Information is critical in the future integrated battlespace. Battles can be won and lives saved, if the right information is given to the right person at the right time.

A key player in that future will be the E-10A Multi-sensor Command and Control Aircraft (MC2A). As envisioned today, MC2A, a 767-400 extended range wide-body platform, will be loaded with an advanced air and ground surveillance radar, high -processing capacity computers, and communications with a robust battle management capability. The capability currently provided by AWACS airborne surveillance and Joint STARS ground surveillance platforms could be upgraded and incorporated into the E-10A platform.

MC2A would act as a node — pulling in air or ground imagery, signals intelligence and other data from its own sensors, as well as correlating imagery from satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles, other aircraft, ships and ground sensors. All of these assets would be connected via a common, high-speed network. Information would then be fused and translated at the speed of light into a single, integrated, real-time picture of the air and ground battlefield by machines talking to machines, leaving humans to focus on strategy or tactics.

Speeding up the information flow also would help shorten the time it takes to receive data about a threat, analyze it and send it to a warfighter to eliminate an enemy. The E-10A — with its new, high-powered Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) radar and its wider field of view — is also seen as a critical defense against cruise missiles.

MC2A’s capabilities will evolve over time using an Increment 1 development approach that maximizes capability while minimizing costs. The 767-400 ER platform has the power and payload capacity needed to handle growth in sensing capabilities to meet emerging surveillance and command and control requirements.

Additionally, the newer platform could realize significant savings in operation and sustainment costs.
“Using the 767 platform combined with FAA certification aligns with the government’s intent to leverage the commercial support system to the maximum extent possible,” said Jim Dodd, Boeing MC2A program manager.

“Instead of carrying its own customized inventory of spare parts, the Air Force could share parts from a commercial airline with a 767 fleet.” More than 800 767’s are in service around the world.

The Increment 1 phase, currently under way, centers on ground moving target identification. The system will have the ability to conduct airborne surveillance of troop movements, including columns of tanks, trucks or mobile missile launchers, and air defense radars as well as focused airborne motion target identification capabilities for cruise missile defense.

The program is a natural fit for MC2A’s partners, Northrop Grumman, as prime contractor, along with Boeing and Raytheon.

“The way we defined our roles and responsibilities is very much in concert with our domain skills and experience. This team can provide a technically viable and affordable program to the government,” Dodd says.

In addition to the Increment 1 program, Boeing is also pursuing the Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) subsystem for the MC2A program. Working with a team of industry leaders, Boeing will compete for the opportunity to provide a BMC2 suite that will enable interoperability of the MC2A within the integrated battlespace.

Boeing has a 30-year history of design, engineering and large-scale integration of airborne surveillance platforms such as E-3 and 767 AWACS and 737 Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C). Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for Joint STARS. Both Northrop Grumman and Raytheon, the MP-RTIP radar contractor team, have extensive experience with radars and sensors for intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance applications.

Under the teaming agreement for Increment 1, Dodd says Boeing will provide engineering design and system integration for heavy structural modifications, power system and in-flight refueling upgrades. Northrop Grumman will lead overall systems engineering efforts as well as the hands-on work to the aircraft at its facility in Lake Charles, La. Raytheon will provide radar integration, radome design, integrated logistics, platform subsystem design and fabrication kits, plus support to systems engineering and integration and test.

Besides the in-flight refueling and power system upgrades, the modifications include flight avionics upgrades, installation of ventral fins for aero stability and aircraft performance assessments supporting the FAA Certification effort. Once modification work is completed, the aircraft flies to Seattle for airworthiness testing at the Boeing Military Flight Center in 2007.

Once airworthiness testing is completed, the jet will then fly to Northrop Grumman facilities in Melbourne, Fla., where the hardware and software for the battle management suite will be installed along with the radar. Developmental and operational testing also will occur in Florida.

Studies are underway on Increment 2, the airborne surveillance portion of the program. Dodd says the exact configuration hasn’t been defined yet including whether the MC2A will be a combined platform of airborne and ground surveillance or a separate platform; or what kind of airborne early warning radar will be used. Northrop Grumman and Raytheon are looking at a number of alternatives for different sensor suites. Boeing is the lead to provide the integrated view of any potential Increment 2 configuration.
Whatever is decided, Dodd says attempts will be made to minimize developmental costs and maximize the amount of reuse from Increment 1.

“The customer has said to the team, as you’re defining your systems for Increment 1, keep your eyes forward to Increment 2,” Dodd said.

Current plans have the first four planes in operation by 2013. Depending on funding and Air Force requirements, the MC2A fleet could number more than 50 aircraft.