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	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
	FY98 Annual Report

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

The E-6B Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) aircraft is a land-based, manned strategic communications relay platform. E-6B has two missions: (1) TACAMO; and (2) Airborne Command Post (ABNCP).

Several years ago, the Avionics Baseline Upgrade (ABU) program improved a significant portion of the mission communications equipment. Principal items included a: (1) High Power Transmit Set (HPTS), consisting of a 200 kilowatt solid state power amplifier (SSPA) for very low frequency (VLF) transmissions and a new dual trailing wire antenna system (DTWA); (2) MILSTAR satellite terminal; (3) Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver; and (4) Time/Frequency Standard Distribution System (T/FSDS). OT&E was completed on the E-6A in December 1989 and on the ABU in July 1995.

TACAMO has been upgraded to perform an ABNCP mission. The ABNCP mission was transferred from the Air Force EC-135 aircraft on October 1, 1998. This required the addition of a Mission Computer System (MCS) for the increased communications capacity, and operating equipment for the ABNCP team. With the foregoing modifications, the aircraft was re-designated to the E-6B.

The revised E-6B TEMP was approved by OSD in March 1998. An early operational assessment of the MCS was completed in March 1997. An operational assessment of MCS was conducted in September and October 1997. This assessment evaluated the MCS installed in an E-6B that was transmitting and receiving live traffic while parked on an airfield apron. FOT&E was conducted on the E-6B from 3QFY98-4QFY98. This test evaluated the ABNCP modifications and verified the correction of deficiencies found in all previous OTs of the airplane. The FOT&E was conducted on the aircraft while on normal deployments manned by fleet crews. By combining OT with normal operations, there were no additional O&M costs for flights, and with the exception of the Test Director and his assistant, the personnel consisted of only standard operational personnel executing their normal missions.

The FOT&E evaluated all mission elements and was comprised of three principal efforts: (1) evaluation of the TACAMO mission; (2) evaluation of the ABNCP mission; and (3) evaluation of the Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS). The first flight occurred on May 4, 1998, and the last flight occurred on July 17, 1998.

Based on the FOT&E and personal observations of DOT&E and support personnel, the following assessments were made:

• The ABNCP mission was satisfactorily supported by the reconfigured E-6B, and ALCS functionally met all requirements. In addition to the ABNCP mission, the E-6B maintained its capability to perform its TACAMO mission.

• Reliability and maintainability were found deficient during the FOT&E and additional emphasis must be made to improve these, particularly airframe and aircraft support systems.

Although the systems worked well and all missions were accomplished, there were several minor deficiencies that require corrective action. The program should address the following key findings:

• Deficiencies associated with the MCS. The MCS monitors locked up on several occasions necessitating a system restart. Although no data were lost, frequent interruption hindered overall system operations. The MCS software design did not allow background printing, precluding efficient system use during key printing periods. Support for battle staff was untimely during periods of heavy message traffic. MCS failed to maintain synchronization with some transmitters on two occasions. An intermittent problem was observed in the HPTS and MCS interface.

• The Vapor Cooling System (VCS) failed several times. On account of this repeat performance, it is highly recommended that the program office conduct a thorough investigation of VCS reliability and correct any identified problems.