Northrop Grumman submits CAC2S proposal

Northrop Grumman has submitted its proposal for the development and integration phase of the US Marine Corps (USMC) Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S).

The CAC2S aims to modernise the Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS). It will replace dissimilar legacy systems with a common, open, modular, scalable design based on proven, high-technology readiness level hardware and software components.

According to Northrop Grumman, its offering ‘builds on and enhances the communications, processing and display functionality previously developed’, and integrates ‘critical sensor and data communication capabilities including Link 16, the Composite Tracking Network and AN/TPS-59 and AN/TPS-63 radars’.

Pat Camacho, vice president of integrated command, control, communications and intelligence systems for Northrop Grumman Information Systems, said: ‘In addition to meeting all CAC2S requirements, Northrop Grumman's best-value solution is a truly expeditionary package that can perform direct air support centre functions while on the move. All core electronics components are integrated on Humvee platforms and preconfigured with data and communications capability between the operations centre and antenna hill’.

Northrop Grumman's CAC2S solution offers a number of features, including a robust TYQ-23 air command and control (C2) software that implements USMC tactics, techniques and procedures; real-time track management software with customisable track prioritisation capability to minimise latency and optimise bandwidth utilisation; productivity enhancement tools including tactical dashboards drawn from the battle commanders' display concept and USMC tactical service-oriented architecture initiatives; virtualisation and high assurance equipment consolidation strategies including the embedded gateway manager for Joint Range Extension Application Protocol processing; and advanced Simulation and Combat Operational Mission and Training tools to deliver offline training during live operations and distributed training and simulation.
 
The company's rugged packaging design for CAC2S electronic equipment provides self-contained thermal, shock, vibration, environmental and electromagnetic interference hardening that will make possible the use and upgrade of commercial off-the-shelf components without modification or requalification. The thermal and structural efficiency of the design significantly reduces weight and fuel consumption. The system can also scale up to the much larger Tactical Aviation Command and Control Centre variant without additional core electronics equipment at the operations centre. The network design scales up to 216 workstations by using a series of fault-tolerant Ethernet circuits.