DigitallyAided CAS: Variable Message Format and the ASOC Gateway

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Digitally-Aided CASVariable Message Format and
the ASOC Gateway
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Bottom Line Up Front

• JCAS ESC endorsed Variable Message Format (VMF)
  over Combat Net Ready (CNR) as near-term
  digitally-aided CAS standard
• Link16, SADL (and AFAPD, to an extent) remain
  important tools for the JTAC and CAS community
• USAFs ASOC and Objective Gateway programs will
  allow players to share certain information,
  mainly target coordinates and elevation, across
  these standards

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Agenda

• Why Digitally-Aided CAS?
• Interoperability Today
• JCAS Community Endorsement of VMF
• Coordinated Implementation
• Interoperability 2012
• Interoperability 2014
• How VMF fits in with Link16/SADL/Gateway

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Why Digitally-Aided CAS?

• Reduce risk of human error - less chance of
  transcription errors, missed targets, fratricide
• Increase situational awareness - enable JTAC,
  FAC, and aircraft to digitally collaborate
• Greater efficiency in kill chain execution -
  more targets serviced in same amount of time
• Drives standardization of JTAC equipment - ensure
  full digital interoperability

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Digitally-Aided CAS Interoperability Today
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VMF Approach Endorsed by JCAS ESC

• VMF over CNR series of standards for near-term,
  line-of-sight digital data exchange
• Coincident with F-35 IOC FY13 and Joint Effects
  Targeting System (JETS) planned fielding in FY14
• Implementation
• USMC implementing VMF across the board (all
  MAGTF)
• USAF uses VMF in TACP CASS planning VMF for
  A-10, B-52 planning gateways for
  interoperability with non-VMF platforms
• USN uses VMF on F/A-18s
• USA uses VMF on AH-64D and joint fires systems
  (AFATDS/FOS/LFED-PFED)
• SOCOM focusing on CoT/XML, but incorporating VMF
  into BAO Kit AC-130 considering VMF

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Why VMF Standard?

• ASD mandated VMF for DoD Fire Support Dec 91
• Most complete set of CAS messages
• Most widely-accepted message format for digital
  CAS
• F-35 fielding with VMF as primary air-to-ground
  datalink (FY13)
• Partner Nations moving forward without US
  position
• Sweden, France, Belgium utilizing AFAPD
• UK purchasing USAF TACP CASS ground kits
• Canada, Australia considering USMC StrikeLink
• Joint Effects Targeting System RD effort
• Joint solution to replace JTAC ground kits (LRIP
  FY12-13)
• No established digital data standard for guidance

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Current Approach Capabilities

• VMF-to-VMF direct LOS connectivity
• Common messaging network for JTACs, A-10, AC-130,
  AH-1, AH-64, AV-8, B-52, F/A-18 supports
  real-time execution of CAS (on station through
  BDA) with assured message receipt
• No gateway / satellite ensured data transfer,
  minimal latency
• Link 16 / SADL LOS and BLOS connectivity via
  gateways
• No common network, but both utilize J-series
  messages easing burden of translation between
  Link 16 and SADL
• VMF translation and forwarding rules not yet
  developed
• Two major concerns for gateways
• Ability to support real time execution of CAS
  (data latency issues)
• Partner nation access to gateways
• CoT/XML LOS and BLOS connectivity
• No MIL-STD to manage CoT / XML
• SOF community incorporating VMF into BAO Kit

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Coordinated Implementation

• Problem
• ASD/NII and DISA cover down on recognizing and
  publishing standards. No one manages
  enterprise-level implementation
• System(s) Program Manager implementation includes
  options
• Result is non-standard, non-interoperable
  programs on the battlefield
• Solution
• - Stand up Digitally-Aided CAS Configuration
  Control Board (CCB) to provide standards
  integration, management, oversight
• Finalize CCB charter and process by Service
  Acquisition Agents
• Establish USJFCOM Joint System Engineer to
  provide Joint support to CCB (established and
  working with program offices)

