Mission Planning Systems

A. Mission Description and Budget Item Justification. The Mission Planning System (MPS) Modernization program develops software for aircraft mission planning and integrates the latest intelligence, weather, aircraft performance, and threat data into flight management systems enabling flight operations for Combat Air Forces (CAF), Mobility Air Forces (MAF), Special Missions Air Combat Command (SMACC) aircraft, Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), and training aircraft. The MPS and the Mission Planning Process is the only way aircrews can configure the holistic platform System of Systems for any fixed or rotary wing aircraft sortie, merging weapons, crypto, sensors, communications systems and avionics. The warfighter must be able to: 1) leverage mission data feedback to formulate plans with current data; 2) optimize and de-conflict flight routes with other aircraft; 3) review, print, and brief the plan; 4) download flight information to onboard aircraft avionics; 5) conduct dynamic/in-flight replanning, including collaboration and data sharing with mission partners and the Command and Control (C2) chain; and 6) quickly and seamlessly share post-mission data to inform planning for subsequent missions. Main efforts include JMPS Open Mission System (JOMS), and Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS). Theater Air Planning System of Systems (TAP-SoS) . Mission Planning Modernization is a Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) program with a focus on collaborative cloud development for rapid fielding and real-time software updates ensuring the warfighter retains the ability to execute the operational mission in the event they are disconnected from cloud resources, for all phases of mission planning (pre-mission, in-flight, and post-mission planning). Software development is essential for real-time mission data Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Position, Navigation, and Timing (C5ISRC-PNT) updates and collaboration with mission partners as well as dynamic mission replanning for evolving conditions and sharing post-mission data to inform follow on operations. Tools include Weapons Planning Software, Electronic Warfare (EW), Global Positioning System (GPS), crypto including GPS M-Code and weather.

Budget line 0208006F funds Airdrop Mission Planning/Joint Precision Airdrop System (PADS). Airdrop Mission Planning/PADS consists of hardware and software that serve as the primary mission planning system for all airdrop missions, enabling high-altitude logistical resupply and the delivery of diverse payloads. These payloads include kinetic effects, such as guided missiles capable of navigating to designated coordinates, and non-kinetic effects like sensors, communication nodes, and jammers, which rely on gravity for launch. PADS is utilized by mobility aircraft, primarily the C-17 and C-130 platforms, for high and low-altitude airdrops. The Consolidated Airdrop Tool (CAT) and other mobile airdrop mission planning applications are key software for airdrop operations. New software tools include automating and enhancing airdrop mission segment planning with multi-stage airdrop, task saturation mitigation, and delivering palletized effects using Heavy Equipment Loading and Extraction airdrop techniques. These initiatives utilize real-time data and acquisition of payload and delivery hardware systems (e.g. various delivery vehicles, modern parachute technologies, and various kinetic and non-kinetic effects) for prototyping, testing, evaluation, and demonstrations. FY2027 Airdrop efforts are focused on developing software/hardware capabilities for airdrop missions to include but not limited to: 1) high-altitude, precise, and stand-off airdrop while mitigating surface-to-air threats; 2) improved single-pass airdrop capability to enhance survivability; 3) command and control of aerial delivery systems and palletized effects; 4) supporting contested logistics aerial delivery (airdrop) in hostile or denied areas; and 5) develop, test, demonstrate and field secondary air drop capabilities. These software modernization efforts integrate mobility forces in the Joint Long-Range Kill Chain while increasing aircraft and crew lethality and survivability.