TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. —
An airborne E-3G operated by the AWACS Mixed Check Drive up to date its digital help measures, or ESM, database in flight over central Texas with a file transmitted from its reprogramming middle at Eglin Air Drive Base, Florida, utilizing an current past line-of-site satellite tv for pc communications system.
The E-3G collected EW info utilizing its current ESM system and transmitted the in-flight recorded information to the thirty sixth Digital Warfare Squadron at Eglin AFB, Florida, utilizing its satellite tv for pc communications system. This check was carried out by 605th Check and Analysis Squadron, Detachment 1, at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, aligning with their mission to subject innovation and develop ways for the AWACS group.
“Whereas most airborne EW methods present self-protection, the first goal of the E-3G’s ESM system is to supply situational consciousness, fight identification, and risk warning for the remainder of the property in theater. Trendy superior radars are more and more digital and may adapt sooner than ever earlier than, and the mission information replace course of must adapt together with it,” stated Maj. Jesse Snook, 605th TES, Det1 air battle supervisor.
Snook continued, “The E-3G has demonstrated its skill to change close to real-time digital warfare info with the consultants on the bottom and feed that info again into the battle instantly.”
Inside an hour, the thirty sixth EWS processed and analyzed the E-3G’s information, corrected deficiencies noticed within the information, and transmitted the up to date file again to the E-3G for quick loading in the course of the mission. The in-air replace and in-air flight information transmissions have been firsts for the E-3G. As well as, the idea known as Airborne Cooperative EW Built-in Reprogrammable Trade, or ACEWIRE, was devised as a primary step to accelerating antiquated reprogramming processes for the E-3G and the property below its management.
“These are vital occasions,” stated Col. Adam Shelton, 505th Check and Coaching Group commander, Hurlburt Subject, Florida. “{Our capability} to detect, uncover and defend ourselves towards hostile risk methods is tied to our skill to rapidly replace software program, particularly mission information information, and there’s a tactical demand to take action.”
The check was made attainable utilizing the E-3G’s upgraded satellite tv for pc communications system referred to as Web Protocol Enabled Communications, or IPEC, together with the extra trendy and versatile mission computing system on the E-3G. The proof-of-concept check demonstrated the E-3G’s skill to adapt to new threats and facilitate the compressed mission information reprogramming timeline required for achievement sooner or later battle.
“The E-3G has to constantly evolve and discover methods to adapt legacy know-how for the long run battle, and ACEWIRE is a superb instance,” stated Lt. Col. Dameion Briggs, 605th TES, Det 1 commander, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. “The subsequent step is to construct on this idea throughout the E-3G group and work with different airborne platforms to make use of IPEC and current datalinks to supply in-air updates for different platforms.”
The check additionally served as a worthwhile train for the thirty sixth EWS as a part of the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing, activated in 2021 on Eglin AFB, Florida. The 350th SWW is targeted on its mission to ship adaptive and cutting-edge electromagnetic spectrum capabilities that present the warfighter a tactical and strategic aggressive benefit and freedom to assault, maneuver and defend.
“The E-3G has accomplished a course of that used to take days or months in a matter of minutes. This aligns completely with CSAF [Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. C.Q.] Brown’s crucial to Speed up Change or Lose that applies to software program replace processes as a lot because it applies to {hardware} upgrades and new platforms,” stated Lt. Col. Carly Sims, 605th TES commander, Hurlburt Subject, Florida.
The AWACS CTF is comprised of the 96th Operations Group, Det 2, and 605th TES, Det 1, that are chargeable for the developmental and operational testing of recent {hardware} and software program on the E-3G. The 96th OG, Det 2 at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, is a part of the 96th OG and 96th Check Wing at Eglin AFB, Florida. The 605th TES, Det 1 at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, and the 605th TES are part of the 505th TTG and 505th Command and Management Wing at Hurlburt Subject, Florida.
