The US Air Force's future E-10A Multi-sensor Command and Control Aircraft (MC2A) will be capable of tracking cruise missiles in addition to performing ground surveillance and battle management. However, a decision on co-hosting an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system on the same Boeing 767-400 platform is on hold pending further studies.
The Increment 1 E-10A successor to the Northrop Grumman E-8C JSTARS, will include a "focused cruise missile defence" mission. The MC2A's new active electronically scanned array, being developed by Northrop Grumman and Raytheon under the Multi Platform-Radar Technology Insertion Programme, will be able to track cruise missiles within its 30° scan, while simultaneously providing ground moving target indication (GMTI).
Increment 2 adds an airborne moving target indicator (AMTI) with a full 360° scan, but a decision to put this on the same 767, as originally intended, or a dedicated AEW&C platform, will wait until an analysis of alternatives is made next year, says Billy Smart, USAF deputy director information dominance, acquisition. A single platform raises questions about the concept of operations and concerns over GMTI/AMTI electromagnetic interference.
The USAF plans to award a $250 million contract to a Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems (IS)-led team newly formed with Boeing and Raytheon to begin development of the overarching weapons system integration for the initial E-10A. Boeing will take the lead for Increment 2. Next month the USAF will release a draft request for proposals for the battle management command and control (BMC2) system.
Three teams are expected to bid for BMC2, with Lockheed Martin and Raytheon having already announced their teaming. Boeing is expected to unveil its teaming with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, which will be firewalled from a Northrop Grumman IS-led team that will include Veridian and L3.
Source: Flight International
