Information Link (TADIL)-J message formats and protocols; enhanced mission and console recording capabilities while maintaining legacy chat communications and onboard training; modification of system software to accommodate Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS).The FY 2015 budget divests seven E-3 aircraft from the fleet, resulting in a fleet size of 24 vs. 31 now. This adjustemnt to the fleet size will be implemented starting in FY15.
Approaches to Multisensor Fusion Architecture may be used in Block 40/45
AWACS Level 2 FusionThe E-3 AWACS SENTRY aircraft is the "brain" of the modern air war for the U.S. and its allies. The aircraft has powerful active and passive sensors and an array of Level 1 tracking algorithms for managing the real time kinematic "picture" of the air battle. The Air Force has an ambitious program of sensor enhancements and software to improve this Level 1 processing and Daniel H.Wagner Associates, Inc. is a key player in the effort to improve Level 1 system as a participant in the Multi-Sensor Integration arena. Our MSI algorithm was the first to be demonstrated in ESC's Fusion Evaluation Testbed and we have consistently shown outstanding test performance.
In an SBIR effort, Daniel H. Wagner Associates, Inc. enhanced
an existing software program designed to perform multiple sensor, multiple
target tracking for the E-3 AWACS. The specific enhancements made to the
software include:
- incorporation and correlation of offboard sensor data;
- development of a data registration algorithm;
- responsiveness to AWACS operator commands; and
- recommendation of target identification.
Situation Assessment (SA) and Sensor Management (SM). The functions of Situation Assessment are twofold:
- Operator Awareness and
- Operator Workload Reduction.
- (1) Recommending sensor settings for sectors and subsectors based on situation and
- (2) Managing complex settings for the operator. Below is a list of topics being investigated.
- Automatic Tanker Assignments
- Air Corridor Monitoring
- Call Sign Recognition from Voice Channels
- Terrain Hiding Template
- Commit Decision Aid
- Routing Decision Aid
- Automatic IFF Interrogation
- Automatic Mode Switching
- Automatic Subsector Managment
JDL Fusion Architecture |
The Boeing Fusion Architecture provides a highly flexible, multi-source,
easily integrated tracker for a variety of applications. Many target types can be
tracked, either from sensor reports, sensor tracks, or other types of tracks. The
interfaces input type, assignment method, tracktype, track maintenance algorithms,
etc. can be selected at run time by the user. The code uses the advanced libraries
and tools of Java to keep the application well positioned for quick turn around
for demos, proposals and program hot starts. The architecture is a multithreaded,
event driven architecture delivering realtime performance for multiple customers.
Boeing - Bradley - Dynamic Resource Allocation and Management for Level 4 Fusion - 0501.pdf
The sensor tasking capability discussed here is part of a
Resource Allocation Manager (RAM) that integrates Command, Control and
Communications (C3) functions within individual sensor subsystems, among multiple
sensors on a platform, and across multiple independent platforms. The RAM
contributes significantly to multi-platform interoperability and situatio n
awareness operations. System level functional capabilities include interactive management
of kinematic and non-kinematic attribute state estimation accuracies, Situation
Assessment, Threat Assessment and data bandwidth management among cooperating
sensing platforms. The RAM is innovative state-of-the-art closed-loop surveillance
and tracking technology. The same algorithms that manage system level kinematic
and identification accuracy also inherently manage sensor modes, bias and misalignment
estimation, maintenance schedules, data link bandwidth usage, built-in-test,
calibration and even logistics. An overview of the fusion architecture and
tracking system in which the RAM is integrated is discussed first, followed by
performance analyses using measured and modeled data
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