Joint STARS demonstrates key network-enabled weapons capability

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. (AFNS) -- An Electronic Systems Center team is wrapping up work on a demonstration here aimed to greatly improve network-enabled weapons capabilities for joint forces.

The Battle Management Directorate's E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System Modernization Branch has been participating in the Joint Surface Warfare Joint Capability Technology Demonstration.

"The capability developed in this JCTD will provide a quantum leap in a commander's ability to conduct surface warfare with increased lethality to enemy forces and increased survivability of friendly forces," said Brittany Ridings, a JSuW program manager.

The Navy-led JSuW JCTD demonstrates the military utility of having multiple joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets control anti-ship weapons against surface combatants at stand-off ranges.

"This work for Joint STARS began in August of 2008," said Ms. Ridings. "That was when the combined government and contractor team began to develop and integrate the prototype Link 16 Network Enabled Weapon software into the existing software architecture on the E-8 Joint STARS test platform."

From there, the team went through a graduated series of test events involving recorded data, distributed dynamic laboratory testing, ground testing and integration flights -- all leading up to the final operational utility assessment flights.

OUA flights were successfully completed in September at the Point Mugu Sea Range in California. The specific role for Joint STARS was as a command and control node as well as a third party source to transmit in-flight target updates to guide Navy stand-off weapons to their target.

Using the Link 16 Network Enabled Weapon software, messages were exchanged regarding targeting, command and control, identification and weapon-fly out information. During three days of testing, Joint STARS successfully completed 13 runs with two Navy F/A-18 Hornets, two Joint Standoff Weapons and two instrumented target ships.

"From the Joint STARS perspective, the demonstration was completely successful, as we were able to meet all objectives," Ms. Ridings said. "We transmitted a series of in-flight target update messages that were received and positively acknowledged, and the simulation indicated that the weapon would hit its target effectively."

Navy leadership was also pleased with Joint STARS' accomplishments.

"The fact that JSTARS performed almost flawlessly is a testament to the exceptional efforts by your team . . . and will help bring this critical, net-enabled weapons capability to the warfighter," said Navy Captain Carl Chebi, the Precision Strike Weapons program manager.