The Integrator

A collection of news and information specifically for the C4ISR community

Vol. 5, No.35
September 10, 2009

FAB-T flight tests propel critical SATCOM program

B-2 Spirit

The B-2 Spirit, seen here flying over the Pacific, is one of numerous platforms that will receive the Family of Advanced Beyond-Line-of-Sight Terminals. Successful August flight tests moved the advanced satellite communication capability closer to fruition. (Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Bush)

By Chuck Paone
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

A team here has now wrapped up a series of successful flight tests that demonstrated the near-fruition of an advanced satellite communication capability. 

The tests on the Family of Advanced Beyond-Line-of-Sight Terminals, or FAB-T, means the Department of Defense is closer to being able to move large amounts of voice, data, imagery, and video to and from ground and airborne platforms. 

The program reached a significant milestone in August when program officials used the system to successfully send and receive text, voice and data over operational Milstar satellites, said Lt. Col. Mike Block, FAB-T program manager. 

The flight tests were conducted on the Paul Revere Test aircraft, a Boeing 707 operated jointly by MIT's Lincoln Laboratory and the Electronic Systems Center here. The test team successfully passed messages to and from multiple U.S. locations. 

The team flew nine flights, wrapping up the series in late August. The team included ESC program team members, Lincoln Laboratory personnel, the 46th Test Squadron and the Air Force Test and Evaluation Center. 

AFOTEC and the test squadron even led some of the flights, operating the FAB-T themselves to assess its capabilities, according to Jeff Rattray, who was working as a contractor on the FAB-T team. (More)

Now's the time to sign up for C2ISR Symposium

By Kevin Gilmartin
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

With less than three weeks to go, now is the time to register for the Air Force C2ISR Symposium and Technology Exposition, set for Sept. 28-30 at the MGM Grand Hotel at Foxwoods in Ledyard, Conn., according to event planners.

According to the Air Force Association chapter co-sponsoring the symposium along with Electronic Systems Center, those planning on attending should sign up soon and ensure they get a negotiated room rate for the popular convention center prior to Monday evening, when some of the rooms will be freed up for other guests. 

“We can’t guarantee the government rate of $105 per night after Monday, so if you’re a government civilian or military member who is attending, now is the time to register,” said Angela Dupont, president of the Paul Revere Chapter.  “Similarly, industry rates of $185 per night might not be available after next week, so I advise everyone to make reservations now.”

Retired Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper is the latest speaker to join the jam-packed lineup of presenters.  General Jumper, who served as chief of staff from 2001 to 2005, was a strong advocate for a robust Air Force command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability, talking regularly about replacing the old way of targeting with a machine-to-machine interface that would lead to real-time targeting, or “putting the cursor on target.” 

General Jumper will open the symposium with his presentation Sept. 28, just prior to the exhibit hall ribbon cutting.  (More)

To view the complete symposium agenda, click here.

Gen Lord Visit

General Lord visits CIE

Lt Gen William T. Lord, the Air Force chief of Warfighting Integration and chief information officer, and 754th Electronic Systems Group Director Gregory Garcia (left), discuss the Capabilities Integration Environment with Steve Wright, 643d Electronic Systems Squadron director, Aug. 28. General Lord toured the CIE at Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala., while there to speak at the annual Air Force Information Technology Conference, which is hosted by the 754 ELSG. (Photo by Angela Collier)

AFMC leaders continue to focus on nuclear sustainment

By Ron Fry
Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) -- Sustaining the Air Force nuclear arsenal was emphasized by the commander of Air Force Materiel Command as he led center and wing commanders along with AFMC headquarters senior staff through two days of in-depth discussions during the command's semi-annual senior leaders conference here Sept. 1 and 2.

Gen. Donald J. Hoffman used the conference to reinforce AFMC's vital role as caretaker of the nuclear arsenal.

"Sustaining our nuclear assets remains our No. 1 priority," the general told attendees. "Every one of us has a role in this responsibility. Our nuclear force must remain a reliable force."

