Boeing aims to show system is viable in 'real-world action'
Boeing Phantom Works is leading what is believed to be the largest ever network-centric operations (NCO) demonstration that could extend across the continental USA and link assets on land and sea, in the air and even in space.
Details of the exercise, which will culminate in a full-up NCO demonstration on 16 December, remain "classified", says Boeing, which declines to comment on the event until it is concluded. It is known, however, to be aimed at proving the viability of NCO in a "real-world type battlefield action" and is built on the foundations established by a "risk reduction" demonstration conducted in November 2003. This involved the company's F/A-18F1 testbed and several simulated platforms connected through a Link 16 network, and Boeing's Labnet to a simulated command air operations centre at the Boeing Integrated Center (BIC).
The new NCO event is also known to include Boeing's 737-400 Connexion by Boeing demonstrator which is acting as a surrogate "smart" tanker platform. It is also likely to involve at least one F/A-18E/F as well as other "real" aircraft such as a Boeing E-3 AWACS and F-15C and F-15E, the latter group of which were all simulated in the earlier test. Dubbed by Boeing as the Transformational Expeditionary Strike Force (TESF) Initiative, the original 13 November 2003 event was aimed at proving the use of NCO technologies to send targeting information to the cockpit to demonstrate the rapid engagement of a time-sensitive target.
The result of the TESF attracted interest from the US Navy, which then requested the Naval Warfare Development Center to evaluate the value of a sea trial experiment of NCO capability. It also evaluated alignment of TESF with the developing USN and USAF NCO architectures, and it is likely that several navy as well as US Army and Marine Corps elements will be linked into the latest demonstration. As well as being broader in scope, the event is expected to see greater use of newer wideband datalinks, and Cluster 1 JTRS (joint tactical radio system) units, as well as existing links, translators and wideband satcom network.
Future trials are expected to include interaction between manned and unmanned systems, and see the use of datalink controlled weapons and image exploitation techniques against moving targets.
GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES
Source: Flight International
