350 ELSG partnership creates lab environment for testing C2 capabilities

  • Published
  • By Monica D. Morales
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Migrating command and control capabilities into more dynamic and responsive weapon systems is the foremost goal of a recent Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between the 350th Electronic Systems Group and BAE Systems.

"We're very excited about working with BAE on this CRADA," said Col. Steve Webb, 350 ELSG commander. "In this dynamic environment of information systems and command and control, our partnership is the way to leverage the leading edge of technology long before the acquisition process takes hold."

The 30-month agreement will provide for a collaborative lab environment to test command and control systems on a case-by-case basis, in addition to conducting important research.

"They [BAE] have some very innovative ideas in terms of command and control and they want to pursue that, but they also want to make sure they are heading in the general direction the Air Force is going," Colonel Webb said.

This partnership will provide, for example, the fine-tuning of the Theater Battle Management Control System (TBMCS) - the core engine of systems like the Air and Space Operations Centers. While TBMCS currently functions well in the Global War on Terrorism, it is designed to handle large-scale air tasking order generation and does not necessarily navigate as easily through the dynamic environment of today's battlespace.

"We need to become more fluid and flexible in our capabilities to address the warfighter's requirements," he said. "CRADAs like this help us figure out better ways of doing business."

In the short time the agreement has been in place, Colonel Webb said that much work and research has been accomplished. Recent demonstrations and reviews reflect that the effort is proceeding rapidly.

He likened the agreement to a looking glass into future requirements and what will be asked of industry and contractors to develop those capabilities.

"Ideally, the end result of any sort of CRADA is not necessarily proving technology, but advancing technology down the road," Colonel Webb said. "This gives us a better idea of the state of the art and what the future is looking like as we interpret warfighter requirements and explore what potential solutions are out there."