Common Development (Airborne SIGINT Development - Common Development)

The Common Development project supports airborne SIGINT design studies, engineering analysis, non-recurring engineering (NRE), program management, risk reduction, and other efforts to field SIGINT sensors and their associated air and ground components. The Common Development project also supports the development and integration of new sensor capabilities, quick reaction capabilities, and capabilities to address emerging needs as identified by the SIGINT Capabilities Working Group (SCWG). Finally, the Common Development project supports replacement components affected by Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS). Future SIGINT sensors are being developed through the implementation of open architecture (OA) concepts that enable the rapid integration of new signals of interests. Future SIGINT sensor efforts will address needs identified in the ISR Planning and Programing Guidance (IP2G) in order to sustain SIGINT operations in a highly contested environment. The efforts include, but are not limited to, demonstrating the Phoenix OA software on a CI-6 family of systems sensor on a current USAF platform with USAF ground station integration (e.g. Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS)); conducting CI-6 family of systems sensor improvements through Phoenix OA software; expanding Phoenix OA software beyond the CI-6 family of systems; developing Low-Cost UAS Sensor Technology (LOCUST) for inclusion into small UAS; and furthering the development of CRESTONE to counter emerging threats. This project also addresses ACC Tier 1 and 2 exploitation needs by hosting signals of interest exploitation software on scalable SIGINT sensors to support rapid deployment on a variety of USAF platforms by developing NORTHSTAR. This project will develop RANGERS to further miniaturize the form-factor of tactical aircraft roll-on/roll-off collection systems. This project also supports overarching Airborne SIGINT Enterprise (ASE) common development to include, but not limited to SIGINT modeling and simulation efforts and technology development and risk reduction through the Air Force Research Lab managed Open Architecture Technology Lab (OATL). Capability improvements needed to exploit service identified signals of interest will be identified as priorities by the SCWG. This project provides the warfighter increased SIGINT combat capability via rapid acquisition.