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	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
FY97 Annual Report

NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM (NAS)

ACAT IC Program, Joint with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Air Force is lead for DoD Air Traffic Control and Landing System (ATCALS) 65 sites Total program cost (TY$) $791.1M Average unit cost (TY$) $10.2M Full-rate production 2QFY00 Prime Contractor Denro, Inc. and Raytheon Corp. Military Airspace Management System (MAMS) One Web-based System Total program cost (TY$) $20M Full-rate production 1QFY99 Prime Contractor Hughes STX-MAMS

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

The National Airspace System (NAS) program will replace the Air Traffic Control (ATC) equipment used to support ATC's radar-approach control mission. NAS includes voice switches, approach control and tower automation, air surveillance radar, and a Special-Use Airspace (SUA) scheduling and utilization reporting tool. The NAS program modernizes functions within the Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems (ATCALS) at 65 DoD sites and includes the Military Airspace Management System (MAMS).

The NAS modernization will enhance precision engagement through technological innovations to ATCALS and MAMS, which will allow DoD to keep pace with state-of-the-art digital radar-approach control equipment and to maintain control of SUA to ensure wartime readiness.

The ATCALS in the DoD NAS comprises the Voice Communications Switching System (VCSS), the DoD Advanced Automation System (DAAS), and the Digital Airport Surveillance Radar (DASR) system. ATCALS modernization will be accomplished by acquiring commercial-off-the-shelf systems and nondevelopmental items. The systems will interoperate with functionally identical systems, standard commercial and military voice circuits, and standard digital radar feeds.

The MAMS is a software tool that will automate scheduling of DoD SUA. The system will include a single database of all utilization data for Military Operations Areas, Restricted Areas, Warning Areas, Prohibited Areas, Alert Areas, Danger Areas, Controlled Firing Areas, and Military Training Routes. MAMS will store activity schedules and produce reports on demand. It will track users of all military airspace by airspace name, category, user name, time, and altitude block. MAMS is a platform-independent, Worldwide Web-based application. It will require only a web browser and will be able to be accessed by authorized users at any time.

The existing ATCALS has two problems: (1) limited interoperability, and (2) excessive growth of operations and support costs. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has undertaken a massive upgrade of the nation's ATC system infrastructure by systematically replacing analog systems with state-of-the-art digital technology. The new systems take advantage of the significantly increased capabilities of digital radars, computers, and data distribution networks. Most DoD systems are currently analog and will not easily or economically interface with the new generation FAA equipment. Without the added capability, the DoD will be unable to continue providing transparent service to all ATC users, military or civilian. Furthermore, the DoD NAS COEA indicates that DoD will experience excessive operations and support costs if the DoD ATC is not replaced.

The ATCALS modernization program will upgrade DoD Air Traffic Control (ATC) radar-approach control facilities to ensure compatibility with the FAA's ATC facilities. The ATCALS modernization portion of DoD NAS must be fully interoperable with the FAA's modernization of analog equipment and be capable of providing FAA equivalent ATC services to civilian and military aircraft. When fully fielded, the DoD ATCALS will be comprised of the following three programs:

• Voice Communications Switching System (VCSS) performs all control functions needed for ATC communications, including radio, intercom, and telephone access. VCSS will provide an interface to analog switch and distribution systems and will interface with legal voice recorders for recording all transmissions.

• DoD Advanced Automation System (DAAS) will receive and process both primary and secondary radar data, flight plan information, weather, airport environmental data, and administrative information (such as Notices to Airmen) required for operations of the local control facility.

• Digital Airport Surveillance Radar (DASR) consists of integrated primary and secondary radar subsystems and will provide highly accurate target data to the local control facilities. The DASR's digital data output is compatible with the FAA's radar network and the DAAS. The DASR will have improved target detection and accuracy, clutter rejection, aircraft identification accuracy, altitude data, and weather capability. The system also will provide search information under conditions of ground clutter, weather, interference, and ground vehicular traffic.

MAMS will provide the ability to efficiently schedule special use airspace usage in a non-realtime manner, accurately document military airspace utilization, interoperate with the FAA, and be compatible with the NAS.

The FAA is the lead organization for VCSS and DAAS testing, whereas DoD is the lead organization for DASR testing. DoD is working with the FAA through an Interagency Agreement for testing VCSS, DAAS, and DASR. AFOTEC is responsible for conducting the DoD OT&E. Within the test schedule for each program, the FAA and the DoD will conduct a series of developmental and operational tests. For the DoD, production decisions will be made for VCSS, DAAS, and DASR following the completion of AFOTEC's operational testing of each system. VCSS currently is undergoing the FAA's operational test at the William J. Hughes Technical Center (WJHTC) in Atlantic City, NJ. AFOTEC plans to begin VCSS operational testing in 2QFY98 upon the FAA's completion of testing. AFOTEC plans to test DAAS and DASR together during the test scheduled to begin in 4QFY98. A NAS Milestone III will be sought after system-level operational testing is complete.

For MAMS, the Joint Program Office is planning a spiral development, incremental test approach with AFOTEC and joint user community participation focusing on extensive user interaction via user assessments from 4QFY97 through 4QFY98. A MAMS fielding decision will be sought for both the FAA and DoD upon the satisfactory completion of AFOTEC's testing.

Performance problems revealed during the FAA's testing of VCSS have delayed completion of the further testing until January 1998. The FAA delay caused a slip in AFOTEC's test schedule at Dover and Eglin AFBs. The NAS Joint Program Management Office and AFOTEC now are considering eliminating Dover as a test site. Testing at Eglin AFB is more cost effective and all DoD test requirements can now be met at Eglin.

AFOTEC will combine operational testing of DAAS and DASR 1QFY99. By December 1999 NAS system-level operational test will be complete, including the integration testing with VCSS.

AFOTEC will test MAMS DAAS from May through August 1998. AFOTEC is in the process of writing a MAMS test plan and preparing a test concept brief for DOT&E.

The ATCALS modernization program was on hold from August 1994 to October 1996. In August 1994 the FAA Administrator terminated Advanced Automation System development efforts and directed the FAA to find a commercial-off-the-shelf and nondevelopmental item solutions. The FAA and DoD have been sorting out roles and responsibilities; and since October 1996 the ATCALS modernization program has made significant progress.

The FAA's operational testing of ATCALS modernization resembles DoD's developmental testing, not DoD operational testing. Consequently, much of the data collected by the FAA during its operational testing cannot be used to resolve DoD's operational test requirements.

The DoD ATCALS modernization program depends on the FAA, whose schedule uncertainties provide risk to all three of the following DoD ATCALS modernization programs:

• VCSS must be favorably evaluated by AFOTEC in order for DoD to provide funds to help the FAA meet its minimum quantity buy of BS-3 voice switches.

• DoD is counting on the FAA to ensure that DAAS software is developed and in place and that the FAA's combined developmental and operational testing is complete at the WJHTC.

• DoD is relying on the FAA's successful completion of the DASR combined testing, the development of flight check procedures, and the availability of flight check aircraft.

The NAS Program Management Office is making contingency plans in the event that portions of ATCALS modernization (VCSS, DAAS, or DASR) are not ready for system-level operational testing as scheduled. Despite the many program challenges and the strong potential for further schedule slips, DOT&E believes the NAS program is tracking towards resolution of these issues and will be able to field an effective and suitable system.