Joint Tactical Radio System: Cluster 3 and 4: Airborne, Maritime-Fixed Station (AMF) JTRS
The original Cluster 3 (Maritime/Fixed domain) and Cluster 4 (Airborne domain) were the primary responsibility of the Navy and the Air Force, respectively. Each service was responsible for the development and fielding of each domain's product. In Nov 03, the Air Force and Navy Acquisition Executives decided to create a single bi-Service program that capitalized on commonality and synergy between the two former programs. This decision recognized that the primary difference driven by the Airborne and Maritime/Fixed Station operating domains would be in the packaging of the radio for different operational environments.
Merging Cluster 3 and Cluster 4 enabled synergy in the design process, and maximized the possibility of hardware commonality as well, if not at the system level, then at least at the module or component level. By enabling a common baseline design across the AMF JTRS form factors, there is an expected increase in interoperability for all the users of this system. The merger of Cluster 3 and Cluster 4 was possible because both programs were at nearly the same point in the acquisition cycle.
The Air Force and Navy have established a joint management and oversight structure between the two military Departments for the combined program. Program leadership will rotate between the Air Force and Navy at appropriate times during the acquisition cycle, with the Air Force initially taking the lead. The Navy's Cluster 3 organization, located at PEO C4I and Space/PMW 179, San Diego, California, has been merged with the Cluster 4 program office team at the Air Force Electronic Systems Center, Networks and Information Integration Directorate (ESC/NI4), Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, resulting in a virtual program office.
The AMF JTRS team consists of subject matter experts and functional specialists assigned to three (3) geographic locations (Hanscom AFB, MA; San Diego , CA ; and Charleston , SC ). The AMF JTRS program office developed a new program strategy to fulfill the requirements previously assigned to the JTRS Cluster 3 and JTRS Cluster 4 programs. The Navy and Air Force Acquisition Executives conceived of a shared program governance structure with key leadership positions changing, on a rotational basis, at key points during the program life cycle. The Air Force Electronic Systems Center (ESC) at Hanscom AFB is leading the initial phase of the combined acquisition. The Air Force provided the Program Manager (PM) and the Navy provided the Deputy PM. The Air Force PM and Navy DPM report to the Navy Program Executive Officer (PEO) for C4I and Space, supported by an Air Force Deputy PEO from ESC. The Navy PEO reports to the Air Force Acquisition Executive.
Acquisition of the AMF
The Pre-SDD phase will last approximately 15 months. Lockheed Martin and Boeing were selected via full and open competition, as competing Prime System Contractor (PSC) teams. Each PSC will deliver a preliminary design and associated documentation for a modular/scalable JTRS design, including JTR form factors, associated ancillary equipment, and Service Integration Kits (SIK). The SIK designs will be needed only for Maritime/Fixed Station platforms since the aircraft integration will be handled by the aircraft program offices. The Pre-SDD contracts require a design that uses commercial-based products and standards to the maximum extent possible and fosters high component commonality across form factors, to minimize the total cost to the government (looking beyond the radio cost, to include platform integration and sustainment costs as well). The Pre-SDD scope also includes trade studies and risk reduction analyses. These studies include design impact analyses for emerging requirements, including >2GHz capabilities and new waveforms like JPALS and TACAN. The studies also evaluate the impact of design drivers within the existing requirements baseline such as IFF and ATC waveforms.
The second part of the development, called the SDD phase, will be awarded to a single PSC via full and open competition at the completion of the Pre-SDD phase. The selected SDD prime contractor will be responsible for qualifying a minimum of two sources for each JTR form factor and associated ancillary equipment. The SDD phase will consist of critical design, prototype and engineering development model (EDM) fabrication, and initial testing and certification, as well as options for low rate initial production. The SDD phase is expected to nominally last 50 months; however, the source selection criteria will incentivize the bidding contractors to propose ways to compress the overall schedule without accepting undue risk.
System production is anticipated to span at least 10-15 years. LRIP units will be used for developmental testing and multi-service operational test and evaluation. LRIP units will be procured from the SDD PSC, who will be required to compete the LRIP JTR Set production between at least two qualified JTR production sources. The PSC will be responsible for the integration, test, and delivery of the complete system to the Government.
Prior to completion of the Pre-SDD contract, the AMF JTRS Program Office will review the AMF JTRS quantity requirements to determine the best approach to be implemented for FRP.
The estimated combined cost for the contract portion of the Pre-SDD phase is $107M. The initial program office estimate for the SDD phase will be validated via the CAIG, which will do an Independent Cost Estimate as part of the preparation for the Milestone B decision. There is a single AMF JTRS cost estimate; the Navy and Air Force separately budget for their Service's contribution to the AMF JTRS program costs, based on their respective responsibilities as executive agents for the former Cluster 3 and Cluster 4 programs.
