Air Control

Shipboard Air Traffic Control systems, interfacing with versions of the AN/TPX-42A(V) Direct Altitude and Identity Readout (DAIR), allow shipboard Air Traffic Controllers to identify, marshal, and direct aircraft within a 50 Nautical Mile (NM) radius of the ship. In recent years, the top 25 percent of the AN/SPN-43C frequency band has been reallocated to the Fixed Wireless Access Community prohibiting Air Traffic Control (ATC) Air Search Radar (ASR) operation within 50NM of the coast. Because the Navy requires an air traffic control surveillance radar, this project unit will include engineering efforts to identify requirements and develop the AN/SPN-50(V)1 as an AN/SPN-43C replacement system. In addition, bridging Engineering Change Proposals (ECP) will be required to sustain the AN/SPN-43C capability until the AN/SPN-50(V)1 is completely fielded. Finally, the AN/TPX-42A(V) DAIR continues to undergo several phased upgrades that have resulted in a number of field changes/technology refresh/insertion efforts. System improvements include replacing militarized front-end equipment in the track processor with open architecture Commercial Off the Shelf technology, converting the operational program software to more commonly used and flexible "C" language, providing the "hooks" for potential interface with Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe, and integrating a flat panel monitor into the controller workstation. The ATC System Shipboard, AN/SYY-1(V) interfaces to emerging sensors as well as those currently in service to improve reliability to the fleet. The embedded training capability of the AN/TPX-42A(V) will carry on to the AN/SYY-1(V). This effort includes addressing broadened CyberSecurity requirements to remain compliant with software CyberSecurity directives and Information Assurance mandates.

The Navy's Precision Approach and Landing System Capability (PALC) and Landing System Upgrade Program (LSUP) are essential to retain the United States Navy's capability to perform safe and expeditious aircraft landings aboard CVN and LHA/D class vessels during adverse weather and night conditions. The Navy's PALC requirements, originally identified in the 2013 PALC Roadmap, necessitated Life Cycle Extension upgrades to all three legacy precision landing systems; AN/SPN-35, AN/SPN-41 and AN/SPN-46. The 2013 PALC Roadmap and subsequent LSUP block upgrades addressed obsolete technology developed and fielded over 30 years ago. In 2022, an updated PALC Roadmap was approved and planned to field system upgrades needed to provide PALC to both legacy aircraft and the Air Wing of the Future (AWOTF). These upgrades planned to modernize the AN/SPN-35 and AN/SPN-46 Radar Landing Systems (RLS), as well as insert common sub-systems that minimize future sustainment costs. These development efforts were planned to result in the fielding of a new system, AN/SPN-51, that would replace legacy systems; AN/SPN-35, AN/SPN-41, and AN/SPN-46. In Q1 FY 2025, the 2022 PALC Roadmap update and development efforts were rescinded, thus cancelling AN/SPN-51. Cancellation of the development program necessitates continued research and development of legacy system modifications to ensure sustainment consistent with the 2013 PALC Roadmap requirement. Without these efforts, the Navy estimates complete loss of Precision Approach Radar (PAR) and Automatic Carrier Landing System (ACLS) capabilities within 10 years. Successful development and fielding of all capabilities is essential to giving fleet users relevant equipment, compliant with Cyber Security directives and Information Assurance mandates, and authorized for fleet use.

The Marine Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems (MATCALS) program provides for continued development, integration, and testing of hardware and software to meet requirements for all-weather operations and improved flight safety of Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Landing Systems at Marine Corps expeditionary airfields. An Acquisition Decision Memorandum from Jan 2005 approved the use of the U.S. Army AN/TPN-31 Air Traffic Navigation, Integration, and Coordination System (ATNAVICS) to fulfill the Air Surveillance and Precision Approach Radar and Control System (ASPARCS) requirement for Jul 2006. The ATNAVICS replaced the legacy ATC Precision Approach Radar (PAR), Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR), and Command and Control Subsystem with a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle based PAR, ASR and Command and Control Subsystem. The Marine Resource Oversight Committee Decision Memorandum 11-2005 of Dec 2004 outlines the evolutionary improvements required by Headquarters Marine Corps. This program works with the Marine ATC Working Group identifying the requirements to implement the preplanned program improvement (P3I) and evolutionary product improvements as required for Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar System (G/ATOR), ATNAVICS, Expeditionary Precision Approach Landing Capability (EPALC), Expeditionary ATC Towers, Common Aviation Command and Control Station (CAC2S), and Navigational Aids that support Marine Air Traffic Control Detachments.

This program provides for engineering development, integration, adaptation, and testing of new and/or modernized Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems, air navigational aids, landing systems, and ATC communication systems for Naval and Marine Corps Air Stations (NAS/MCAS), Fleet ATC Systems, and remote tower improvements. These systems are critical to Naval Aviation and provide for safe, efficient air operations. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is affecting major modernization of the National Airspace System (NAS). The Navy must maintain compatibility with FAA-developed ATC systems in order to ensure seamless interoperability within the NAS. NAS modernization initiatives in Project 1657 include the Visual Information Display System (VIDS) and follow-on Pre-Planned Product Improvements, with additional RDT&E efforts required for modified commercial-off-the-shelf ATC systems and equipment for modernization and recapitalization of these systems at our NAS, MCAS & Fleet Area Control & Surveillance Facilities (FACSFACs) worldwide.