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Aerial Common Sensor [ACS] Background

The Army and Navy planned to make the Aerial Common Sensor multi-intelligence aircraft one of the first assets to reach the battlefield.

The Lockheed Martin team, was to provide the U.S. Army's next-generation battlefield surveillance system called Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) under a Systems Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract awarded 02 August 2004. Under the US$879 million SDD contract, the team will deliver five certified, mission-ready airborne ISR systems, with initial testing planned for 2006. The balance of the effort would be performed under a follow-on low- rate initial production contract anticipated in 2007, followed by a full-rate production contract in 2009. The full contract has a potential value for the Lockheed Martin team of more than US$7 billion over the life of the expected 20-year program.

The Aerial Common Sensor [ACS] is a combination and evolution of two existing systems: Guardrail and Airborne Reconnaissance Low. The concept is to have a small business class jet as a platform for many different types of sensors including: Electro-Optical (EO), Infrared (IR), Communications Intelligence (COMINT), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and Moving Target Indicator (MTI). ACS will be linked the Distributed Common Ground Station - Army (DCGS-A). Initially, the ACS system included DCGS-A. Subsequently, DCGS-A was made into a separate Program. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been developed to guide interoperability between the two programs. The ACS system accepts sensor data and performs pre-processing and correlation for Intelligence Operators. The system then sends that data to DCGS-A for additional processing and dissemination.

The ACS CONOPS and ORD dictate requirements for multi-intelligence operations and expand the airframe capability requirements of the current airborne intelligence assets. A migration strategy from the current GRCS and ARL sensor programs to a new ACS structure using new or modernized equipment, will be presented to Industry and other Government agencies. The new force and functional structure described in these documents, replaces the current GRCS and ARL systems.

Key tenets of the ORD require an airborne intelligence collection system capable of self-deployment up to 2500nm with the ability to conduct operations upon arrival in theater and sustain operations for a minimum of 14 days. The system must be mission tailorable, flexible, sustainable and interoperable with other Army and Joint intelligence sensors. The mission of the ACS is to provide airborne SIGINT, IMINT and MASINT intelligence information throughout the spectrum of military operations and collaterally, provide joint and theater commanders with an accurate and reliable integrated battlespace picture.

In an evolutionary acquisition profile, the ACS System will modernize and/or replace US Army airborne intelligence assets. Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) is the Army's Objective Airborne ISR system and will replace the current GUARDRAIL/Common Sensor (GR/CS) and Airborne Reconnaissance Low (ARL) systems. Aerial Common Sensor will expand the capabilities of these systems into a system that is rapidly deployable, tailorable, and scalable to meet the needs of the land component commander. The ACS SIGINT subsystem will be capable of providing precision targeting, imaging, and geolocation within the Corps area of responsibility and will use DCGS-A as its ground system. The IMINT/MASINT subsystems incorporated will be capable of supporting the full range of missions from peacekeeping to full military operations. In addition, both the ground and airborne subsystems will be capable of controlling and exploiting UAV mission payloads enabling the land component commander's persistent surveillance of the battlespace. The ACS system will be composed of manned airborne collection platforms, ground based exploitation facilities, wide band data link(s), a robust and tailorable communications capability, and a satellite remote capability.

The Aerial Common Sensor [ACS] program -- a corps-level system -- will be the replacement for the Crazy Horse, Guardrail Common Sensor and Airborne Reconnaissance Low, airborne intelligence, surveillance, and target acquisition systems. The Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) system will evolve from the current GUARDRAIL/Common Sensor (GR/CS) and Airborne Reconnaissance Low (ARL) systems. Aerial Common Sensor will combine and evolve all the requirements and capabilities of these systems into a synergistic system which is rapidly deployable, tailorable, and scaleable to meet the needs of the land force commander. Based on approved product improvements to the GR/CS and ARL SIGINT payloads, the evolved ACS, SIGINT subsystem will be fully JASA compliant and capable of providing precision targeting locations across the entire spectrum of conflict. The evolved IMINT/MASINT subsystems will be capable of supporting the full range of missions from disaster relief to mid intensity conflicts (standoff sensors). In addition, both the ground and airborne subsystems will be capable of controlling and exploiting UAV mission payloads, thus facilitating the land force commanders' real-time exploitation, of overflight IMINT, during mid to high intensity conflicts. The system will be composed of manned airborne collection platforms, ground based exploitation facility(s), wide band data link(s), a robust/tailorable communications capability and a scaleable satellite remote capability.

ACS will be capable of carrying a mix of payloads to detect, classify, accurately locate, track, and rapidly disseminate time-sensitive data to warfighters at all echelons. It will be capable of intercept and DF in the HF, VHF and UHF spectrums, ELINT and IMINT. It will be capable of worldwide, self-deployment, immediately capable of beginning operations when arriving in theater using aircraft-to-satellite relays, back to the ground processing facility located at the main operating base. Critical characteristics include operation across the full spectrum of operations, fully deployable, open architecture design and ability to arrive in theatre ready to fight. Operation in hot, moderate, or cold climates, NBC contamination and decontamination capabilities compatible with supported unit are required. Platform will function up to 30,000 ft. PA (35,000 ft. desired if non-milspec) and be capable of low political profile. The package will consist of three subsystems: Airborne Platform Subsystem (APS), Airborne Mission Equipment Subsystems (AMES) and Ground Exploitation Station Subsystem (GESS).

Low Rate Initial Production / Full Rate Production

Under the SDD phase of the contract the team was to deliver five certified, mission ready airborne ISR systems, with initial testing planned for 2006. The balance of the effort was to be performed under a follow-on low rate initial production contract anticipated in 2007, followed by a full rate production contract in 2009.

The Army initially planned to acquire 45 new aircraft at a cost of $2 billion on this new fleet of aerial surveillance and reconnaissance planes, to be fielded in 2006. By late 2003 the program was estimated to be worth $6 billion for 38 planes for the Army alone. By 2005 the program was estimated to be worth nearly $8 billion for 57 aircraft.