Command, Control, Communications Systems - Eng Dev

The CMFF APNT Card provides the solutions required by the CMFF Abbreviated Capability Development Document and distributes APNT data to payloads within the CMFF chassis and external systems as needed. The CMFF APNT card provides assured PNT by utilizing multiple PNT sources and leveraging multiple open architectures. The CMFF APNT Card prototyping, and software development will be conducted in accordance with Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) (Reference House Report 116-442, 2020). The CMFF APNT Card complies with the PNT Reference Architecture and MOSA compliant hardware; CMOSS and software frameworks (PNT Operating System (pntOS)), to ensure a plug and play capability with M-Code and Alternative Navigation (ALTNAV). The Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 funds in the amount of $5.541 million to continue the CMFF APNT Card prototype development, testing, and integration engineering support into the CMFF Mounted Common Infrastructure Chassis.

Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) Mounted Form Factor (CMFF) Radio Card Mid-Tier Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Prototype (RP) program delivers Software Defined Radio (SDR) cards, Cryptographic Subsystem (CSS) cards, Digital Radio Heads (DRH) and Victory Audio Adapter (VAX) required by the CMOSS Mounted Form Factor (CMFF) Abbreviated Capability Development Document (A-CDD) for the Ground and Aviation's tactical communication requirements utilizing an Other Transaction Authority(OTA) contracting strategy. CMFF Radio Cards provide simultaneous transmission and reception of multiple waveforms across multiple channels in a single or multiple SDR card(s) integrated in the CMFF chassis with NSA certifiable CSS and interoperable with the Digital Radio Head. CMFF Radio cards initial capability development includes but is not limited to Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS), Air Traffic Control (ATC), Warrior Robust Enhanced Network (WREN) and future advanced networking waveforms; initial Cryptographic Subsystem Card (CSS), Digital Radio Head (DRH), and Victory Audio Adapter (VAX). Advanced capability development includes but is not limited to Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), Link-16, High Frequency (HF), HAVEQUICK (HQ), Second generation Anti-jam Tactical UHF Radio for NATO (SATURN), Demand Assigned Multiple Access (DAMA) and future advanced networking waveforms; and final CSS, DRH and VAX. The total cost of the CMFF RC Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) effort is $96.1 million RDT&E from FY25 to FY29. FY2027 funding supports Hardware and Software Development (SDR card, CSS card, Digital Radiohead and Victory Audio Adapter), Test, Integration and Evaluation, and Program Management Support. This funding directly supports the Army's Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) initiative, specifically targeting the modernization of the Command and Control (C2) Transport Layer. The C5ISR Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) Mounted Form Factor (CMFF) is a cornerstone of this effort, embodying the key tenets of NGC2 to deliver a more agile, interoperable, and data-centric communications backbone for ground and aviation platforms.

This funding supports the Army's Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) initiative to modernize Command and Control (C2) systems, Infrastructure Layer. Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) is a defined suite of open architecture and Army standards that facilitate the reduction of system size, weight, and power-cooling (SWaP-C) and ensure commonality across multiple vehicles and platforms. Sharing of hardware and software components is enabled within the CMFF Mounted Common Infrastructure (MCI) Chassis, which will help move the implementation of C5ISR/Electronic Warfare (C5ISR/EW) capabilities away from costly and complex separate "stove-piped boxes" onto individual platforms. The use of open standards will make it simpler and more cost-effective to upgrade capabilities and/or keep pace with commercial technology by eliminating complex integration challenges and proprietary interfaces. The CMFF capability can only be realized when paired with the development of associated capability cards for integration into the chassis and peripheral enabling devices, such as antennae and appropriate user interfaces. Other programs are responsible for funding and developing the capability cards and peripheral devices; the CMFF MCI Chassis program is responsible for chassis development, system of system integration of capability cards and external resources into the chassis and platform integration.