His views were echoed by Brig. Gen. Everett H. Thomas, the commander of AFMC's Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. General Thomas said the Air Force lost focus on management of its nuclear weapons as the service went through organizational transitions in the mid 1990s. Two well-publicized mishandlings of nuclear components in recent years highlighted the need for the Air Force to regain emphasis on the nuclear sustainment mission.

General Thomas said improvements are on-going, including activation of the new Air Force Global Strike Command, the organization responsible for employing the nuclear assets managed and maintained by AFMC. Also, he said his center is almost complete with its third phase of realignments. (More)

40-year-old accounting and finance program still going strong

By Tommye Howard
554th Electronic Systems Group

 The General Accounting and Finance Service, a program managed by the 554th Electronic Systems Wing, to automate Air Force accounting and finance, marked its 40th anniversary of service recently. 

Fielded in 1969, the implementation of the GAFS program represented a major transition for the Air Force accounting world.  Initially called Prime 69, the new program brought to the Air Force a standardized approach to daily balancing of transactions for upward reporting, eliminating manual calculations in most cases.

“Overall, it was probably the smoothest transition of a program that I’ve been through,” says Mr. Dean Whitten,  a financial specialist at DFAS-Denver and one of the original users of the program.  “The impact on the way we conducted business was significant, especially the amount of time saved using the program.”

In the 1970’s, GAFS provided the accounting world with five new capabilities within fund status, disbursements, and collections, with the primary benefit being the integration of several smaller accounting systems into one single reporting system, GAFS as we know it today. 

With this new technology, Headquarters Air Force could submit a single report to the Treasury without manually consolidating multiple command accounting system reports.  (More)

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in the news ...
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Conglomerate of IT Capabilities
-- Military Information Technology
As part of an effort to fundamentally change the ways in which it manages and operates networks, the Air Force is implementing a restructuring of its Combat Information Transport System (CITS).

 Midcareer contracting officers can get bonus
-- Air Force Times
Air Force contracting officers seem to be smiling more, it could be the bonus just approved for them.

DISA set to deploy new command and control software suite
-- Defense Systems Magazine
The Defense Information Systems Agency has cleared the last hurdle for full deployment of Global Command and Control System – Joint (GCCS-J) Block V, the last planned version of the suite of software that gives the national leadership and joint commanders the tools to analyze situations and to direct military units in the field.

Chief DoD Buyer Puts Shop on War Footing
-- Defense News
The U.S. military is seeking "good technical solutions" for a number of battlefield needs, such as steeling forward bases and protecting aircraft against small-arms fire, says Ashton Carter, the Pentagon's top acquisition, technology and logistics executive.

Defense opposes cuts in funding for civilian Air Force personnel
-- Government Executive
 Pentagon officials have lodged objections to several personnel-related provisions in preliminary versions of the fiscal 2010 Defense authorization bill, including proposals to reduce funding for Air Force civilian personnel and dismantle the National Security Personnel System unless a case could be made to keep it.

 

command comments ...

...  I spent most of my career in the intelligence business, and I can safely say there has been an unprecedented fusion of intelligence and operations on the ground in recent years. It is a fusion driven by technological advances and the creativity and flexibility, not just of our men and women in uniform, but of industrial partners like all of you. Increasing and institutionalizing ISR capabilities for today’s war fighter has been one of my top priorities as Secretary of Defense. Your work proves what industry and the military can accomplish together. And it reminds us that new platforms can be developed, built, and deployed in a short period of time – and the best solution isn’t always the fanciest or the most expensive.  

-- Secretary of Defense
Robert M. Gates at August 31, 2009 MC-12 Factory Visit

To read complete transcript,
click here

The Integrator is a weekly product of the 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Office designed to give ESC decision makers a snapshot of news affecting the C4ISR community.  This e-publication is approved by Kevin Gilmartin, Chief of Public Affairs, (DSN) 478-4110 or commercial (781) 377-4110.  Back issues are available online.  To facilitate service, please select a link for your e-mails:  
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