FTI-II Revolutionizes Network-Centric Warfare
NAVAIR News Release
Release Number: E200305141
Release Date: 5/14/2003
Written by Mike Lea, ARINC
Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD -- Up until few months ago, having the capability of transmitting images to, from, and among all aircraft during combat missions was just a vision in the F/A-18 community. Today, this vision is brought to reality with Fast Tactical Imagery (FTI-II), a photo reconnaissance intelligence strike module. FTI-II greatly improves the F/A-18F Super Hornet's aircraft weapon system by enabling the aircrew to capture, view, send, and receive critical strike information in near-real time. This project is initiated by PMA265 and had its first operational flight from aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) over Iraq during Iraqi Freedom on April 3, 2003.
During combat sorties, FTI-II equipped Super Hornets not only can transmit and receive images among each other, but can also relay the information to anyone from field commanders to special operations forces equipped with compatible laptops. This allows troops to make bomb hit assessments, annotate friendly and hostile forces, and analyze target areas. In addition, FTI-II is also capable of transmitting text messages as attachments or stand-alone for cockpit display to further clarify mission statements. Information that is not transmitted during the strike can be stored in memory. The aircrew can then either transmit the saved information at a later time or download it to the ground station after landing. This memory capability is made possible by a removable compact flash card that is PCMCIA compatible. Furthermore, FTI-II also interfaces and controls F/A-18's HI 8-mm video tape recorder using serial remote control. With this capability, the Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) now has the ability to record, rewind, playback, and capture video to further support the strike mission.
Initially used by the F-14s, FTI-II is upgraded and integrated to the F/A-18F by a team of engineers under the leadership of Ms. Lori Gallo (NAVAIR 4.11.6.1). Due to its stand-alone design, FTI-II is relatively easy to install and can be incorporated without any changes to the aircraft Software Configuration Set. Even more, FTI-II equipped F/A-18s are interoperable with other platforms including: F-14 Tomcats, P-3 Orion, S-3 Vikings, US Army's AH-64 Apaches, and more. Thus FTI-II has fast become an integral part of today's network-centric warfare significantly increasing the Super Hornet's capability as a strike fighter.
"From a fleet perspective the most important capability this system brings is it transfers imagery from cockpit to cockpit or ground station to cockpit," said Sharon Wright, NAVAIR F/A-18 Tactical Reconnaissance Program Manager. "Not only is this a great target identifier for the aircrew, but it also assists them with bomb assessment damage."
Senior project engineer Mike Lea (ARINC) and John Reed (NAVAIR 4.11.6.1) recently returned from USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) after installing FTI-II hardware on eight Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41) F/A-18F aircraft. Instantaneously, their hard work was rewarded with multiple sorties over the hostile skies of Iraq. At the same time, other members of the FTI-II team, which comprises NAVAIR North Island and Pax River engineers, are working on the Engineering Change Proposal to install the FTI-II on other F/A-18 aircraft.
NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch; from sensor data to precision targeting; from aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment; from real-time communication to aircraft recovery NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter.
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