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VMF Standard -- Block 1 POAM
FY09
FY10
FY11
FY12
FY13
FY08
FY13
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Initial Capability Engineering Change Management
Plan signed
Joint Testing Assessment
Design Standards revision cut-off date (CECP
Approval)
Desired capabilities, standards, participating
platforms confirmed
Begin fielding
VMF Standard Target
Digital Interoperability
Brief JROC
Certification
11001001100011111
CCB stand-up
Program Office Services testing of funded
proposals
Draft Capability Engineering Change Proposals
(CECPs) delivered in time for APOM 11
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Coordinated Implementation Timeline
FY09
FY10
FY11
FY12
FY13
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
USAF CURRENT(FY08) A-10 6016/SADL B-52 N
one B-1 None F-15E 6016 F-16 (30) 6016/SADL F-16
(40/50) AFAPD/6016 F-22 6016 (Rx
only) SOF AC-130 CoT/XML Joint F-35
N/A USA AH-64 AFATDS USMC A/V-8 MTS AH-1
None F/A-18 R2/B/B USN F/A-18 R6/B/B
Intermediate VMF interoperability
Non-VMF players
VMF A/C/C
VMF Standard Target
Digital Interoperability
11001001100011111
TIDP-TE R6/B/B
Intermediate VMF interoperability
Planned
VMF Standard Nomenclature VMF X/Y/Z X MIL-STD
6017 version Y MIL-STD 2045-47001 version Z
MIL-STD 188-220 version
JFCOM Proposed
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Digitally-Aided CAS Interoperability 2012
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Digitally-Aided CAS Interoperability 2013/14
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VMF and the Gateway

• Link16/SADL via the ASOC Gateway and VMF LOS are
  complimentary versus exclusive
• Link16/SADL provide ability to place digital
  smoke
• Publish J3.5 (Land Tracks) and J2.2 (PPLI) well
  ahead of getting to JTAC
• Instead of Big to Small start talk-on at
  Small
• Increase situational awareness decreases time
  for talk-on
• Following terminal control could be voice, VMF or
  AFAPD
• VMF provides ability to execute complete digital
  control from fighter check-in to battle
  assessment
• May become important in communication limited
  environments
• Satisfies JCAS ESC endorsed prioritized
  Information Exchange Requirements

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VMF and the Gateway

• USAF approach to interoperability is twofold
• Implement VMF on select aircraft A-10 and B-52
• Utilize ASOC and Objective Gateway to incorporate
  other CAS capable aircraft
• Long-term plan for Gateways to translate between
  various protocols to include VMF Link16/SADL
• In absence of formal J series 9-line will
  forward information via J3.5 (Land Track)
  coordinates and elevation and J12.0 (Mission
  Assignment) Initial Point, Heading, Distance
• Forwarding independent of gateway
• USMC JTAC and F-16 to F15E
• USMC JTAC and F-18 to F15E

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Gateway Interoperability
NATO
F/A-22
E-2
U.S. Army
F-15E
A-10C
A-10C
USMCGround
B-52
E-8
JTAC
F-35
E-3
AG/OG
JFO
F-16Blk 30
AG/OG
JRE
F/A-18
AG/OG
GATEWAYS
AG/OG
F-16 Blk 40/50
Global Information Grid (GIG)
AG ? ASOC Gateway OG ? Objective Gateway
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BACKUPS
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Establish a JCAS digital data exchange standard

• Does AF agree with establishing a JCAS Digital
  Data Exchange Standard?
• AF agrees with this proposal in order to achieve
  digital interoperability
• AF is following two paths to achieve
  interoperability
• AF will install VMF on select aircraft
• A-10C VMF-C install ongoing IOC FY09, FOC FY12
• B-52 VMF-C install ongoing IOC FY12, FOC FY15
• No current plans to integrate VMF in other MDS
• Other MDS will utilize ASOC and Objective
  Gateways
• ASOC Gateway (AG) and Objective Gateway (OG)
  provide same level of Data Interoperability as
  STRIKELINK(A)

Future of Digital Interoperability is through
Net-Centric Operations
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Digitally-Aided CAS Interoperability Today
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Digitally-Aided CAS Interoperability Today
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Digitally-Aided CAS Interoperability Today