Hardware/Software Convergence for C4ISR/EW

Abstract

The Army currently spends Billions procuring similarly functioning, but developmentally stove-piped Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) and Electronic Warfare (EW) systems. Most notably, the Army's communications systems are neither developed nor integrated in tandem with their EW system counterparts, even though both have many common components with similar functionality. In addition, because all of these C4ISR and EW systems compete for extremely limited Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum and Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) resources, they are prohibitively costly to integrate and procure, and their performance suffers from many conflicting requirements. The resultant multitude of systems and system configurations dramatically increases the logistical burden on our Combat Brigades that need to sustain, transport, and upgrade these capabilities. In order to address these problems, the Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC) is integrating Communications and EW components into common modular, multifunctional hardware as a "Universal A-kit." This modular approach uses open interface standards and enables specialized domain cards (e.g., Communications, EW, Position Navigation and Time, Signals Intelligence, Mission Control, etc.) to integrate multiple functions onto a common chassis.