PMW/A-170 products include:

• GPS Antenna System 1 (GAS-1) – Fielded on the MH-60R/S, C/KC-130, HH-60H, P-3C, MV-22, and AV-8B.
• GAS-1N – A small, four element Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna for use with GAS-1 Analog Antenna Electronics in place of the standard GAS-1 antenna. Fielded on the AV-8B.
• Advanced Digital Antenna Production – A basic anti-jam digital antenna being fielded on the MH-53E, CH-53E/K, P-8A, CH-46E, F/A-18E/F, and EA-18G.
• Conformal CRPA – A basic anti-jam digital antenna for use with Advanced Digital Antenna Production (ADAP) Digital Antenna Electronics (AE) in place of standard ADAP antenna on the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G.

 

Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures

The Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures (IDECM) Program is another responsibility for PMA-272. The program provides self-protection capability against surface-to-air and air-to-air radar guided threats. IDECM equipment detects, identifies, and manages electronic countermeasure response to radar threats.

IDECM is fielded in four Block configurations consisting of towed decoys and associated integrated countermeasures. IDECM Blocks 1-3, when integrated with the F/A-18E/F, provide significant improvement in survivability against RF threats. IDECM Block 4 is a supplement to the ALQ-214(V)3 that will result in an ALQ-214 configuration suitable for use on the F/A-18C/D (replacing the ALQ-126B) and the F/A-18E/F (with either the ALE-55 or ALE-50 towed decoy).

 

Joint and Allied Threat Awareness System

PMA-272 also oversees the Joint and Allied Threat Awareness System (JATAS), a developmental program to provide an advanced threat warning system for Navy and Marine Corps assault support aircraft. JATAS will provide detection, declaration, crew warning, and countermeasure cueing for missile, laser, and unguided ballistic hostile fire threats.

JATAS is being integrated onto the MV-22B, MH-60R, MH-60S, AH-1Z, UH-1Y, and CH-53K platforms. JATAS will replace the AN/AAR-47 Missile Approach Warning System.

 

Naval Air Traffic Management Systems

PMA-213 is the Naval Aviation Enterprise’s program office for all Navy and Marine Corps air traffic management systems. The program office maintains naval air traffic management systems, delivers advanced air traffic control and landing capability and improved combat identification capability.

Four programs fall under PMA-213’s oversight:

• Air Traffic Control Systems
• Combat Identification
• Landing Systems
• Joint Precision Approach & Landing Systems (JPALS)

JPALS has been an area of development for PMA-213 for several years. Due for initial operational capability in 2019, JPALS is an all-weather landing system based on differential GPS for land-based and sea-based aircraft. The system provides accurate, reliable, and high-integrity guidance for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, and features anti-jam protection to ensure mission continuity in hostile environments.

 

Naval Aviation Training Systems

The procurement, development, and fielding of training systems for aircraft operators and maintainers is the mission of PMA-205. The program office administers support via a wide range of training programs and facilities including:

• Integrated Learning Environment
• Individual Training
• Safety and Survivability
• Common Systems
• Marine Corps Aviation Training Systems
• Navy Fixed-Wing Training Systems
• Ocean Systems Training Ranges
• Navy Rotary-Wing Training Systems
• Tactical Training Ranges
• UAS Training Systems

The Integrated Learning Environment (ILE) is an example of advanced training for Navy aircrew. The Air Combat Training Continuum (ACTC) is part of the ILE, providing the framework for post-Fleet Readiness Squadron tactical aircrew training. The mission of ACTC is to provide fleet, joint, and allied force commanders with combat-ready naval aviators capable of effectively executing in all mission areas.

 

Strike Planning and Execution Systems

PMA-281 is naval aviation’s home for reliable strike planning and execution capabilities. The program office is responsible for the acquisition and life cycle management of a range of mission planning, control system, and execution tools that are developed and integrated in partnership with other NAVAIR program offices, other services, and foreign nation customers/partners.

Tools in use and under development include:

• Electronic Knee Board
• Joint Mission Planning System
• Joint Mission Planning System – Expeditionary
• Theater Mission Planning Center
• Air Wing Ship Integration
• Unmanned System Common Control System

The Air Wing Ship Integration effort is being applied via four programs including the Digital Camera Receiving Station (DCRS), Naval Strike Warfare Planning Center (NSWPC), Integrated Strike Planning and Execution (ISP&E), and Carrier Ready Room Transformational Technologies Upgrade.

The programs are aimed at providing capabilities in the manipulation, storage, and processing of digital imagery from carrier-borne aircraft; debriefing tools for the carrier strike group and intelligence community; integration of strike mission planning, targeting, execution, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and debrief support systems for Nimitz and Ford class carriers; and technologies upgrades for Nimitz class carrier ready rooms.

This article was first published in NAVAIR: 50 Years of Naval Air Systems Command, 1966-2016 magazine.