F/A-18 Squadrons

Advanced Electronic Warfare (ADVEW) provides increased survivability and enhanced SA throughout the EM spectrum against current, expanded and complex RF threats/environment. Incremental approach to collaborative detection/jamming initiatives and Common Tactical Picture, Tactical data fusion concepts. Network Cyber Defense provides for the development of a hardware and software-based solution into the Distributed Target Processor - Network (DTP-N) in order for the network cyber defense to provide the F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G with a capability to detect an intrusion and prevent avionics terminals on the data from being corrupted by malicious software and identify when the software is not operating normally. This project funds equipping F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft with an Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (AGCAS) to prevent Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). AGCAS continuously monitors terrain elevation data stored in the Digital Video Map Computer (DVMC) / Digital Video Map Computer Upgrade (DVMC-U), aircraft altitude (INS/GPS), and predicted flight path, to proactively identify and predict potential CFIT incidents. The system generates warnings and advisories, culminating in automatic flight control inputs to recover the aircraft and prevent collisions. F-18 modernization Global Lightning (GL) development is an integrated F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications solution. This effort includes the development of a software defined radio, Global Lightning aperture, and resilient communication enablers. Additionally, this will encompass an aircraft integration effort to support two-way data and voice BLOS capability. This capability provides joint, multi-domain connectivity for the distributed battlespace Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) tactical communication and puts a common tactical picture into the hands of the pilot. The capability also provides a resilient, real-time gateway between the 4th and 5th generation tactical aircraft with datalinks at the tactical edge with assured C2 and targeting from national and other off board sensors. The data is provided through multiple data paths and supports Long Range Fires in critical environments. Beyond Line of Site (BLOS) also provides tactical communications for joint, multi-domain connectivity in support of distributed battlespace.

F/A-18 Radio Detection and Ranging (RADAR) Upgrade: The F/A-18 RADAR Upgrade, Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) development program, which began in FY 1999, is the last of three pre-planned upgrades to the F/A-18 EF/EA-18G RADAR. The AESA system corrects operational test deficiencies noted in the AN/APG-73. It provides multi-target tracking, Synthetic Aperture RADAR (SAR) imagery, SAR Target Location Error (TLE), and improved spotlight map resolution. In addition, it provides greater lethality than previous F/A-18 RADARs by allowing full tactical support of existing and planned air-to-air (A/A) and air-to-ground (A/G) weapons and it significantly increases detection and tracking ranges. The AESA system provides greater survivability through self-protection and standoff jamming capabilities, while its greater range allows for reduced detection by enemy RADAR. The AN/APG-73 will be upgraded to AN/APG-79. This combat-proven AESA radar system substantially increases the power of the F/A-18E/F EA-18G from the front-end array to the back-end processor and operational software. This budget continues spiral capability development of AESA with increased efforts to address Phase II Operational Requirements Document requirements such as Counter-Electronic Attack (CEA) against multiple Radio Frequency Emitters, AESA Multi-Jammer Electronic Protection, Precision TLE Improvement, Monopulse and 5th/6th Channel development, and Air Combat Maneuvering/Short Range Search and Track development. This budget supports AN/APG-79 integration in Wideband Receiver and Advanced EW suite as a contributing wideband sensor. It also includes upgrades to RADAR Instrumentation, test and evaluation assets, threat assets, and upgraded modeling and simulation of both clean and Electronic Attack threat environments. This budget includes the overarching Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) software improvements, which includes Aided Target Recognition (AiTR), and Strike Accelerator/Kill Chain capabilities. This budget request supports development and testing of multiple module design modifications to address obsolescence issues with APG-65, APG-73 and APG-79 RADAR systems. USMC upgrades to the platform are being developed to include capability expansion of AESA Radar for F/A-18 C/D.

Funding provides for design, development, integration, and test of platform improvements for F/A-18A-F and EA-18G Weapon Systems, as determined through a Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) process, to mitigate and reduce the occurrences of Physiological Episode (PE) in Naval Aviation.

Funding provided to support equipping F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft with an Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (AGCAS) to prevent Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). AGCAS continuously monitors terrain elevation data stored in the Digital Map Computer (DMC)/ Digital Video Map Computer (DVMC), aircraft altitude (INS/GPS), and predicted flight path, to proactively identify and predict potential CFIT incidents. The system generates warnings and advisories, culminating in automatic flight control inputs to recover the aircraft and prevent collisions. AUTOGCAS will provide the F/A-18 with an auto recovery capability that maneuvers the aircraft away from the ground through automatic flight control surface commands until the aircraft is no longer at risk of impending CFIT. Solid State Light Off Detector: Research Development Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) funding to explore design concepts to implement a solid state light-off detector in an F414 application. The program will identify concepts to explore in addition to a qualification and implementation plan to field the design into F414 Fleet assets.